A Set of Rogues

A Set of Rogues by Frank Barrett plunges listeners into a rollicking, morally tangled picaresque adventure of thieves, actors, and love gone wrong. Told as the candid confession of Christopher Sutton, the narrative follows a band of itinerant players—Jack and Moll Dawson, Ned Herring and others—who turn to trickery and travel in an England shadowed by the plague and the shuttering of playhouses like the Red Bull. The audiobook traces Moll Dawson’s ill-fated marriage, her fall and remorse, and a second reckless foray with her former companions that leads them into strange cities, Algerine pirates and the harsh realities of Barbary slavery. Barrett weaves historical texture—streetwise theatrical life, provincial scams, and maritime peril—into a brisk, first-person chronicle that balances bawdy humor with themes of guilt, survival and atonement. The tone is vividly period, dramatic and unrepentant without ever revealing crucial twists. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, picaresque tales and seafaring adventure, this audiobook will appeal to listeners who enjoy flawed, unforgettable characters, candid confessions and a textured portrait of early modern Europe’s darker edges.