This short novel by the celebrated writer and historian Hilaire Belloc tells the story of Emmanuel Burden, a successful 18th-century London merchant whose business ventures and personal life intersect in unexpected and tragic ways. Drawing on his deep knowledge of European history and culture, Belloc paints a vivid portrait of a complex and fascinating character, and offers insights into the social order and economic realities of Georgian England. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of European society and culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.