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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/freedom_and_necessity.png]]
2A ScrapbookStory historical novel by Creator/StevenBrust and Creator/EmmaBull.
3
4It is set in 1849, amidst the fallout from the UsefulNotes/RevolutionsOf1848. It tells the story of the mysteries surrounding James Cobham waking up and finding that he is believed dead, and the various conspiracies surrounding him.
5
6!!Contains examples of:
7* ColdBloodedTorture: [[spoiler: James]] is burned with a hot poker by [[spoiler:Eleanor Tournier.]]
8* CoupledCouples: Richard and Kitty, and James and Susan.
9* DeathFakedForYou: [[spoiler: Happens to James ''twice''. The first time by a fanatical secret cult in order to pull information from him, the second by his friends and allies so he can escape the gallows and have a chance at freedom.]]
10* EternalSexualFreedom: To a degree, characters engage in premarital sex and aren't stigmatized. Somewhat justified though as the characters are supposed to be radicals for their time period, and being wealthy probably helps protect them from scrutiny. There is some historical accuracy here, since there were free love advocates in the mid-19th century who did the same thing.
11%%* HeroicBastard: [[spoiler: James.]]
12* KissingCousins: Richard and Kitty (only by marriage, since Kitty is James' stepsister [[spoiler: though if James is Richard's half-brother...]]), [[spoiler: Susan and James]]. They're second cousins, though.
13* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: James Cobham is the illegitimate son of William Cobham, making him and Richard half-brothers.]]
14* MillionairePlayboy: James Cobham acts like a BrilliantButLazy guy who wastes his time drinking and wenching; [[spoiler: he actually participated in the Chartist revolts under an assumed name and is actually very politically conscious]]
15* TheNounAndTheNoun: The title.
16* ShoutOut: At one part early in the novel, Richard is discussing poets he had Kitty have read, and he makes reference to the volume of Ashbless on his shelf. Ashbless is a fictional Romantic poet invented by Creator/TimPowers.
17* SweetPollyOliver: Susan dresses up as a man and poses as an Oxford student in order to find information about James.
18* TallDarkAndSnarky: Quite a number of people, but especially Richard and James Cobham.
19%%* YouAlwaysHearTheBullet:

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