The Gallant, Good Riou
Gallant, Good Riou is a historical novel by Louis Becke, first published in 1901. It tells the story of Captain Riou, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. Riou is a brave and loyal officer who is respected by his crew and admired by his superiors. He is sent on a mission to the Mediterranean to capture a French frigate, and despite the odds, he succeeds. His success brings him fame and fortune, but also brings him into conflict with the powerful and corrupt Lord Melville, who is determined to bring him down. Riou is forced to fight for his reputation and his life, and in the end, he triumphs over his enemies. The novel is a thrilling adventure story, full of action and suspense, and a tribute to the courage and loyalty of a great naval officer.
By Louis Becke · First published 1901 · Genre: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 3,208 words
First lines
This is a true story of one of Nelson's captains, he of whom Nelson wrote as "the gallant and good Riou"--high meed of praise gloriously won at Copenhagen--but Riou, eleven years before that day, performed a deed, now almost forgotten, which, for unselfish heroism, ranks among the brightest in our brilliant naval annals, and in the sea story of Australia in particular.
What this Textopian page supports
The Gallant, Good Riou is listed on Textopian as a short story by Louis Becke, dated 1901 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Louis Becke
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Sea Adventure
- Length: 3,208 words
- Structure: 1 section, 21 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Gallant, Good Riou by Louis Becke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Gallant, Good Riou?
- How does this short story by Louis Becke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Extraordinary Adventure Of A Chief Mate by W. Clark Russell
- Officer And Man by Louis Becke
- Newton Forster by Frederick Marryat
- Captain Dieppe by Antonio Hope
- Mr Midshipman Easy by Frederick Marryat
- A Modern Buccaneer by Rolf Boldrewood
Genres
- Adventure Fiction — The book follows the story of a young man, Riou, who embarks on a journey of exploration and adventure in the South Pacific.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the late 19th century and is based on the real-life experiences of the author, Louis Becke.
- Romance — The book features a romantic subplot between Riou and a young woman, which adds an element of romance to the story.
- Sea Adventure — The book follows Riou's adventures at sea, including his encounters with pirates and other seafaring characters.
Tags
adventure · historical fiction · naval · courage · exploration · friendship · sacrifice · leadership · seafaring · 19th century · action · character development