Karl May was a master at exploring and writing about the concept of conflict. This is particularly evident in his Hussar’s Love series where the reader witnesses the conflict between two powerful men: Captain Albin Richemonte and Baron Hugo von Löwenklau. But what made it so engaging? The short answer would be Richemonte’s insatiable appetite for gambling. It was after all his mounting debts that drove him to desperation, and ultimately his fall into depravity, while Löwenklau was the complete opposite.

Richemonte’s actions were rejected by his own family, and his failures ultimately forced him to leave France in disgrace. Löwenklau, on the other hand, was a decent man, a man of integrity, honourable in every sense of the word. And Karl May knows exactly how to create tension, pitting one against the other, in effect good verses evil.

Löwenklau, stationed in Paris after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, becomes entangled in Richemonte’s schemes and finds out just what a formidable adversary he’s up against. Where Richemonte excels as the consumate bad guy, Löwenklau shines as the modest and unpretentious hero. This story, originally penned in serial format in the late 1880s, spans three generations, giving our antagonist (Richemonte) plenty of opportunity to wreak havoc not only on Hugo von Löwenklau but also his descendants. This makes for adventurous reading, leaving the reader wondering where it will all end. The good news is that neither man is willing to succumb to the other’s schemes, and thanks to May’s skill, there’s never a dull moment. The plot pulls the reader along effortlessly, injecting humour in just the right polaces. Just when you think Richemonte has gained the upper hand, calamity intervenes, creating a setback. But give Richemonte full credit. His narcissistic nature and pure hate for his nemesis gives him plenty of resolve to further his plots. It truly is an invigorating tale, hopefully leaving the reader wanting more. And there is plenty of more. As mentioned earlier, this novel was published in serial format, however the restructured version comes in six volumes. There’s plenty of excitement to hold the reader until the end.

But first, the reader needs to head back to where it all began. Paris–1814. Check it out in book #1, The Prussian Lieutenant.