A Jacobite Exile

by G.A. Henty

Unedited, unabridged, original format editions with original colored cover art, these Henty books reproduce the original in careful detail. Sir Marmaduke Carstairs, a Jacobite, is the victim of a conspiracy, and he is denounced as a plotter against the life of King William. He flies to Sweden, accompanied by his son Charlie. This youth joins the foreign legion under Charles X11., and takes a distinguished part in several famous campaigns against the Russians and Poles.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

George Alfred Henty, better known as G.A. Henty, began his storytelling career with his own children. After dinner, he would spend and 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 Henty write down his stories so others could enjoy them. He did. Henty wrote approximately 144 books in addition to stories for magazines and was known as "The Prince of Story-Tellers" and "The Boy's Own Historian." One of Mr. Henty's secretaries reported that he would quickly pace back and forth in his study dictating stories as fast as the secretary could record them.

Henty's stories revolve around fictional boy heroes during fascinating periods of history. His heroes are diligent, intelligent, and dedicated to their country and cause in the face, at times, of great peril... Henty's heroes fight wars, sail the seas, discover land, conquer evil empires, prospect for gold, and a host of other exciting adventures. Along the way, they meet famous personages... In short, Henty's heroes live through tumultuous historic eras meeting leaders of that time. Understanding the culture of the time period becomes second nature as well as comparing/contrasting the society of various cultures.

Reviews

[Angelyn]

Not the best writer but interesting and pure history. This one was about Charles XII of Sweden. Interesting character. He liked to wrestle bears for sport but lost ground to Peter the Great where St. Petersburg now exists.

[John Bowis]

In my youth I loved the historical novels of G A Henty. Many years later I discovered a blue plaque celebrating him at a house in my Battersea! He fires the imagination, often about people and events scarcely known to the British public and yet his meticulous research brings real places, individuals and events to life.
In this case, at a time the Stuart cause is for the time being lost and the Dutchman William of Orange has married the sister of the ousted Stuart King, James ll, and seized the throne. The families of our heroes, from the North of England hope that one day the Stuart line will be restored but are resigned to wait and dream. The mischievous relation of the Carstairs family uses deceit and lies to betray his kinsman and have him arrested, so that he can take over the desirable estate. Carstairs is helped to escape and, with his son Charlie and a number of like minded friends flee abroad and land in Sweden.
Sweden is a successful military nation, led by the dynamic young King Charles Xll. He becomes impressed by the verve and imagination of Charlie, a British regiment is formed and the history book is opened on the tales of wars between Sweden and Poland and Saxony and Russia and Lithuania and elsewhere in that region. Charlie has adventures with all these , not to mention good and not so good bandits. He wins skirmishes and sometimes battles but is often the last man standing, either wounded or concussed. Then follows his experiences of imprisonment, which usually end up with the plaudits of his captors. The area is wild with savage wolves and he finds a fiery way to save himself and a local Count and family. A small diversion takes us to the building on the swamps of the Neva a great development which will become the Peter and Paul Fortress and the city port and capital of St Petersburg.
Then it is back to England and the unmasking of the family villain, not without help from Queen Anne's General later Duke of Marlborough. Cue for the next Henty book...

[Katja Labonté]

4 stars & 4/10 hearts. This book unites military excitement and detective thrills. This is the typical Henty—undetailed/passing mentions of drinking, gambling, smoking, & swearing; also a barely-detailed sucide at the end. There is quite a bit of humour, some of which made me laugh out loud. xP

A Favourite Quote: “‘And you may be sure I will stand by you, Charlie, whatever it is,’ Harry said heartily. ‘We have been just like brothers, and, of course, brothers ought to stick to each other like anything. If they don't, what is the use of being brothers?[’]”
A Favourite Humourous Quote: “‘You can make up your mind, for at least five months, of the worst side of a soldier's life—dull quarters, and probably bad ones, scanty food, cold, and disease.’
“‘ Not a very bright lookout, major,’ Forbes laughed. ‘I hope it won't be as bad as that.’
“‘Then I advise you to give up hoping, and to make up your mind to realities, Forbes.[’]”

*review to be updated*

[Rachel]

Really interesting