Public-domain ebook
by G. A. Henty
Language: en6,552 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Historical Novels·Adventure·British Literature
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #28357.
By Conduct and Courage is a historical adventure aimed at young readers, the final entry in George A. Henty’s celebrated series of boys’ tales. The story opens in the quiet village of Scarcombe, where an orphaned child named William Gilmore is taken in after his itinerant musician father dies suddenly. Henty sketches the boy’s early life among fishermen, his schooling under the parish clerk’s daughter, and the murky world of coastal smuggling that frames his upbringing. The chapter headings, ranging from “A Sea‑Fight” to “With Nelson”, promise a progression from modest village chores to naval engagements alongside the famed admiral, while the detailed contents list signals a tightly plotted, action‑filled narrative.
The prose reflects Henty’s late‑Victorian style: brisk, earnest, and rich with period detail. Dialogue is straightforward, and the narrator often interjects moral commentary, as seen in the clergyman’s reflections on liberty versus duty. Readers who enjoy fast‑moving, ship‑based escapades, a clear moral compass, and a glimpse of early‑19th‑century naval history will find this novel rewarding. It especially appeals to those who appreciate classic adventure stories that blend personal growth with historic events.
Mr. George A. Henty, who died in November, 1902, had completed three new stories, With the Allies to Pekin, Through Three Campaigns, and By Conduct and Courage. Of these, Through Three Campaigns and With the Allies to Pekin were published in the autumn of 1903; the present story is therefore the last of Mr. Henty’s great series of historical stories for boys. …
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