I Will Maintain

In the Dutch Republic at a moment of dangerous uncertainty, John de Witt stands at the height of power, defending republican liberty even as the young Prince of Orange gathers force in the shadows. Marjorie Bowen's I Will Maintain opens in a world of elegant homes, sharp political debate, and mounting unrest, where Sir William Temple's visits expose the fragile balance between principle and popularity, and where even a name can carry the weight of destiny. Through the eyes of Florent Van Mander, de Witt's ambitious young secretary, the novel deepens into a study of loyalty, ambition, and intrigue. Florent is drawn into conversations that reveal de Witt's idealism, private grief, and faith in order, while Temple's cool realism and the Prince's royal connections to France and England suggest how quickly power can shift. When the polished French intriguer Hyacinthe St. Croix tempts Florent to betray his master, the political stakes become personal, and the shifting loyalties of Europe come sharply into focus. As war closes in, Admiral Michael de Ruyter leads the Dutch fleet toward battle, while the republic's leaders struggle to hold together a nation threatened from within and without. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.