France: St. Bartholomew's Eve

St. Bartholomew's Eve

Philip Fletcher is half-English, half-French, and wholly devoted to helping his persecuted relatives in France fight against their Roman Catholic enemies. Accompanied by his servant, Pierre, Philip participates in some of the main campaigns of the French Religious Wars, serving under Gaspard de Coligny, Henry of Navarre, and the Prince of Conde. He shows himself a noble warrior in a turbulent and often ignoble time, placing love of God and family above his personal comfort and safety. The fury, bloodshed, and treachery of the French Roman Catholics culminates in the ferocious massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve, where thousands of Huguenots are brutally murdered. Philip, with his sword by his side and trusty Pierre at his back, must thread the narrow streets of Paris and the twisty thoroughfares of religious warfare to save his life and the lives of those he loves.

Some favorite aspects of St. Bartholomew's Eve:

Philip learns both the French and the English manner of swordplay, but he prefers a hard, straightforward blow. Hurrah for the English!

Pierre is a sturdy, trustworthy servant, and I enjoy his interaction with Philip, including his sense of humor.

I think that Philip is one of my favorite Henty characters, because of his compound of nobility, ingenuity, courtesy, and common sense.

Tueri a Vulnere

John