Birth of a Nation:

Eddie Bosham, the not entirely English agent, is in prison on a murder charge. But he’s not worried. He’s innocent, and, anyway, he has hidden proof of a ghastly scandal that could bring down the monarchy. We take up his memoirs where he was left, marooned on the Galapagos Islands with the young Charles Darwin. Rescued and set ashore in Acapulco, he makes his way to Texas. Staunchly loyal to whichever side will win, he spies for General Santa Ana at the Alamo and for Sam Houston at San Jacinto. Westward ho, he stumbles across the secret that will launch the California Gold Rush.