Robert Bage: The Fair Syrian

(1028 words)

The Fair Syrian (2 vols, 1787) Robert Bage's third novel, promises exotic adventure in its title, and it lives up to that promise, although readers expecting straightforward romantic escapism might have been somewhat startled by the opening episodes, which feature the adventures of a French and a British soldier who meet and befriend each other while serving on opposite sides in the American Revolution. Nor would readers be left in any doubt about the author's belief that fiction could transcend simple entertainment and be used to draw readers into serious political debates. Captain (later Sir) John Amington, the main hero of the novel, enlists in the British army in a burst of youthful patriotism, despite the reservations of his …


Perkins, Pam. "The Fair Syrian". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 06 October 2004
[, accessed 06 October 2015.]