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Jack Archer
Jack Archer is an historical novel set in the Crimean War. The story begins with Jack at school when he is urgently sent for at home. His father tells Jack that he has gotten him a position as a midshipman on a paddle-steamer and will be leaving Portsmouth the following day.
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1883
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About the author
G.A. Henty
795 books371 followersGeorge 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2022
This book is a sometimes adventure, which takes a lot of time out to try to be a history, which takes time from that to be a kind of nationalist scree. Henty, who I’m reading for the first time with this, is apparently infamous for this kind of thing. An overview of his other books reveals quite a lot of crustiness and more than a little racism piled up (some is displayed in this book also). But, let’s stick to “Jack Archer”.
It’s 1854 and English schoolboy Jack Archer hates his lessons, especially language ones, and longs to be off at the war. He manages to get a commission and the next thing we know he is sailing off to the Crimean War.
The book actually begins fairly promisingly, since Jack and a friend go ashore at Gibraltar and manage to get abducted and held for ransom by a gang of criminals. When we get to Gallipoli there is more misadventure, and it’s a short trip to Sevastopol and the war.
Jack’s brother Harry has turned up as well, but is in the army, so Jack has to keep getting permission to go ashore and join him at camp. What will these scamps get up to?
…it’s a while before we find out, because Henty does not want the reader to miss any significant moment of every battle, every blunder, stats on the strength of the French, the British, the Russians… we get totals for those wounded and dead, we get names of generals rattled off… and in this blur of history, with attention paid to famous follies, we completely lose our characters.
Then, all at once, Jack and his friend Dick get captured by the Russians, eventually placed in the household of Count Preskoff, a nobleman who is targeted by the mayor of his town for being in sympathy with the serfs and calling for reforms. This is wisely used as the springboard for a series of fairly decent adventures, taking them to Poland at one point and embroiling them with freedom-fighters. The boys have to pick up some Russian. Initially they rely on Dick's French, so he can interpret when he isn't getting constantly wounded.
At times the book possesses all the qualities of a fine penny dreadful or perhaps one of Burroughs’ potboilers. The book is ultimately bogged down by a duel identity and an unwillingness to remain with its protagonist. Henty does not have any patience with Jack Archer, because he wishes to spend more time waving the flag and recounting every moment and statistic of the war. Many adventure writers have found ways to cover sprawling historical events in ways that inject the main character into them, but Henty has trouble keeping focus on scenes.
Another issue is Henty’s godawful worldview. His references to the Turks are hardly respectful, and at one point Jack and Preskoff discuss freeing the serfs and Jack expresses his doubts with a troubling reference to freed black slaves in the Caribbean.
I read this book as a historical reference, and in the end it does perform best as that. Henty delights in questioning all the major decisions by the allies in the Crimean war. He also writes for an exclusively British audience, referring to those military forces as “we” and “us”. The French are there too.
If I do read Henty again it will be out of morbid curiosity, as the Wikipedia on him seems to indicate that he tends to pick the wrong side for heroes in most situations.
It’s 1854 and English schoolboy Jack Archer hates his lessons, especially language ones, and longs to be off at the war. He manages to get a commission and the next thing we know he is sailing off to the Crimean War.
The book actually begins fairly promisingly, since Jack and a friend go ashore at Gibraltar and manage to get abducted and held for ransom by a gang of criminals. When we get to Gallipoli there is more misadventure, and it’s a short trip to Sevastopol and the war.
Jack’s brother Harry has turned up as well, but is in the army, so Jack has to keep getting permission to go ashore and join him at camp. What will these scamps get up to?
…it’s a while before we find out, because Henty does not want the reader to miss any significant moment of every battle, every blunder, stats on the strength of the French, the British, the Russians… we get totals for those wounded and dead, we get names of generals rattled off… and in this blur of history, with attention paid to famous follies, we completely lose our characters.
Then, all at once, Jack and his friend Dick get captured by the Russians, eventually placed in the household of Count Preskoff, a nobleman who is targeted by the mayor of his town for being in sympathy with the serfs and calling for reforms. This is wisely used as the springboard for a series of fairly decent adventures, taking them to Poland at one point and embroiling them with freedom-fighters. The boys have to pick up some Russian. Initially they rely on Dick's French, so he can interpret when he isn't getting constantly wounded.
At times the book possesses all the qualities of a fine penny dreadful or perhaps one of Burroughs’ potboilers. The book is ultimately bogged down by a duel identity and an unwillingness to remain with its protagonist. Henty does not have any patience with Jack Archer, because he wishes to spend more time waving the flag and recounting every moment and statistic of the war. Many adventure writers have found ways to cover sprawling historical events in ways that inject the main character into them, but Henty has trouble keeping focus on scenes.
Another issue is Henty’s godawful worldview. His references to the Turks are hardly respectful, and at one point Jack and Preskoff discuss freeing the serfs and Jack expresses his doubts with a troubling reference to freed black slaves in the Caribbean.
I read this book as a historical reference, and in the end it does perform best as that. Henty delights in questioning all the major decisions by the allies in the Crimean war. He also writes for an exclusively British audience, referring to those military forces as “we” and “us”. The French are there too.
If I do read Henty again it will be out of morbid curiosity, as the Wikipedia on him seems to indicate that he tends to pick the wrong side for heroes in most situations.
October 7, 2020
3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This is an interesting read. It was a little frustrating to me to see how slow and stupid the authorities were, and how that cost many lives and much suffering to the soldiers. There was quite a few mentions of drinking, as well as smoking. Jack and his friends were light-hearted and humorous, and overall it was a fun read.
A Favourite Quote: “Russian wounded were collected and laid together, and were given in charge of the inhabitants of a Tartar village near; Dr. Thomson, of the 44th Regiment with a servant volunteering to remain in charge of them, with the certain risk of capture when the Russian troops returned.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Archer, ... these verses are disgraceful. Of all in the holiday tasks sent in, yours appears to me to be the worst.’
“‘I'm very sorry, sir, ... I really tried hard to do them, but somehow or other the quantities never will come right.’
“‘I don't know what you call trying hard, Archer, but it's utterly impossible, if you had taken the trouble to look the words out in the Gradus, that you could have made such mistakes as those here.’
“I don't know, sir[.] I can do exercises and translations and all that sort of thing well enough, but I always break down with verses, and I don't see what good they are, except for fellows who want to write Latin verses for tombstones.’
“‘That has nothing to do with it," the master said; "and I am not going to discuss the utility of verses with you.’”
*review to be updated*
A Favourite Quote: “Russian wounded were collected and laid together, and were given in charge of the inhabitants of a Tartar village near; Dr. Thomson, of the 44th Regiment with a servant volunteering to remain in charge of them, with the certain risk of capture when the Russian troops returned.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Archer, ... these verses are disgraceful. Of all in the holiday tasks sent in, yours appears to me to be the worst.’
“‘I'm very sorry, sir, ... I really tried hard to do them, but somehow or other the quantities never will come right.’
“‘I don't know what you call trying hard, Archer, but it's utterly impossible, if you had taken the trouble to look the words out in the Gradus, that you could have made such mistakes as those here.’
“I don't know, sir[.] I can do exercises and translations and all that sort of thing well enough, but I always break down with verses, and I don't see what good they are, except for fellows who want to write Latin verses for tombstones.’
“‘That has nothing to do with it," the master said; "and I am not going to discuss the utility of verses with you.’”
*review to be updated*
January 8, 2014
Every young person (or those young at heart) need to read this book! It's packed with adventure and a thrilling tale as only G.A. Henty can describe it. Where else does a 15-year-old boy save his country, get captured with his pal and save the position of a Count and his family, fight with the resistant Polish people, learn Russian, sail through heavy storms, fight on the front lines, get the girl and it all end up well with a climactic ending?!
*Parents with very young readers/listeners may wish to know there is a very brief scene with the decapitation of one of the enemy; though not drastically described, it may be a bit disturbing to some sensitive young ones.
*Parents with very young readers/listeners may wish to know there is a very brief scene with the decapitation of one of the enemy; though not drastically described, it may be a bit disturbing to some sensitive young ones.
May 24, 2015
Typical Henty novel. Boy has troubles. Boy has influential relative. Boy leaves home for an adventure (in this case, off to war). Boy sees adventure (in this case, the Crimean war). Boy does brave things, boy does risky things, boy gets captured, things work out. Boy meets girl. Boy saves someone's life. Boy has more adventure. Boy returns, does more brave things, saves more people's lives, lives through the adventure, heads home and is successful. Boy meets girl again. Boy gets married. Boy (and girl) live happily ever after.
March 16, 2014
Splendid Historical
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very well written for anyone's age or gender. It's the story of a young English man's survival and growth during the Crimean war. There's no profane dialog or graphic bloody descriptions, instead battle stats are provided. This is a very interesting story with historical details.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very well written for anyone's age or gender. It's the story of a young English man's survival and growth during the Crimean war. There's no profane dialog or graphic bloody descriptions, instead battle stats are provided. This is a very interesting story with historical details.
March 16, 2011
Typical noy's adventure... Not much on the boy but lots on the war in the crimea. Surprisingly frank about the war's mismanagement. Certainly full of unexpected adventures.
December 31, 2015
Very interesting
The story had a slow start but very exciting in the last 2/3. The first book of its type I have read.
The story had a slow start but very exciting in the last 2/3. The first book of its type I have read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews