|
The
Prince of Storytellers
G.
A.Henty's life (1832-1902) was filled with
exciting adventure. Completing Westminster School,
he attended Cambridge University. Along with a
rigorous course of study, Henty participated in
boxing, wrestling, and rowing. The strenuous study
and healthy, competitive participation in sports
prepared Henty to be with the British army in
Crimea, as a war correspondent witnessing Garbaldi
fight in Italy, being present in Paris during the
Franco-Prussian war, in Spain with the Carlists,
at the opening of the Suez Canal, touring India
with the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and a
trip to the California gold fields. These are only
a few of his exciting adventures.
G.A.
Henty lived during the reign of Queen Victoria
(1837-1901) and began his story telling career
with his own children. After dinner, he would
spend an hour or two in telling them a story that
would continue the next day. Some stories took
weeks! A friend was present one day and watched
the spell-bound reaction of his children
suggesting that he write down his stories so
others could enjoy them. He did. Henty wrote
approx. 144 books plus stories for magazines and
was dubbed as "The Prince of
Story-Tellers" and "The Boy's Own
Historian." One of Mr. Henty's secretaries
would quickly pace back and forth in his study
dictating stories as fast as the secretary could
record them.
Henty's
stories revolve around a fictional boy hero during
fascinating periods of history. His heroes are
diligent, courageous, intelligent and dedicated to
their country and cause in the face, at times, of
great peril. His histories, particularly battle
accounts, have been recognized by historian
scholars for their accuracy. In fact, the only
criticism Henty faced by the liberals of his day
was that his heroes were "too
Christian." There is nothing dry in Mr.
Henty's stories and thus he removes the drudgery
and laborious task often associated with the study
of history.
G.A.
Henty's Home & Library
Henty's
heroes fight wars, sail the seas, discover land,
conquer evil empires, prospect for gold, and a
host of other exciting adventures. They meet
famous personages like Josephus, Titus, Hannibal,
Robert the Bruce, Sir William Wallace, Sir Francis
Drake, Moses, Robert E. Lee, Frederick the Great,
the Duke of Wellington, Huguenot leader Coligny,
Cortez, King Alfred, and Napoleon just to mention
a few. Henty's heroes live through tumultuous
historic eras meeting the leaders of that time.
Understanding the culture of the time period
becomes second nature as well as
comparing/contrasting the society of various
European and pagan cultures.
Preston/Speed
Publications is delighted to offer again the works
of G. A. Henty. Action-packed exciting adventure
awaits adults and a whole new generation.
Return
to Main Page
|
