G A Henty

By Sheer Pluck G A Henty

This a wonderful adventure tale of an English boy facing hard times who acts with integrity and courage despite great adversity. The story opens in England where young Frank lives with his widowed mother in a coastal town in Kent. He is well-liked by his schoolmates, but because of the death of his officer father, is unable to afford the kind of lifestyle they enjoy. When unexpected tragedy leaves him truly destitute, he is forced to rely upon his wits and strength of character to make his way. His love of natural science leads him to a position at a naturalist's shop in London where his life takes a turn. Eventually, he travels to West Africa on an expedition to collect natural specimens with a noted scientist and explorer. His party encounters numerous adventures with the locals and some close calls with wild animals as his party ventures into the interior during a time of tribal unrest. With its19th century era attitudes about race, the rights of the British Empire, and the cavalier habit of killing birds and animals to stuff and exhibit, the book is likely to offend in those respects. However, G. A. Henty wrote this and many other adventure tales when the world was a very different place. This book is a product of its time, and despite these problems, still manages to honor the bravery, wisdom, and integrity of many persons of other races featured in the book. Overall, it is a gratifying, well-written coming-of-age story of old-fashioned pluck and determination if you forgive the 19th century mindset of the author.