Malbrouck

The "Malbrouck" who is mentioned in "Barn Burning" is a real historical figure named John Churchill; "Malbrouck" is a corruption of Churchill's title as First Duke of Malborough. Between the 1670s and his death in 1722, Churchill rose from the rank of page to become one of the most influential generals and statesmen in English history. While serving five English monarchs, he never neglected his own ambitions for power and wealth. While Churchill's career, and the riches he amassed, were condemned by some in his time and afterwards, no historian would judge him as harshly as the narrator of "Barn Burning" does.