In Strange Company: A Story of Chili and the Southern Seas

"In Strange Company: A Story of Chili and the Southern Seas" by Guy Boothby is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows a character named Marmaduke Plowden, who, under the alias Marcos Veneda, is embroiled in a web of intrigue surrounding a large fortune he has sent to his uncle in England. The tale is set against the backdrop of a tumultuous period in Chile, filled with civil unrest and danger. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Luke Sanctuary, who has taken on the task of recounting the extraordinary events surrounding his cousin Marmaduke Plowden. The opening chapters depict the growing tension in Valparaiso due to a civil war and introduce several key characters, including the cunning Plowden, who conceals his criminal past as he navigates the treacherous waters of espionage and financial deceit. The narrative quickly escalates as it reveals the precarious situation of Plowden and his fortune, hinting at the high stakes and moral dilemmas that will unfold as the story progresses.