Captain Marryat (1792 - 1848) was a contemporary of Charles Dickens noted for his sea stories. First published in 1847, The Children of the New Forest is the adventure story of children of a cavalier family in the days following the defeat of Charles I in the Civil War. After their home is burned down by Roundhead soldiers the children are presumed to be dead. The children are forced to hide in the forest, away from their father's enemies. A gamekeeper named Jacob helps them. The children adapt from an aristocratic lifestyle to that of simple cottagers. One brother leaves to join the army of the future King Charles II. He ends up living in exile but eventually the family is reunited.