Public-domain ebook
Ten Boys from History
Language: en3,562 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Children's Biography·Children & Young Adult Reading·Biographies
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #23650.
About this book
Kate Dickinson Sweetser’s Ten Boys from History is a compact biographical collection that gathers youthful figures from diverse cultures and eras, each chosen not for later fame but for a notable deed performed while still a boy. The volume opens with an explanatory note that frames courage as the common thread linking the stories, followed by a detailed table of contents that lists a range of characters, from crusading youths and a boy‑king to a telegraph inventor and a musical prodigy. The first narrative, “Stephen and Nicholas: Boy Crusaders,” plunges the reader into the fervor of early‑13th‑century France, describing a shepherd boy’s encounter with a pilgrim, a divine summons, and his subsequent rallying of peers for a new crusade. Sweetser’s introductory passage sets a tone of earnest historical storytelling, emphasizing the emotional intensity that propelled these youngsters into remarkable actions.
The work reflects the didactic, slightly ornate prose of the late‑19th‑century educational literature, with a focus on moral exemplars and vivid, almost theatrical description. Sweetser’s voice is earnest and descriptive, weaving factual detail with dramatic narration that brings the boys’ inner motivations to life. Readers who enjoy concise, character‑driven histories, particularly those interested in how youthful agency intersected with larger historical currents, will find this collection engaging. It also appeals to educators and young adults seeking inspirational accounts of courage and ambition across different periods and societies.
Who appears in Ten Boys from History
- StephenYoung French shepherd, ragged woolen tunic, barefoot, sun‑tanned skin, dark shaggy hair, simple wooden staff
- NicholasBoy crusader, modest linen shirt, leather belt, short cropped hair, determined eyes, modest pilgrim’s cloak
Opening lines
In this small volume the boys of many lands and races whose stories are told, have been selected not because they later became famous men, although some of them did, but because each one achieved something noteworthy as a boy. And in each boy's character, whether historic or legendary, courage was the marked trait. For this reason it is hoped that their stories will prove stimulating to some who read them. …
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