With Kitchener In The Soudan: A Story of Atbara and Omdurman

by G.A. Henty

Gregory Hilliard, whose real name is Hartley, comes of an aristocratic family but quarrels with his father over his marriage and finding it hard to make a living as a writer goes out to Egypt for the sake of his wife's health. He passes through the bombardment of Alexandria and then disappears into the Sudan and becomes an officer in Hicks' raggle-taggle army which is sent to destroy the Mahdi's incipient rebellion, but which is wiped out at El Obeid. His young wife remains in Cairo with their baby son, also Gregory, convinced that her husband has somehow survived. However she eventually dies when the boy is sixteen, and in due course the lad accompanies Kitchener o­n his mission.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

334 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1903

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

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead.

This is a typical boys book written during British Victorian times so reader should be aware that norms have changed. The plot is also very typical GA Henty, young man in poor circumstances makes it in the world with his own two hands, showing noble character and discovers at the end he's of the nobility!

In this case the plot starts with the father Gregory Hartley who marries below his station (according to his father, who is the second son of a Marquis), so Gregory takes his wife to live in Egypt. And his wife has a lung condition so warmer better is essential for her condition. Because he's only able to get a menial job below his station, he uses his middle name Hilliard as his last name. He soon gets a job in the British forces there as a translator and follows the troops into the fighting where I think he's killed. I'm not very sure on that part because there's a minor side plot where a white man is seen but not followed up.

Meanwhile a son is born in Alexandria, who is the main protagonist. He grows up and also follows in his father's footsteps and becomes a translator who follows the British into the fighting against the Dervishes. Like many of GA Henty's books, the story delves into the history of the events. To be honest, I'm a little bored because I don't really want to read a detailed account of the events and because I didn't come here to read history.

Anyway, the young Gregory attaches himself to different historical figures and proves himself in bravery and intelligence. We get a front line view of most of the fighting. At the end of the war, Gregory discovers his past and moves back to England where he claims the title which has fallen to his branch of the family.

I know that many old books have been censored and changed to fit modern norms but it's essential that these books not be changed to keep the books authentic as they were written and as a historical record. To censor or change these books would be like changing history books to block out events people didn't agree with.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. Again, this wasn’t my favourite Henty, but I enjoyed it and it was interesting. I enjoyed seeing how good a husband Gregory was, and I liked the sense of duty and the gallant fighting that pervaded the book. I also enjoyed the “missing identity” thread. There were one or two mentions of drinking, but my only problem really was that the author used capital H’s when referring to Allah, and also stated that Allah was the same God that the Christians worshipped. Other than that, I enjoyed the story.

A Favourite Quote: “There was no hitch, whatever. The arrangements were all so perfect that the vast machine, with its numerous parts, moved with the precision of clockwork. Everything was up to time. For a train or steamer, or even a native boat, to arrive half an hour after the time calculated for it, was almost unheard of. The Sirdar's force of will seemed to communicate itself to every officer under him, and it is safe to say that never before was an expedition so perfectly organized, and so marvellously carried out.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘The cavalry have already gone off in pursuit of their horsemen, but they are not likely to catch them; for we hear that Osman Digna is with them, and he seems to enjoy a special immunity from capture.’”

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read to familiarize myself with names/dates/places before tackling Churchill's The River War. Served its purpose.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

of its age - this is my first Henty after reading the Flashman Papers, interesting if stilted