Other editions of book Through Russian Snows: A Story of Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow

The protagonists of this historical novel are two brothers, Frank and Julian Wyatt. One of the brothers is imprisoned in France and then offered freedom in exchange for enlisting in the French army. Meanwhile, the second brother is enlisted in the British army and sent to Russia. They are bound to meet while fighting for the opposite sides. Apart from the novel this ebook edition includes three short stories written by the same author:A SOLDIER’S DAUGHTERHOW COUNT CONRAD VON WALDENSTURM TOOK GOLDSTEIN A RAID BY THE BLACKS

Henty gives us two brothers as heroes, Frank and Julian Wyatt from Weymouth. Julian, through some fault of his own, is carried to France by smugglers and ends up in a French prison. Given the opportunity to fight for France in Germany, Julian agrees and is off to the invasion of Russia. Brother Frank obtains a commission in the army in England, learns Russian, fights a duel, and is sent on detached service to Russia as aide-de-camp to Sir Robert Wilson. (Excerpt from Goodreads)

TWO BROTHERS When Colonel Wyatt died, all Weymouth agreed that it was a most unfortunate thing for his sons Julian and Frank. The loss of a father is always a misfortune to lads, but it was more than usually so in this case. They had lost their mother years before, and Colonel Wyatt's sister had since kept house for him. As a housekeeper she was an efficient substitute, as a mother to the boys she was a complete failure. How she ever came to be Colonel Wyatt's sister was a puzzle to all their acquaintances. The Colonel was quick and alert, sharp and decisive in speech, strong in his opinions, peremptory in his manner, kindly at heart, but irascible in temper. Mrs. Troutbeck was gentle and almost timid in manner; report said that she had had a hard time of it in her married life, and that Troutbeck had frightened out of her any vestige of spirit that she had ever possessed. Mrs. Troutbeck never argued, and was always in perfect agreement with any opinion expressed, a habit that was constantly exciting the wrath and indignation of her brother. The idea of controlling the boys never once entered her mind. So long as the Colonel was alive there was no occasion for such control, and in this respect she did not attempt after his death to fill his place. It seemed, indeed, that she simply transferred her allegiance from the Colonel to them. Whatever they did was right in her eyes, and they were allowed to do practically whatever they pleased. There was a difference in age of three years and a half between the brothers; Julian at the time of his father's death being sixteen, while Frank was still a few months short of thirteen. Casual acquaintances often remarked that there was a great likeness between them; and, indeed, both were pleasant-looking lads with somewhat fair complexions, their brown hair having a tendency to stand up in a tuft on the forehead, while both had grey eyes, and square foreheads. Mrs. Troutbeck was always ready to assent to the remark as to their likeness, but would gently qualify it by saying that it did not strike her so much as it did other people. "Their dispositions are quite different," she said, "and knowing them as I do, I see the same differences in their faces." Any close observer would, indeed, have recognized it at once. Both faces were pleasant, but while Julian's wore an expression of easy good temper, and a willingness to please and to be pleased, there was a lack of power and will in the lower part of the face; there was neither firmness in the mouth nor determination in the chin. Upon the other hand, except when smiling or talking, Frank's lips were closely pressed together, and his square chin and jaw clearly indicated firmness of will and tenacity of purpose. Julian was his aunt's favourite, and was one of the most popular boys at his school. He liked being popular, and as long as it did not put him to any great personal trouble was always ready to fall in with any proposal, to take part in every prank, to lend or give money if he had it in his pocket, to sympathize with any one in trouble

Henty gives us two brothers as heroes, Frank and Julian Wyatt from Weymouth. Julian, through some fault of his own, is carried to France by smugglers and ends up in a French prison. Given the opportunity to fight for France in Germany, Julian agrees and is off to the invasion of Russia. Brother Frank obtains a commission in the army in England, learns Russian, fights a duel, and is sent on detached service to Russia as aide-de-camp to Sir Robert Wilson.

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WILLIAM HEYSHAM OVEREND (1851-1898) William Heysham Overend was a painter and illustrator, specialising in naval and other marine subjects. Despite his short career, he was prolific and successful. William Heysham Overend was born on 5 October 1851 in Coatham, near Middlesborough, now in the county of North Yorkshire. He was the third son of James Overend, a flax spinner, and Martha née Hodgson. When he was 10 years old, he and his family moved south to Hackney, London, where his father took up a position as a railway contractor. They later lived at Buccleuch Terrace, Clapton Common. Overend was educated as a dayboy at Charterhouse, in 1863, and then at Bruce Castle, a progressive school in Tottenham. Determined to become a painter, he studied for three years in the studio of the painter, Davis Cooper. Developing as a marine artist, he exhibited paintings mainly at the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (being elected a member of the latter in 1886). He also contributed to magazines, especially the Illustrated London News (1872-96), and illustrated books, most notably boys’ stories, such as those by G A Henty. Having had various addresses through the 1870s, Overend is recorded in 1881 as living with his wife, Sofia, at a boarding house at 64 Guilford Street, Bloomsbury, and keeping a studio close by at 39a Queen Square. In 1882, Overend sailed to New York, in order to fulfil a commission to commemorate Admiral David Porter's naval conquest of New Orleans, during the American Civil War. The resulting painting proved a great success. He would also exhibit at the World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893. Overend died at home at 17 Southampton Street, Fitzroy Square, London, on 18 March 1898. George Alfred Henty (8 December 1832 – 16 November 1902) was a prolific English novelist and war correspondent.He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include The Dragon & The Raven (1886), For The Temple (1888), Under Drake's Flag (1883) and In Freedom's Cause (1885).Biography--G.A.Henty was born in Trumpington, near Cambridge. He was a sickly child who had to spend long periods in bed. During his frequent illnesses he became an avid reader and developed a wide range of interests which he carried into adulthood. He attended Westminster School, London, and later Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge,where he was a keen sportsman. He left the university early without completing his degree to volunteer for the Army Hospital Commissariat when the Crimean War began. He was sent to the Crimea and while there he witnessed the appalling conditions under which the British soldier had to fight. His letters home were filled with vivid descriptions of what he saw. His father was impressed by his letters and sent them to The Morning Advertiser newspaper which printed them. This initial writing success was a factor in Henty's later decision to accept the offer to become a special correspondent, the early name for journalists now better known as war correspondents.....

When Colonel Wyatt died, all Weymouth agreed that it was a most unfortunate thing for his sons Julian and Frank. The loss of a father is always a misfortune to lads, but it was more than usually so in this case. They had lost their mother years before, and Colonel Wyatt's sister had since kept house for him. As a housekeeper she was an efficient substitute, as a mother to the boys she was a complete failure. How she ever came to be Colonel Wyatt's sister was a puzzle to all their acquaintances. The Colonel was quick and alert, sharp and decisive in speech, strong in his opinions, peremptory in his manner, kindly at heart, but irascible in temper. Mrs. Troutbeck was gentle and almost timid in manner; report said that she had had a hard time of it in her married life, and that Troutbeck had frightened out of her any vestige of spirit that she had ever possessed. Mrs. Troutbeck never argued, and was always in perfect agreement with any opinion expressed, a habit that was constantly exciting the wrath and indignation of her brother.