Under Two Flags (ePub)

Ouida, the pen name for Maria Louise Ramé, was an English novelist born on January 1, 1839, in Bury St. Edmunds, England. She was known for her romantically tinged novels that were often set against opulent backdrops and explored themes of luxury, aristocracy, and excess. Ouida's flowery, emotive prose and penchant for melodrama secured her a place in the Victorian literary scene. 'Under Two Flags' (1867), one of her best-known works, exemplifies her characteristic style and was a pinnacle of success in her literary career. The novel, which tells the story of an aristocratic officer who escapes to Algeria to serve in the French Foreign Legion, was applauded for its adventurous themes and rich characterizations. It has since been adapted into several films and plays, attesting to the enduring appeal of Ouida's storytelling. Although Ouida's flamboyant style fell out of fashion with the arrival of literary realism, her work remains significant for its reflection of the ornate aestheticism that defined a segment of 19th-century literature. Ouida's extravagant lifestyle mirrored the opulence depicted in her novels, and despite earning substantial sums for her writings, she died in poverty on January 25, 1908, in Viareggio, Italy, leaving behind a legacy that intrigues literary scholars to this day.