It is set in Sussex, England, during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, and revolves around the plots of the villainous Captain Caryl Carne who attempts to aid a French invasion.

[1] It is called "a Tale of the Great War," because Nelson and Napoleon are brought conspicuously on the scene, which is laid in the years preceding and following the Treaty of Amiens, and because it describes the Sussex coast at a time when an invasion was daily expected.

[3] Other characters include Captain Zebedee Tugwell, who belongs to a family native to Springhaven;[2] an Admiral Darling who commands on the coast; the wilful Dolly Darling, the admiral's daughter; Faith, Dolly's sister, whose boyfriend heads to the interior of Africa four years;[3] Parson Twemlow, who wants to preach at Nelson;[2] and both Nelson and Napoleon themselves who figure briefly in the novel.

The Academy stated "there is his usual laborious style, with its elaborate conceits and rather puerile playing on words, but there is also much admirable description and pleasant dialogue ... the whole atmosphere is briskly naval, full of a healthy salt breeze and the movement and life of the ocean.

"[3] Likewise The Spectator opined that "there is much to commend as well as amuse in Springhaven," but noted that the story "has many threads which are not properly interwoven, but dangle loosely about.