The Young Llanero: A Story of War and Wild Life in Venezuela

by William Henry Giles Kingston

William Henry Giles Kingston (1814-1880), was a writer of tales for boys. He was born in London, but spent much of his youth in Oporto. His first book, The Circassian Chief, appeared in 1844. His first book for boys, Peter the Whaler, was published in 1851, and had such success that he retired from business and devoted himself entirely to the production of this kind of literature, in which his popularity was deservedly great; and during 30 years he wrote upwards of 130 tales, including Digby Heathcote (1860), The Three Midshipmen (1862), The Three Lieutenants (1874), The Three Commanders (1875) and In the Rocky Mountains (1878). He also conducted various papers, including The Colonist, and Colonial Magazine and East India Review. He was also interested in emigration, volunteering, and various philanthropic schemes. For services in negotiating a commercial treaty with Portugal he received a Portuguese knighthood, and for his literary labours a Government pension.

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1877

About the author

Writer of tales for boys, William Henry Giles Kingston was born in London, but spent much of his youth in Oporto, where his father was a merchant.

His first book, The Circassian Chief, appeared in 1844. His first book for boys, Peter the Whaler, was published in 1851, and had such success that he retired from business and devoted himself entirely to the production of this kind of literature, in which his popularity was deservedly great; and during 30 years he wrote upwards of 130 tales.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a kindle public domain edition there was little information about what this book was. It is a boy's adventure novel, historical fiction written in the mid 19th century set in Venezuela during the revolutionary period. It is well written but reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz, where the young Illano along with a priest, Indian chief, doctor and his dog have an incredible chain of adventures. It was probably rather accurate in its descriptions of Venezuela and somewhat historically correct, with a very stron anti-Spanish bias.