It is 1850. The renowned musician John Henry Distin, has just performed a concert before Queen Victoria at Balmoral, but widowed and short of money he is a troubled man because he does not know who his father is. Born in the closing years of the 18th century he knows his father was also called John Distin but there were four men of that name from the same family who are all now dead. Which one of them was he?
Was he the serial bigamist? Or the bigamist's ruthless son? Was he the bigamist's cousin, a farmer, married to Mary, with 12 children? Or another cousin, a roaming meat trader who spoke French?
The story is told in 5 parts, each part by one of the family members:
-John Henry himself;
-Reverend Henry, an eccentric vicar;
-Dr Henry, Rev Henry's son, a retired physician and former slave owner;
-Thomas, John Henry's lazy, drunken brother;
-and Mary . . .
Were John Henry's achievements just down to his talent and good fortune? Was the serial bigamist murdered? If so, by who, and why? What exactly was the family cypher...?
Dares Again the Field is a work of historical fiction in which most of the characters were real people present at real events.
