The Shadow of the Czar

The Shadow of the Czar John R. Carling (Boston: Little, Brown, 1902) This historical adventure novel follows Captain Paul Cressingham, a British officer stationed at Corfu, who embarks on leave to explore the wilds of Dalmatia despite his uncle Colonel Graysteel's objections. After arriving in Zara, Paul ventures into the pine forests toward Sebenico but becomes lost pursuing a bear. Near midnight, navigating by starlight and Ursa Major, he encounters a mysterious, elegantly dressed woman in the forest who asks directions to Zara. Struck by her remarkable beauty and poise, Paul attempts to escort her, discovering that women in Dalmatia enjoy traditional protections as travelers. The novel's contents suggest an intricate plot involving a princess, international intrigue spanning Russia and Dalmatia, duels, a coronation, and political conspiracies—mixing romantic adventure with political thriller elements.