G. a. Henty

George Alfred Henty (8 December 1832 - 16 November 1902) was a prolific English novelist and war correspondent. He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include The Dragon & The Raven (1886), For The Temple (1888), Under Drake's Flag (1883) and In Freedom's Cause (1885)G. A. Henty was born in Trumpington, near Cambridge. He was a sickly child who had to spend long periods in bed. During his frequent illnesses he became an avid reader and developed a wide range of interests which he carried into adulthood. He attended Westminster School, London, and later Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 3] where he was a keen sportsman. He left the university early without completing his degree to volunteer for the Army Hospital Commissariat when the Crimean War began. He was sent to the Crimea and while there he witnessed the appalling conditions under which the British soldier had to fight. His letters home were filled with vivid descriptions of what he saw. His father was impressed by his letters and sent them to The Morning Advertiser newspaper which printed them. This initial writing success was a factor in Henty's later decision to accept the offer to become a special correspondent, the early name for journalists now better known as war correspondents

George Alfred Henty (8 December 1832 - 16 November 1902) was a prolific English novelist and war correspondent. 1] 2] He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include The Dragon & The Raven (1886), For The Temple (1888), Under Drake's Flag (1883) and In Freedom's Cause (1885)G. A. Henty was born in Trumpington, near Cambridge. He was a sickly child who had to spend long periods in bed. During his frequent illnesses he became an avid reader and developed a wide range of interests which he carried into adulthood. He attended Westminster School, London, and later Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 3] where he was a keen sportsman. He left the university early without completing his degree to volunteer for the Army Hospital Commissariat when the Crimean War began. He was sent to the Crimea and while there he witnessed the appalling conditions under which the British soldier had to fight. His letters home were filled with vivid descriptions of what he saw. His father was impressed by his letters and sent them to The Morning Advertiser newspaper which printed them. This initial writing success was a factor in Henty's later decision to accept the offer to become a special correspondent, the early name for journalists now better known as war correspondents

The Thirty Years' War was an epic struggle between many European nations between 1618 and 1648. The war began as a struggle between Catholics and Protestant. It eventually pulled in every major power in Europe, morphing into a struggle to see if the France-Hapsburg line would maintain the pre-eminent role over Europe. The war caused great suffering, leaving many parts of Europe devastated, and the people starving. In G. A. Henty's Won by the Sword, young Scotsman Hector Campbell becomes involved in the events of the war, fighting in important battles at Freiburg, Mariental, and Nordlingen, and attempting an escape after being taken prisoner. Alacrity Press is proud to reprint Henty's classic, Won by the Sword. The story is set in 17th century Britain and mainland Europe.

The late 1800s saw the imperialistic Scramble for Africa, in which European nations vied for control of regions of Africa. The efforts of the British to secure the southern tip of the continent led them into unfortunate wars with the Zulu and the Boers (descendants of Dutch farmers). In G. A. Henty's The Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars, the Humphreys family moves from Derbyshire in England to the Transvaal in South Africa in the hope that a change of climate will be good for the mother's health. Young Dick Humphreys and his friend Tom Jackson find that being colonists came with great risk. Join Dick and Tom as they seek to protect their family and fellow colonists as they vie for control with the Zulus and Boers. Alacrity Press is proud to reprint Henty's 1885 classic, The Young Colonists. The story is set in 19th century England and southern Africa.