The Legendary Lieutenant is the tale of a young man, schooled in the science of warfare and sent reluctantly to India to defend Victoria's Empire. Poorly suited for life as a soldier and wounded early in his career, he finds solace in an unsuitable romance. When tragedy strikes, his only comfort is the medication prescribed by his military surgeons and the rum ration issued by his employer. Can his story, confused and embellished by generations of descendants, now be unravelled?