The Wing-and-Wing; Or, Le Feu-Follet

by James Fenimore Cooper

Book Overview

It is difficult to say of which there is most in the world, a blind belief in religious dogmas, or a presumptuous and ignorant cavilling on revelation. The impression has gone abroad, that France was an example of the last, during the height of her great revolutionary mania; a charge that was scarcely true, as respects the nation, however just it might be in connection with her bolder and more unquiet spirits.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1515005402
• ISBN13: 9781515005407
• Release Date: July 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Interesting romance, hearty sea adventure

Based on a true incident, this novel is set along the coast of Italy during the age of Napolean. The Wing-and-Wing is a ship preying on British ships, captained by Raoul Yverne. He's in love with Ghita Caraccioli, a devout Catholic who refuses to marry him because he is an atheist. When Ghita's grandfather is sentenced to be executed by Lord Nelson, Ghita and Raoul (disguised) visit him hoping to bring about his escape. The plot is foiled, Raoul makes it to his ship and gets away, only to be persued by the British until he's trapped and killed. Cooper creates some of his most interesting characters in this romance of the sea. Raoul is a complicated man: he will not yield to Ghita regarding his atheistic beliefs, yet he is an honorable, heroic figure based on what he does throughout the story; he will not compromise his principles. The romance between Ghita and Raoul is interesting and powerful, not always the case in Cooper's novels. The impressed American seaman named Bolt, or "The Yankee," is also a well-drawn character; his hatred for the British and his devil-may-care attitude are delightful. Finally, the chapters set at sea, especially where Raoul is able to out-maneuver and out-sail the British, show Cooper writing at his best. It's no wonder the editors chose this novel as part of the Heart of Oak Sea Classics series.

A romantic tragedy

This novel was first published in 1842, and various editions are available. While the author is noted more for other novels, he started his career at sea, sailing as a merchant seaman for two years from 1806 to 1807, then becoming a midshipman in the United States Navy, serving for two years before resigning his commission to stay on land. He maintained his interest in the sea and is credited with writing the first sea novels. He lived in Italy from 1828 to 1829, primarily in Naples, but visiting Elba and other areas. He was intimately familiar with the actions and settings used in the novel, which is set in 1799 in and around the Bay of Naples, the Isle of Capri, and Elba. The title of the novel is explained in the first chapter when a suspiciou lugger is seen approaching Elba, "the spread of her canvas, as she came down before the wind, wing-and-wing, as seamen term it, or with a sail fanning like the heavy pinions of a seafowl, on each side..." When the lugger arrives at Elba, it displays and English flag, and the Captain identifies himself as Jack Smith and the lugger as the Wing-and-Wing. In actual fact, the captain is Raoul Yvard and the lugger is the French corsair Feu-Follet. Raoul has come to Elba to meet Ghita, the woman he loves. The story proceeds as the Feu-Follet plays a game of cat-and-mouse with the British frigate Proserpine commanded by Captain Cuffe. Part of the story is the action between the Feu-Follet and the British, and part of the story is the relationship between Raoul and Ghita. There is a large cast of characters involved. The story is slow reading, as Cooper was very descriptive of both the settings and the events, and included long conversations between the characters. It is worth reading both as classic literature (one of the first sea novels) and to obtain another side of Cooper's novels.

Don't be afraid of Cooper

I'm glad that I read the book before looking at an earlier reviewer's description of "long winded and laborious", or I may have skipped it. It is indeed a little "slow" in the first third or so, especially if your point of reference is a Marryat novel that would have had four battles fought by that point. I found it engaging, more and more as the work progressed, and overall an excelent read. Refreshing that the hero, his enemy, and several others are not simplistically all good or all bad as so often we find in these sea tales. As well, refreshing to learn a bit of the French privateer's p.o.v.