The Rise of Iskander

[1][2] It is based on the life of George Castriota, better known as Skanderbeg, a prince and national hero of Albania (which Disraeli had visited two years earlier on his Grand Tour).

When his father died, the Turks saw Iskander's potential as an officer in their occupying armies (of the Emperor Amurath II).

Iskander receives news that he has been commissioned to leave Athens to help the Turkish armies fight off a Christian invasion led by Hunniades in Albania.

Nicaeus joins Iskander and they receive word from Hunniades that although he has been successful and captured Karam Bey, Iduna has been taken prisoner.

She is being held at Adrianople (the Turkish capital) where Amurath's son, Mohamed, has taken a fancy to her so the Turks are refusing to exchange her for hostages.

Iskander and Nicaeus, who is in love with Iduna despite her having previously rejected his advances, go to Adrianople disguised as an Armenian doctor and his page.

With their horses tiring, Iskander resolves to confront alone their pursuers, giving time for Nicaeus and Iduna to get further ahead.

[6] A contemporary critic in the American Monthly Review wrote, "The story is pleasantly told, and is altogether the most unexceptional of any work of fiction from the author's pen that we have seen.