Books with author A. Henty

In a time of chaos and Viking onslaught, Alfred the untested Saxon king, must fight to save his ravished land. The tale unfurls through the eyes of a young thane, Edmond, who becomes Alfred's friend and mightiest warrior. When Danes over run the land and the Saxons capitulate, this young knight trains and leads a devoted corps of pike-men to recapture the kingdom.

The occupants of the grove are men of varied races, and, although there is no attempt at military order, it is clear at once that they are divided into three parties. One is composed of men more swarthy than the others. They are lithe and active in figure, inured to hardship, accustomed to the burning sun. Light shields hang against the trees with bows and gaily painted quivers full of arrows, and near each man are three or four light short javelins. They wear round caps of metal, with a band of the skin of the lion or other wild animal, in which are stuck feathers dyed with some bright colour. They are naked to the waist, save for a light breastplate of brass. A cloth of bright colours is wound round their waist and drops to the knees, and they wear belts of leather embossed with brass plates; on their feet are sandals. They are the light armed Numidian horse.Near them are a party of men lighter in hue, taller and stouter in stature. Their garb is more irregular, their arms are bare, but they wear a sort of shirt, open at the neck and reaching to the knees, and confined at the waist by a leather strap, from which hangs a pouch of the same material. Their shirts, which are of roughly made flannel, are dyed a colour which was originally a deep purple, but which has faded, under the heat of the sun, to lilac. They are a company of Iberian slingers, enlisted among the tribes conquered in Spain by the Carthaginians. By them lie the heavy swords which they use in close quarters.The third body of men are more heavily armed. On the ground near the sleepers lie helmets and massive shields. They have tightly fitting jerkins of well-tanned leather, their arms are spears and battleaxes. They are the heavy infantry of Carthage. Very various is their nationality; fair skinned Greeks lie side by side with swarthy negroes from Nubia. Sardinia, the islands of the Aegean, Crete and Egypt, Libya and Phoenicia are all represented there.They are recruited alike from the lower orders of the great city and from the tribes and people who own her sway.Near the large grove in which the troops are encamped is a smaller one. A space in the centre has been cleared of trees, and in this a large tent has been erected. Around this numerous slaves are moving to and fro.- Taken from "The Young Carthaginian" written by G. A. Henty

"The Boy Knight: A Tale of the Crusades" is the tale of a young man facing many trials in battle during the excitement of the Crusades. The hero of the story, Cuthbert, is a young Englishman who follows King Richard to the Holy Land. "The Boy Knight: A Tale of the Crusades" is one of the more exciting Henty adventures, and any lover of Robin Hood will certainly enjoy this tale. Cuthbert's presence of mind and common sense, his loyalty, honesty, valor, and quick wits are all characteristics that make us and his comrades in the book admire and respect him. If "The Boy Knight: A Tale of the Crusades" were a movie, you would find yourself holding your breath, but by the time you're halfway through the book, you will be confident that Cuthbert can extricate himself and his friends with honor and distinction from any kind of sticky situation. Children learn by example, and the examples set by Henty's heroes of honesty, integrity, hard work, courage, diligence, perseverance, personal honor, and strong Christian faith are unsurpassed. Each hero at the center of "The Boy Knight: A Tale of the Crusades" captures the reader's interest and will not let go. Find a comfortable seat and enjoy!

A story of Venice at a period when her strength and splendor were put to the severest tests. The hero, the son of an English trader, displays a fine manliness which carries him safely through an atmosphere of intrigue, crime, and bloodshed. I his gondola on the canals and lagoons, and in the ships which he rises to command, he is successful in extricating his friends and himself from imminent dangers, and contributes largely to the victories of the Venetians at Porto d’Anzo and Chioggia, and finally takes the hand of the daughter of one of the chief men of Venice. “Of all the chapters of history, there are few more interesting or wonderful than that which tells the story of the rise and progress of Venice. Built upon a few sandy islands in a shallow lagoon, and originally founded by fugitives from the mainland, Venice became one of the greatest and most respected powers of Europe. She was mistress of the sea; conquered and ruled over a considerable territory bordering on the Adriatic; checked the rising power of the Turks; conquered Constantinople; successfully defied all the attacks of her jealous rivals to shake her power; and carried on a trade relatively as great as that of England in the present day. I have laid my story in the time not of the triumphs of Venice, but of her hardest struggle for existence--when she defended herself successfully against the coalition of Hungary, Padua, and Genoa--for never at any time were the virtues of Venice, her steadfastness, her patriotism, and her willingness to make all sacrifice for her independence, more brilliantly shown. The historical portion of the story is drawn from Hazlitt's History of the Republic of Venice, and with it I have woven the adventures of an English boy, endowed with a full share of that energy and pluck which, more than any other qualities, have made the British empire the greatest the world has ever seen.” -G. A. Henty “Everybody should read ‘The Lion of St. Mark.’ Mr. Henty has never produced any story more delightful, more wholesome, or more vivacious. From first to last it will be read with keen enjoyment.” -Saturday Review “Mr. Henty has probably not published a more interesting story than ‘The Lion of St. Mark.’ He has certainly not published one in which he has been at such pains to rise to the dignity of his subject.” -The Academy “Mr. Henty is one of the best of storytellers for young people.” -The Spectator “Mr. Henty had a knack of rousing the interest of the reader on the first page and of keeping it alive to the last. The sentiments his books instill are irreproachable and he had the best of gifts in writers for youth of being able to impart knowledge without forgetting for an instant that his first business was to amuse.” -The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art, “No living writer of books for boys writes to better purpose than Mr. G. A. Henty.” -Philadelphia Press

G. A. Henty has a wonderful talent for combining history and fiction for children. In this thrilling adventure story, he transports young readers back to the early days of the American frontier with a narrative that's as educational as it is exciting. His rip-roaring story follows the exploits of Hugh Tunstall, a young English lad who leaves England for Texas, where he experiences, firsthand, the lawlessness of the Far West. Facing the challenges of life in an untamed wilderness, Hugh finds work on a cattle ranch, encounters hostile Indians, and chases kidnappers. The absorbing narrative also offers authentic accounts of mining camps, lumberjacking, cattle ranching, and trapping, with some riveting scenes of gunfights, wildfires, horse races, roundups, and daring rescues thrown in for good measure.A treat for adventure-loving readers everywhere, this rousing tale will be welcomed by Henty fans of all ages.