The Old English Baron

The Old English Baron is a gothic novel by English author Clara Reeve, that was first published in 1778. The book had previously been published anonymously a year earlier under the title The Champion of Virtue. The book tells the story of Sir Philip Harclay, who returns to England after a long time away. He finds that his childhood friend Lord Arthur Lovel has died and his estate has been passed onto Baron Fitz-Owen. However, in the castle, some closed off and abandoned rooms hold secrets of the past that lead to a trial by combat, and the truth coming out regarding the true heir, as well as the crimes of the usurper.