If you've followed this blog, you should know that I'm passionate about solid, God-glorifying fiction which encourages manliness and involves action and adventure. I've been privileged over the years to write about R. M. Ballantyne, G. A. Henty, and other authors of boys' adventure fiction, and I'm now happy to join the ranks.

Both of these novels are stand-alone books, though you may see a few connections if you look closely, and both are set in the 1830s. It's a time of danger, unexplored territories, burgeoning technologies, Old World fighting tactics, and the ever-present need for manhood and courage.

The Boy Colonel: A Soldier Without a Name

The year is 1836. A mysterious young English soldier known as the "Boy Colonel" commands a crack regiment in the snowy wastelands of Siberia. No one knows his history. No one knows his name. The Cossacks want him dead -- but are they the only ones? It seems his worst enemy may wear an English uniform.

The Boy Colonel strives to perform his duty, but when that duty becomes mixed he must decide which sovereign is greater -- the king of England, or the God of the Bible. Treachery, intimidation, and deceit block his path. His choice of allegiance may mean the difference between life and death. Is he prepared to risk all to protect his loved ones?

Brothers at Arms: Treasure & Treachery in the Amazon

Lawrence and Chester Stoning are twins, but like Jacob and Esau of old they have little else in common. Lawrence is a realist, fascinated by the study of science, mathematics, and history, while Chester longs for the knightly adventures of chivalrous times past--hard-fought battles, gold-filled caves, damsels in distress.

When Chester's impetuosity engages the unlikely pair as bodyguards to a Spaniard and his beautiful ward Pacarina, the twins quickly realize that the 19th century calls for a chivalry of its own. Protecting Pacarina's secret leads all of them into the steaming jungles and dizzying mountains of Peru, a foreboding territory made all the more dangerous by Lawrence and Chester's strivings against each other. Can the twins learn to trust God and work together before it's too late? Or will they fall prey to the mysterious schemes of Pacarina's enemy -- an enemy they know nothing about?

Look interesting? Click here to purchase both books from Vision Forum. Drop me an email to let me know what you think, and spread the word to family and friends!

Tueri a Vulnere,

John

Male:

Natty Bumppo, from the Leatherstocking Tales by James Fenimore Cooper, as an all-round lovable character with sterling integrity, amazing modesty, and spectacular skills.

Peterkin Gay from The Coral Island and The Gorilla Hunters by R. M. Ballantyne, as an outrageously hilarious, absolutely splendid fellow.

Female:

Jeanne from In The Reign of Terror by G. A. Henty, as a sensible, clear-headed, sturdy girl who can also be affectionate and loyal.

Esther Summerson from Bleak House by Charles Dickens, as a sweet, mature girl, with many similarities to Jeanne.

Who are your favorite fictional characters?

Yes, that's right, Pride and Prejudice, the adored, despised, glorified, belittled, and controversial Regency romance. I recently read it as part of my literature study, and decided to share a few of my thoughts on the classic beloved by generations of swooning girls.

I opened P&P's pages with a bit of my own prejudice, and was pleasantly surprised to find large quantities of vivacious dialog, instead of the blocks of fashion-centered, dress-describing description that I dreaded. The story moved well. The plot was intricate enough to stretch the mind, but not as wound and bound in a honeycomb of subplots and additional characters that writers like Dickens employed. (Not that I'm complaining about Dickens.)

Opinion on Select Characters:

Elizabeth Bennet: (Main character) Not particularly memorable. It's easy to relate to her situation, but she has neither the sagacity of Jeanne in The Reign of Terror, or the vivacity of Diana Vernon in Rob Roy. In Elizabeth's defense, she is refreshingly different from her other sisters, and quite the opposite of her vulgar mother.

Mr. Darcy: (Main character's eventual love interest) For some reason, Mr. Darcy has been idolized as the woman's "perfect man," and I expected him to be dashing, cheerful, gallant, etc. He turned out to be a pretty good chap after all, who starts out being quite prideful and gets a much-needed dose of reality. He was properly passionate about his love for Elizabeth at the end, without degenerating into mushy sentimentality. (For an example of annoying male melodrama see Jasper in Cooper's The Pathfinder.)

Jane Bennet: (Elizabeth's older sister) A good type of girl. Rather naive, but modest, loyal, and feminine. It's easy to wish her happiness in life.

Mr. Wickham: (Most villainous character) Jane Austen did an excellent job of creating a three-dimensional villain. He was vindictive, knavish, and unscrupulous, without being the glowering squint-eyed fellow with an evil laugh that villains are often portrayed as.

Mr. Bennet: (Elizabeth's father) Probably a realistic portrayal of a Regency father, but woefully neglectful of his daughters' training and relations with the world. I do give him great lenience due to his marriage with Mrs. Bennet.

Mrs. Bennet: (Elizabeth's mother) Annoying and vulgar. P&P would have been more satisfying if she had been punished in some way for her ridiculous and insensitive ways; something after the fashion of Silas Wegg in Dickens' Our Mutual Friend.

Mr. Collins: (Elizabeth's cousin) Delightfully annoying. A very enjoyable caricature. One of P&P's most memorable characters, in my opinion.

My favorite quote from P&P relates to Mrs. Bennet.

Mrs. Bennet to Mr. Bennet: "You have no compassion of my poor nerves."

Mr. Bennet to Mrs. Bennet: "You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least."

Summary Opinion

Pride and Prejudice was more interesting than I expected and gives an excellent perspective on Regency England, but is not deserving of the idolization it has received.

Pride and Prejudice in 34 words:

(I can't resist having this bit of fun)

Mr. Darcy: I am giving you the honor of marrying me.

Elizabeth: I abhor you.

Months later. . .

Elizabeth: Do you still want to marry me?

Mr. Darcy: Of course!

They live happily ever after.

Tueri a vulnere,

John

J. M. Barrie

J. M. Barrie

J. M. Barrie wrote dozens of books and plays, but he's best known for his creation of Peter Pan, the boy who would never grow up. There is some controversy about Barrie and his works, but I'm not an expert on either, as I've only recently become interested in the Scotsman. I'm not necessarily recommending Barrie's books, but there's no question that he has had an influence on modern culture.

The character of Peter Pan, through literature, dramatizations, movies, and even videogames, has produced hundreds of millions of dollars and has been internalized by tens of thousands of people. Disney, in 1953, and Steven Spielberg, in 1991, found the cocky little fellow and his peculiar friends very successful in convincing movie-goers to part with their sweat-earned cash. Picture books, costumes, room decorations - an entire franchise has been built around Peter, Wendy, Captain Hook, and the Lost Boys. Who was it that aided to inspire these? R. M. Ballantyne.

Ballantyne's Influence on Barrie

Peter Pan plays the pipes

The Coral Island did not contain boys in tights, obnoxious fairies, or ticking crocodiles, but it did take place on an island. In his preface to a 1913 edition of The Coral Island, J. M. Barrie wrote: "To be born is to be wrecked on an island."^[1] The creator of Never Never Land seemed to like islands; "Many writers of romances have had romantic notions, but you can't do better than wreck your hero on an island. To this day I could not pass a book by in which there was a desert island."^[2]

I've written before about The Coral Island's influence on Stevenson's Treasure Island and Golding's dark Lord of the Flies, but there is no doubt that it also inspired Barrie and the fantasy of Peter Pan.^[3] Barrie placed the adventure of Ralph, Peterkin, and Jack, above even that in The Swiss Family Robinson,^[4] declaring that it was his favorite book as a boy.^[5]

Barrie claimed inspiration from some very familiar authors: Robert Louis Stevenson, James Fenimore Cooper, Charles Dickens, and W. H. G. Kingston, to name a few, but of these Ballantyne ranks near the summit. He once wrote, in an article about boys' books, that "I used to think that [Ascott] Hope (or else Ballantyne or Marryat) ought to be made King of England."^[6] Considering England's list of unsavory kings, I don't think he was far wrong.

Captain Hook in Walt Disney's version

So there you have it, without R. M. Ballantyne, there quite possibly might be no Peter Pan. Would that have been a bad thing? Perhaps not, but since the little fellow was created, we can further trace RMB's influence on the world of boys' books. And remember, the boy is father of the man. We must all grow up some day.

Tueri a Vulnere,

John

Tueri a vulnere,

John

The figure of Sir Walter Scott towers in Scotland's history as the man who gave her back her lost national honor through his books, poems, and work in finding the Honours of Scotland. It's only fitting that Edinburgh's Sir Walter Scott Monument should also tower above the city's landscape at a whopping 200 feet. The Binny stone that the builders used quickly attracted dirt and soot, adding to the effect of the Victorian Gothic architecture. Many find the unique monument to be unattractive or obtrusive, but I think it echoes Scott's romantic imagination and does a splendid job of honoring his legacy. The creator of Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, and so many other classics certainly deserves more than just a drab marker.

While in Europe, Josh, myself, and two other friends conquered the 287 steps to the top and enjoyed a fantastic panoramic view of Edinburgh. A huge statute of Scott and one of his faithful dogs sits at ground level, and another smaller version rests on the top level as a reward to the brave souls who survive the climb. Sixty-four other statuettes rest in niches and represent characters from his books, while banners etched in stone commemorate his most famous works.

The monument was inaugurated in 1846, though the last statuettes were not added until after 1881. It's most likely that R. M. Ballantyne, along with hundreds of other notables, climbed those stone steps in memory of his father's friend and his own inspiration. The hundreds of names scraped into the walls certainly speak to many more recent visitors, though few of them probably fully understand Scott's impact on Scotland, as well as the rest of the English-speaking world. Praise God that the Scottish people, after rediscovering their heritage through Scott's work, have in turn honored Scott's heritage through this monument!

Tueri a vulnere,

John

"...When people spoke of my Bonnie land I didn't know what they meant, but then I took to travel and I roamed far and wide and now when I sing of my native land I sing with love and pride!"

After 33 days of travel and adventure I have finally returned to San Antone, my home territory, more grateful than ever for the state and country in which I live!  The flight home this afternoon was one of very mixed emotions for me. On the one hand I am so excited to be returning to this greatest of states and to once again be joining in the battles of life here. On the other hand I am dearly missing the home of my heart and imagination, Scotland, as well as the journey which I was part of for the last month. Truly, that journey through Europe is still fresh on my mind and heart, and I have no intention of letting it move to the back of my mind. From May 26th, when I last stood in my home, to today it has been one of the most incredible journeys of a lifetime. Tonight I will once again put foot in my room. But it's important to catalogue the things of life as well.

From these United States to Europe. From living in airports for three days to Roman dinners. From the Coliseum to Pompeii. From Rome to the Overnight train through Switzerland. From the Arch Di Triumph to Notre Dame Cathedral to the Eiffel Tower. From American tourists in Paris to largest American Reenactment division in Normandy on June 6th. From the beautiful Norman countryside to wonderfully grouchy ol' Brittish customs agents. From Les Miserables to the British Museum to Fish and chip shops. From Glasgow to Iona. From climbing the crags and cliffs of death during a rising tide to on a whim belting out "Flower of Scotland" at the highest point of Iona. From the Wallace Monument to Edinburgh. From Stirling Castle to playing "I hea seen the Hielands" with Sam on the green. From the Sir Walter Scott Monument to late night excursions. From late "Alba Gu Bragh" parties to making new friends with a "broad scot" in the local McDonalds at midnight. From the very last book store visits to running to make our plane, very late and very overweight with book purchases.

Today as I look back on the last month I want to consider the things I learned and experienced. If you were to ask what my very favorite part of the last month is, it would certainly be hard to specify one particular point. But as I think about it now, of all of the Europe we visited I would have to say that the two places I loved the most and learned the most from are Normandy and Iona in Scotland. They are now two of my favorite spots on earth, after the South which I love even more. Both these places are spots which I have studied for the last year, yet in both Normandy and Iona I learned more in the three days we spent in each place than I had ever dreamt of learning before.

To visit Normandy on the actual anniversary of D-Day (June 6) and to stand with the dozens of veterans who had returned to the battles of their youth. To be part of the hundreds of reenactors gathered to honor the men who died. To sing songs with old men who had been little boys in the villages during the liberation. To storm the bridges and fields of the same countryside that was stormed 66 years ago. To stand before Omaha beach and witness the iron warriors weep at the graves of their brothers and friends. Though it seems cliche to sum it up in a word, it truly was incredible.

My brother Justice, and two of our best friends Samuel Turley, John Horn and I were in 101st Airborne gear with the other reenactors. At one point I heard one veteran point to our group of men and boys in 101st and say "That's just how I looked this day, 66 years ago..." Justice and John are sixteen, I turned eighteen in mid May, and Sam had just turned twenty on the 31st. Its a strange thing to think that you're the same age that these old heroes were when they hit the beaches and fields. But it was true. Theres no way to study history as well as it is to live it out, we saw this first hand in Normandy.

As I sit here remembering, I also think of sweet Iona. Iona in the Northwest of Scotland. Iona, two miles by one mile in size. Iona, the home of the first explorers to Scotland, possibly the descendants of Gathelus. Iona, the haven of the Druids. But in the 5th century it became the manger bed of Christianity in Scotland, and then in Europe, when a man by the name of Columba cleaned the island of Druidism and began the spread of the unvarnished Gospel in the North. Over time it became a type of holy spot for Christians, far away from the Luke warm-waterings down of the Gospel. On Iona would be buried between 47 and 60 kings representing at least four different nations. These kings wished to be buried on Iona to identify with its great legacy of Christianity and Heroism.

Much can be said of Iona, but it would fill pages here. We spent three days and two nights on the island. Several of us stayed in tents on the mountain side. It was a memory never to be forgotten. While on Iona we read of Columba and visited the island bookshop. We saw the life of a dear friend spared from the jaws of death. We prayed for the Legacy of our children. We climbed the tallest mountain and spied out the whole island from it's top. We sang the songs of Scotland, heroism, exploration and manhood from the Abbey. We made plans and plots for the future and walked together as friends.

As I walk away from these two wonderful memories, Normandy and Iona, I can't but help feel incredibly blessed. Blessed and thankful, both to my heavenly father and to my earthly father. I am now thinking about everything else there is to learn about these two place! There is more than I can ever hope to fully understand. But the research will continue, the reading press forward and my thoughts will always be grateful for this opportunity. In this journey of a lifetime we solidified friendships, traveled fast, learned faster and were able to see the providence of God over and over throughout history. From this journey I walk away not simply thankful for the legacy of the men who died before us, but also realizing that we need to leave a legacy as well. And I thank God for my home-land, truly I hae seen the highlands and I hae seen the low', but I will sing of my native land wherever I may go!

Praise God for the legacy of history he has given us! It truly is history that teaches us to hope!

~Joshua Titus Phillips

Addendum: There are four more spots which now come to mind as I consider the great points of the trip: The Protestant Cemetery in Rome where R.M. Ballantyne is buried. The Sir Walter Scott monument in Edinburgh, Scotland. The William Wallace monument in Stirling. And our visit to London's Queen's Theatre where we watched the "immortal" performance of Les Miserables. But I will have to write on these another time...

Afterword:
From Europe, the Phillips family arrived in the Atlanta airport only to split in preparation for the next leg of the trip: half the family heading home, and the rest of us (Dad, Jep, Lib and Me) flying directly to the Denver homeschool conference without even setting foot outside the airport in between jaunts. (Oh, and did I mention that our flight was cancelled and we once again spent the night in the airport? But it was great fun anyways...)  We arrived in Colorado had a wonderful and very profitable time with the folks from CHEC (Christian Home Educators of Colorado) and on Sunday heard a wonderful message from Dr. Sproul on Mathew 6.

The next day we headed directly to CHEF's homeschool conference in Missouri. The conference had a fantastic line up of speakers including my father, Vodie Bauchom, Bill Potter, Samuel Turley, Herb Titus and John Dwyer. On Tuesday Dad gave a fantastic message on the Christian Life of Stonewall Jackson. Then Wednesday night Dad and Mr. Potter gave a  slam-dunk joint message on the Legacy of D-Day and the Providence of God. While in Missouri we stopped off at the home of Dan Ford, bibliophile, where we filmed several clips on the legacy of Liberty and Property in American History.

Finally we headed to South Carolina where we were honored to be part of a special multigenerational celebration and 13th birthday of Harrison Weir, a good friend and fellow traveler. While there we were reunited with several of the friends who we had traveled through Europe with. It was a wonderful and joyous occasion with great friends, great music and good times all around. Today, June 28, thirty-three days after we departed our home in Texas, thirty-three days since we last had our beloved Tex-Mex food, we once again boarded a plane to head south. To head home. To sleep in our own beds. To raid our own pantries. And to remember the stories of our grand, grand adventure!

Archie's Successful Stratagem

In Freedom's Cause by G. A. Henty

Archie Forbes is raised to be a true Scot in a time when England's mighty boot lay firmly planted upon the green moors and purple heather, and the Scottish nobles are divided by party factions and greed. The high nobles seem intent only on personal gain, and the people are leaderless against the enemy. Leaderless, that is, until Sir William Wallace raises his gigantic sword, and calls upon his people to retake their homeland.

Although young, Archie is proficient with his weapons and fearless in the face of danger. The lad soon joins Wallace and his band of patriots, fighting sword-by-sword with the great chief against the oppressors. Blackguardly nobles, fierce Highlanders, and haughty English hem them in on every side, and Archie must use his wits as well as his weapons to protect his chief and convince others to join. This is one of my favorites, and a must read for any interested in Wallace, Bruce, and Scottish history.

Some favorite aspects of In Freedom's Cause:

I'm a hopeless lover of Scottish history, so this tale is quite appealing. This is one of the very few books in which Henty takes sides against the English, a novelty among his novels.

Archie has a great deal of Scot's common sense, and he uses this in some very ingenious ways. The way in which he tackles disguise, espionage, and "bodyguard" duties is fantastic.

There are so many memorable scenes that it's hard to pick favorites. I greatly enjoyed the incident with the hound - read the book to find out what I mean.

Tueri a vulnere,

John

When London Burned by G. A. Henty

Hoping to be rewarded for his royalist service by Charles II in England's "Restoration," Cyril Shenstone's father moves to London, along with his son. Things don't go as planned, however, and young Cyril soon finds himself orphaned and penniless. Determined to support himself, he becomes a roving clerk and scrivener, finally settling down with a steady London family. The boy's steady life is soon shaken by the Plague and the Great Fire of London, which sucks Cyril and his friends into the swirling chaos of 1666, and forces him to fight robbers, villains, and death itself.

Some favorite aspects of When London Burned:

Cyril's diligence is particularly appealing, as well as his relations with the London family with whom he resides.

The way in which Cyril fights the plague is truly fascinating, and shows resourcefulness and innovation.

There are several very memorable scenes which Henty executed admirably. I still have a vivid picture in my mind of the billowing smoke and flashing flames that tore through London, consuming everything in its path.

Fighting the Flames by R. M. Ballantyne

It seems fitting, after reviewing Henty's When London Burned, to also mention R. M. Ballantyne's Fighting the Flames. This is one of Ballantyne's better novels, and was excellently described in Matthew Wells' review, posted on our article page. Click here to read.

Tueri a vulnere,

John

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

Beric is the young chieftain of a small tribe in Britain, under Roman occupation. He joins an attempt by the maltreated Queen Boadicea to throw the Romans into the sea and is soon involved in a succession of bloody battles. Defeated by the better trained legionaries, he seeks refuge in a swamp and harries the enemy for many months until finally surrounded and captured. He is carried to Rome as a gladiator and put to severe training, but before the time comes to enter the arena as a warrior he chooses to defend a Christian girl from a lion - with no weapon but a cloak. His success draws the attention of Emperor Nero, a generous but fickle friend. At last, Beric is forced to make a decision; whether to continue a life of dangerous ease in Nero's palace, or protect his betrothed and become a hunted outlaw.

Some favorite aspects of Beric the Briton:

Beric is passionate about learning. I find myself empathizing with him as he groans at the needless destruction of books during the sack of Camulodunum.

One of Henty's best "man vs. beast" scenes is Beric's fight with a lion in the arena. Henty is excellent with simple, easy-to-visualize action.

I think that Beric's interaction with Nero is very realistic, painting Nero in believable three-dimensional colors, though I probably would have darkened the canvass even more, had I been the author.

Tueri a Vulnere

John

While travelling in Europe I hope to post at least one review per country of books either by Ballantyne or Henty that took place in the country I'm visiting. This depends on consistent internet access, but I'll do my best.

I hope to write next from Rome, Italy!

Tueri a vulnere,

John

The following historical anecdote is based on a story from Winston Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples, Vol. 1.

The year is 1199. Richard the Lionhearted is besieging a small castle owned by the lord of Chaluz. Riding too close to the walls, King Richard is mortally wounded by a crossbow bolt. He arranges his affairs and orders the captured archer into his presence. Noble man that he is, Richard pardons the archer and gives him a sum of money. Soon after, he dies of gangrene. The archer is promptly flayed alive.

Moral of the story: If you shoot a king, don't get caught.

G. A. Henty also wrote about the time of King Richard in Winning His Spurs, which follows a young Englishman through baron wars, the crusades, Saracen captivity, and much more. It's available from Vision Forum here.

Tueri a vulnere,

John

Tomorrow we celebrate Ballantyne's Day! 186 years ago, on April 24, 1825, R. M. Ballantyne was born.

"...in all my writings I have always tried -- how far successfully I know not -- to advance the cause of Truth and Right and to induce my readers to put their trust in the love of God our Saviour, for this life as well as the life to come." --R.M. Ballantyne, from Personal Reminiscences in Book-Making

Tueri a vulnere,

John