The Nearly Man

Francis Metcalfe's incredible adventures through some of history's forgotten events have been unearthed in the book "The Nearly Man." He traveled from Scotland to Flanders, the Somme, Arctic Russia, post-war London, and Ireland, facing death and heroics. After a spell in prison for fraud, he escaped to France and was arrested at gunpoint and thrown in France's most notorious jail. He then escaped and started a new life in Canada, but became embroiled in Communist riots, the hardship of the depression, the infamous "Ottawa Trek," and the impending war. His adventures impacted the people around him, and if he had succeeded, he would have been immortalised in history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2022
Publisher: Whittles Publishing

In one of the 20th century's great untold stories, we embark on an extraordinary journey with Francis Metcalfe, traversing from the grand estates of Scotland to the battlefields of Flanders, the trenches of the Somme, and the icy landscapes of Arctic Russia. His associations with the soon-to-be famous, brushes with death, and heroic feats in the face of adversity are intertwined with his wasted years in post-war London and a narrow escape from assassination by Sinn Féin in Ireland. After a stint in prison for fraud, Metcalfe became a fugitive from Scottish law as he orchestrated a daring escape to France, while the attention of the police was diverted. Hiding in Paris during the 1920s, Metcalfe was arrested at gunpoint and thrown into France's most notorious jail. In his own words, Metcalfe recounts the remarkable tale of his flight from justice, his subsequent trial, imprisonment, and eventual release, his second escape from the police, his capture, and his decision to start a new life in Canada. However, his newfound freedom was short-lived as he became embroiled in Communist riots, the hardship of the depression, the infamous 'Ottawa Trek,' and the looming threat of war. The Nearly Man tells the story of one man's adventures through some of the last century's lesser-known conflicts and his encounters with the famous thinkers, writers, and soldiers of his time. But it also reveals the profound impact of his exploits on those around him. Francis Metcalfe almost became one of Britain's notable war heroes, poets, writers, adventurers, businessmen, and criminals. If Metcalfe had succeeded, he would undoubtedly be immortalized in history. Instead, his incredible adventures through some of history's forgotten events had been lost to time until his story was painstakingly unearthed for this book.

Weight: 578g
Dimension: 233 x 155 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849955003