'''''They Were Defeated''''' is a historical novel by [[Rose Macaulay]], first published in [[1932 in literature|1932]].<ref>[httphttps://www.guardiantheguardian.co.ukcom/books/2003/may/31/featuresreviews.guardianreview32 "The end of the affair", ''The Guardian'', 31 May 2003]</ref> It was published in the USA under the title ''The Shadow Flies''.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/lastletterstoafr000724mbp/lastletterstoafr000724mbp_djvu.txt ''Last Letters to a Friend'']</ref> It was through the publication of the American edition that Macaulay got back in touch with her cousin, the Rev. John Hamilton Cowper Johnson, and thus began a correspondence that lasted until her death. The historian [[Veronica Wedgwood|C V Wedgwood]] wrote the preface to a 1960 edition of the book, in which she reveals that the novel was written partly at the instigation of Macaulay's publisher, [[John Murray (publisher)|John Murray]], who had asked for something to shed light on the background to her first novel, ''[[Abbots Verney]]'' (1906).
''They Were Defeated'' is set in the 17th century, and the poets [[Robert Herrick (poet)|Robert Herrick]], Sir [[John Suckling (poet)|John Suckling]] and [[John Cleveland]] are major characters. Other real historical characters who feature prominently are [[Abraham Cowley]], [[Andrew Marvell]] and [[Henry More]].
