In the Irish Brigade

by G.A. Henty

In the Irish Brigade tells an adventure story during the war with Flanders and Spain. This was a time of religious persecution, poor government, secular hatred, and general oppression. The Irish soldiers left Ireland to fight in the French army and were some of the best soldiers fighting at that time.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1901

About the author

George Alfred Henty, better known as G.A. Henty, began his storytelling career with his own children. After dinner, he would spend and hour or two in telling them a story that would continue the next day. Some stories took weeks! A friend was present one day and watched the spell-bound reaction of his children suggesting Henty write down his stories so others could enjoy them. He did. Henty wrote approximately 144 books in addition to stories for magazines and was known as "The Prince of Story-Tellers" and "The Boy's Own Historian." One of Mr. Henty's secretaries reported that he would quickly pace back and forth in his study dictating stories as fast as the secretary could record them.

Henty's stories revolve around fictional boy heroes during fascinating periods of history. His heroes are diligent, intelligent, and dedicated to their country and cause in the face, at times, of great peril... Henty's heroes fight wars, sail the seas, discover land, conquer evil empires, prospect for gold, and a host of other exciting adventures. Along the way, they meet famous personages... In short, Henty's heroes live through tumultuous historic eras meeting leaders of that time. Understanding the culture of the time period becomes second nature as well as comparing/contrasting the society of various cultures.

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars & 4/10 hearts. This is a highly exciting, very realistic book. I love Desmond's name. ;) Quite hilarious, though sometimes the things presented humorously are not appropriate (i.e. drinking or the Devil). [Mentions of scandal because a girl is carried off & is hypothetically in a carriage with an officer; mentions/discussions of drinking/being drink; mentions of the Devil & purgatory; very mild language (‘the devil/divil’).] In short, it’s a very exciting and pretty humorous read.

A Favourite Quote: “‘...all of them are men of rank and repute, whose word would be taken even by an enemy.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘If we could but get hold of Godolphin (...) we might get an order, from him, to embark in one of the boats that carry his agents.’ ....
“‘Yes; and if you could get hold of Anne, you might persuade her to sign an order for the release of our comrades.’
“‘It is not so impossible as you seem to imagine[.] There are two ways in which we could manage the matter.[”...] 
“The two officers looked at each other, astounded at the audacity of the scheme that Desmond had quietly propounded.
“‘Are you really in earnest, Kennedy?’
“‘Quite in earnest. I do not see why it should not be done.’
“‘Well, you are certainly the coolest hand I ever came across[.] You are proposing to seize the first minister in England, as if it were merely an affair of carrying off a pretty girl quite willing to be captured[.I]t is nothing short of high treason for us thus to make free with the person of the chief minister of England.’
“‘That is a matter that does not concern me at all, O'Neil. If we were captured now, we should be executed for high treason with the others; and if we carried off Anne herself, they could not do much more to us.’”

*review to be updated*

[Henry Douthwaite · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple little collection of tales about young Irishman Desmond Kennedy and his adventures during wartime in the early rein of William and Anne, where rebels to the English crown fought with the French to place the young James Stuart on the English throne lost by James II.

It's described as a book for 8-12 year olds, but I would say it's a little hard going in places for 8-10s. Some adventures are very exciting, some are weighed down by the description of war and go into great details more associated with books such as the Sharpe novels written by Bernard Cornwall.

Enjoyable, I'll save it for my son when he is of the right age.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my brother; just like the others there were fun parts and...parts we skipped. My brother liked the name Desmond Kennedy quite a bit more than Gerald O'Connor (spoiler), but he liked the plot twist.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Foulsham Henty Library book edition