A Set of Rogues: Namely Christopher Sutton, John Dawson, the Señor Don Sanchez Del Castillo De Castelaña and Moll Dawson; Their Wicked Conspiracy, and a True Account of Their Travels and Adventures

London burns. The plague creeps through the streets. And in the ashes of a ruined city, a troupe of roguish performers find themselves richer in desperation than coin. Frank Barrett's 1895 novel follows Christopher Sutton, a poet with more wit than wisdom, the sturdy Jack Dawson and his quick-witted daughter Moll, and their hapless companion Ned Herring as they navigate a Victorian underworld of failed schemes, failed fortunes, and the occasional stroke of audacious luck. These are not heroes. They are rogues, con artists, and dreamers who slip through the cracks of respectable society, and somehow, against all odds, retain their humanity. When a dubious scheme presents itself, the rogues must decide how far they're willing to bend their already flexible morals. Betrayal lurks around every corner, yet so does unexpected loyalty. Moll, spirited and sharp, proves the smartest of them all, her warmth the lone constant in a world of shifting allegiances. Barrett writes with affection for his scoundrels, making their tricks feel almost virtuous against the backdrop of societal decay. This is picaresque fiction with a Victorian heart: messy, morally ambiguous, and utterly alive.