The Winding Stair

In Short

First published in 1923, The Winding Stair is an old-fashioned adventure and romance that follows Paul Ravenel, a young man bearing the shadow of his late father's public disgrace. Seeking to reclaim his honor through military service, Paul joins the French army in North Africa. However, his rise is complicated by his passionate love for Marguerite Lambert, an English girl adrift in Morocco. When a bloody rebellion breaks out in Fez, Paul faces an agonizing choice between military duty and protecting the woman he loves. It endures as a vivid portrait of sacrifice, self-reproach, and second chances.

The Story

The narrative opens in London, where lawyer Mr. Ferguson receives an unexpected visit from Paul Ravenel. Raised under an assumed name to protect him from his father's disgraced legacy, Paul seeks out Colonel Vanderfelt, an old family friend living in the English countryside. The Vanderfelts welcome the graceful young man, whose quietly resolute manner leaves a lasting impression. Determined to carve out his own destiny and forge a honorable name, Paul travels to North Africa to enlist as an officer in the French forces stationed in Morocco.

In Casablanca, Paul’s life changes course when he meets Marguerite Lambert at the Villa Iris. Marguerite, a fellow expatriate from Devonshire working as a dancer, is trapped in impoverished, predatory surroundings. The two share an instant, deep kinship, recognizing each other as kindred spirits bound for a shared destiny. Their affection quickly deepens into an intense love affair, providing both with a refuge from their difficult pasts.

As Paul’s military career progresses, he is stationed in Fez. Political tension mounts across the region, culminating in a violent native uprising within the sacred city. Warned by a friendly local noble of the impending danger to Europeans, Paul rushes to safeguard Marguerite, who is staying in a secluded house near the city's heart. Trapped as the city erupts into violent rioting and siege, Paul chooses to remain at her side to protect her rather than returning to his post with his regiment. Though both survive the horrifying siege—largely due to Marguerite’s quick wits and Paul's desperate defense—the decision carries a devastating cost. Paul’s absence from his unit during their hour of trial is branded as desertion, effectively destroying the honorable military career he had set out to build.

Overwhelmed by guilt and unable to return to French service, Paul fakes his death with Marguerite's help. The lovers retreat to the fanatical, forbidden city of Mulai Idris, living as outcasts under assumed identities. For two years, they maintain a painful pretense of quiet contentment, though Paul is internally consumed by the abandonment of his duty. Their secrecy is broken when Paul’s former comrade, Gerard de Montignac, discovers them while surveying the area. Gerard scorns Paul’s lost honor but ultimately leaves the pair to their self-imposed exile in pity.

Recognizing that Paul will wither away into nothing without purpose and redemption, Marguerite urges him to seek a path back to the world. Paul secretly enlists as a private under an alias to serve once more, performing acts of extraordinary bravery during a dangerous campaign. Severely wounded, he earns a reputation for unmatched valor. His true identity and heroic actions are eventually recognized, clearing his name. Reunited at last with Marguerite, Paul contacts Mr. Ferguson to reclaim his true English heritage, returning home carrying the honor he fought so hard to win.

How It Unfolds

The shadow of the past Paul Ravenel visits his family's former lawyer in London before traveling to the countryside to meet Colonel Vanderfelt. There, amidst quiet gardens and village lanes, he learns the truth of his heritage and resolves to build a life defined by personal courage rather than ancestral disgrace.

Meeting at the Villa Iris In Morocco, Paul meets Marguerite Lambert, a stranded English girl working in a low-end café-concert. Recognizing their shared origins and mutual isolation, the two fall swiftly into a deep, consuming love that redefines both of their lives.

The siege of Fez When a bloody anti-European revolt breaks out across Fez, Paul rushes to protect Marguerite in her vulnerable city quarters. Trapped inside as violence consumes the streets, Paul fails to report to his military unit, choosing Marguerite's immediate survival over his sworn officer's duty.

Exile in the sacred city Branded a deserter and presumed dead, Paul flees with Marguerite to the forbidden city of Mulai Idris. Living under Moorish disguises, the couple attempts to build a life together, but Paul's lingering shame over his abandoned command poisons their quiet existence.

The confrontation Gerard de Montignac, Paul's former brother-in-arms, stumbles upon the hiding lovers while conducting military operations. Though furious at Paul's secret abandonment of his post, Gerard chooses not to turn them in, leaving them to confront the weight of their choices.

The path to redemption Realizing that love alone cannot sustain a man who has lost his self-respect, Marguerite encourages Paul to redeem himself. Reenlisting under an assumed name, Paul serves with extreme bravery, ultimately suffering severe wounds before earning back his honor, his true name, and his future with Marguerite.

The People

• Paul Ravenel: A sensitive, dignified young officer of mixed English and French heritage. Haunted by a dark family history, he seeks to build an untarnished reputation through brave military service in North Africa. However, his overwhelming devotion to Marguerite causes him to abandon his post during a crisis, plunging him into a prolonged moral crisis that he can only resolve through dangerous self-sacrifice.
• Marguerite Lambert: An Englishwoman from Devonshire stranded in Morocco, working as a café dancer to survive. Proud, resilient, and intensely loyal, she possesses a keen intuition and fierce strength. She gives up everything to protect Paul, but ultimately refuses to let him destroy his spirit in hiding, driving him back toward redemption.
• Gerard de Montignac: A devoted French military officer and Paul’s close friend. Stern, fiercely patriotic, and pragmatic, Gerard holds himself and his fellow soldiers to an uncompromising standard of duty. His discovery of Paul in exile forces him to weigh his strict sense of military justice against his personal sympathy for his former comrade.
• Colonel Vanderfelt: A kindly retired military officer and old family acquaintance who hosts Paul in England, offering him guidance, warmth, and a glimpse of the peaceful domestic life Paul hopes to deserve.

In Its Own Voice

“That throaty old cuckoo means to make a night of it,” he said with a laugh which was meant to hide the break in his voice and did not succeed.

Paul steps out into the quiet English garden at the Vanderfelts', deeply moved by the unearned warmth and peace offered to him as he prepares to venture into the world.

“You are the most golden thing that ever happened in this world,” he said. “I think of all those years that I lived through, before I met you, quite contented with myself and knowing nothing—no, absolutely nothing of the great miracle.”

During their early time together in Morocco, Paul confesses his absolute devotion to Marguerite, marveling at how completely her presence has reshaped his understanding of happiness.

“A man must have endeavour—I don’t say success—but endeavour of a kind, if only in games. Otherwise what? He becomes a thing in carpet slippers, old before his youth is spent, and this you would dwindle, too, for me! No, my dear!”

Confronting the grim reality of their hidden life in Mulai Idris, Marguerite gently forces Paul to see that hiding away from his calling will destroy the very manhood she loves.

What It's Really About

At its core, the novel explores the tension between romantic devotion and public duty. It poses a troubling question: when forced to choose between saving the person you love and fulfilling your obligation to others, what is the moral path? Paul’s initial choice to safeguard Marguerite seems natural and humane, yet the resulting loss of his integrity leaves him hollowed out. The story argues that love cannot flourish in a vacuum of shame; true honor requires active effort, self-discipline, and the courage to repair one's mistakes. Through the central metaphor of its title, the book suggests that human character is not built in a single leap, but through a slow, spiraling ascent out of error and self-doubt.

Why Read It Today

The Winding Stair will appeal to readers who appreciate classic early 20th-century adventure novels, sweeping wartime romances, and tales of moral redemption. A. E. W. Mason writes with a disciplined, evocative style that captures both the serene green hills of Sussex and the dusty, high-walled intensity of early 1910s Morocco. The narrative moves cleanly, balancing delicate character interactions with atmospheric tension during the siege of Fez.

Readers should note that the novel carries the unmistakable perspectives of its publication era (1923). The portrayal of North Africa relies heavily on period colonial tropes, depicting local populations through a stylized, orientalist lens typical of British and French literature of the period. Additionally, modern readers may find the high-strung melodramatic stakes around military "duty" and "dishonor" somewhat traditional.

Yet beneath its period framing lies an engaging story about two flawed people navigating desperation, mistake, and forgiveness. It offers a satisfying, emotionally grounded look at what it costs to rebuild a life after a ruinous mistake.