The Yeoman Adventurer follows Oliver Wheatman, a young yeoman of Staffordshire, whose quiet life is upended when he rescues the beautiful Margaret Waynflete from capture by dragoons — thrusting him into the heart of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745.
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The Yeoman Adventurer
A swashbuckling historical adventure set during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 — when a young Staffordshire yeoman hooks a thirty-pound pike and finds himself swept into a world of danger, romance, and high-stakes intrigue.
| Author | George W. Gough |
| Published | Early 20th century |
| Genre | Historical adventure, romance |
| Chapters | 27 |
| Setting | Staffordshire, England, 1745 — the Jacobite rebellion |
| Style | In the tradition of Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott |
⚔️ The Story
Oliver Wheatman lives a quiet life as a yeoman farmer’s son in Staffordshire, until a chance encounter changes everything. Fishing on a riverbank, he hooks an enormous thirty-pound pike — but when he tries to land it, he finds himself entangled with a far more dangerous prize: Margaret Waynflete, a young woman fleeing from a troop of dragoons.
Oliver rescues Margaret, but her father — a seasoned mercenary — has been arrested as a Jacobite spy. To save her family, Oliver must navigate a world of secret loyalties, daring escapes, and the brutal politics of the 1745 rebellion. His journey takes him from the English countryside to the presence of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself, testing his courage, his honor, and his heart.
What follows is a masterful blend of historical detail and ripping adventure — sword fights, narrow escapes, hidden identities, and a romance that unfolds against the backdrop of a rebellion that nearly toppled the British throne.
📖 Literary Significance
George W. Gough wrote in the great tradition of Stevenson (Kidnapped, Treasure Island) and Scott (Waverley, Rob Roy) — historical adventures that use real events as the canvas for personal stories of courage and transformation. The Yeoman Adventurer is a prime example of this beloved genre.
The Jacobite rising of 1745 provides rich material: Bonnie Prince Charlie’s dramatic march from the Highlands to within 120 miles of London, the Battle of Culloden, and the brutal aftermath that saw the clan system destroyed forever. Gough weaves these real events into Oliver’s personal journey, creating a novel that is both thrilling and historically grounded.
✨ What Makes the DodaBooks Edition Special
This edition brings Gough’s classic adventure back to life in a clean, distraction-free format.
Zero Distractions
No ads, no license pages — just the complete text, clean and uninterrupted.
Smart Typography
Curly quotes, em-dashes, proper ellipsis — typeset with care for a premium reading experience.
Chapter Navigation
Full table of contents with navigation to each of the 27 chapters — easily jump between them.
Cleaned & Polished
All Gutenberg boilerplate stripped, consistent formatting throughout the text.
No DRM
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a romance or an adventure novel?
Both. The romance between Oliver and Margaret is central to the plot, but the novel is primarily a historical adventure. Gough balances sword fights and escapes with genuine emotional stakes, much like Stevenson in Kidnapped or Scott in Waverley.
What was the Jacobite rebellion of 1745?
The last major attempt by the Stuart dynasty to reclaim the British throne. Charles Edward Stuart — “Bonnie Prince Charlie” — landed in Scotland, raised an army, and marched into England before being forced to retreat. The rebellion ended at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the last battle fought on British soil.
Who is George W. Gough?
A British author of historical adventure novels active in the early 20th century. The Yeoman Adventurer is his best-known work, praised for its vivid historical detail and its Stevenson-esque storytelling.
How long does it take to read?
At 417 pages across 27 chapters, most readers finish in 9-13 hours. The short, action-packed chapters make it easy to read in bursts — “just one more chapter” is a common experience.
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⚔️ Read the Swashbuckling Adventure
The Yeoman Adventurer is a classic historical adventure in the tradition of Stevenson and Scott — sword fights, romance, and a young hero tested by fire. The DodaBooks edition presents Gough’s novel in a clean, distraction-free format:
- ✅ Complete 27-chapter text — every word of the classic novel
- ✒️ Smart typography — curly quotes, em-dashes, proper ellipsis
- 📜 Full table of contents with chapter navigation
- 🔒 DRM-free — read on any device, anytime
- 📥 Instant download — EPUB format