Book Review of Fighting the Flames

Standing in the midst of searing heat and flames licking at the rotting woodwork beneath his feet, a fireman presses forward into the depth of the burning building. Suddenly, a section of roof just behind him collapses, sending a flurry of sparks into the air and billows of smoke into the night sky. By this time, the child he is searching out has been trapped in the dense and scorching basement for too long, yet he presses on. Smoke burns his eyes and screens his vision, nearly choking him, yet this does not hinder him. A child's cry suddenly reaches his ears. He dashes forward through the flames and smoke, sweeps the choking toddler into his arms, and dashes out of the burning ruins without a moment to spare. This is the life of a fireman, the great hero of every era.

Fighting Tooth and Nail

This account is very similar to the gripping accounts of brave firemen in R.M. Ballantyne's novel, Fighting the Flames. During the 1850s in London, fires were extremely common, much more than anyone wished. Often this hot enemy would besiege homes and buildings of the city up to seven times in a single night! Even so, the London Fire Brigade is small and nearly under-manned for such daunting demands, yet those who are in it fight this blistering foe with great perseverance despite their relatively low workforce.

The hero of our story, Willie Willders, has the great ambition of fighting such a scorching opponent and rescuing helpless inhabitants from the ravaging heat and suffocating smoke. His brother Frank has told him on many occasions that his excitable and effervescent character would not make him a good fireman. Despite having been warned about this, Willie holds his dream to be a hero like his brother close and refuses to even let it take a step out of the door of his mind for fear it will never return. As a whole, Fighting the Flames is not particularly one single story with a main plot with other and less important plots woven throughout, rather the whole book is a collection of minor plots masterfully intertwined to create a picture of the life of London and its relation to it ever-blazing adversary and the militia who is set out to conquer it whenever it may unexpectedly appear.

If I were to be asked the question whether or not I would recommend this book to friends or family, my unequivocal answer would be an absolute yes! This is wonderful read for both young men and women, and older readers as well. On a scale from one to ten (ten being the best), I would rate this book a ten without a thought. Fighting the Flames may even inspire young boys to join forces with those heroes and engage the ravaging enemy of flames in the years to come.