The Rover's Secret: A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba

"The Rover's Secret: A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba" by Harry Collingwood is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative follows the life of young Lionel Lascelles, the son of an artist, as he navigates a childhood marked by neglect and isolation from his father and dreams of adventure and travel on the sea. The story blends elements of maritime adventure with themes of familial relationships, highlighting Lionel's yearning for connection and a sense of belonging." "At the start of the novel, the reader is introduced to Lionel Lascelles, who reflects on his unique childhood with his distant father, a talented painter, and the absence of his mother, who died at his birth. The narrative captures Lionel's feelings of longing for paternal affection and his limited social interactions, revealing a world filled with isolation and yearning for adventure. He spends time in the nursery with his nursemaid and housekeeper, engaging with stories and ghosts that spark his imagination, all while nurturing dreams of becoming a sailor and exploring the seas he learns about through tales and books." (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Harry Collingwood was the pseudonym of William Joseph Cosens Lancaster, a British civil engineer and novelist who wrote over 40 boys' adventure books, almost all of them in a nautical setting.