Among Malay Pirates : a Tale of Adventure and Peril

by G.A. Henty

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, War, Classics, Pirates

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1893

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 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. This is a compilation of one long story and five shorter ones. They’re all interesting, but the last one is my favourite. There’s a few mentions of drinking; smoking; a swear word in “White-Faced Dick” + a mention of saloons in the same; in “Pipe of Mystery” the men smoke a pipe of opium and dream something about the future. I love Jack & Percy from “Brush with the Chinese” and I enjoyed the humour in both the first and last stories, as well as the marine element. ;)
A Favourite Quote: “The men replied that they would stick to the yacht wherever Mr. Virtue chose to take her, and muttered something about the ladies, for the pleasant faces of Mrs. Grantham and Miss Graham had, during the fortnight they had been on board, won the men’s hearts.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘I never quite realized what a fowl felt in a coop before,’ Jack said, ‘but if its sensations are at all like mine they must be decidedly unpleasant.’”

*This review is liable to be updated*

[Izzat Isa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saya membaca karya ini hasil terjemahan Ali Qowais dan diterbitkan oleh Garoda Merah Press. Berdasarkan bacaan, saya berpendapat penulis menghasilkan karya ini ketika era kolonial, semasa British mentadbir banyak tanah jajahan sama ada di India, Kepulauan Melayu dan Canton China. Jadi cerita-cerita yang disampaikan berlatarbelakangkan peristiwa-peristiwa di tanah jajahan.

Buku ini terdiri daripada beberapa cerita iaitu 1) Lanun Melayu: Sebuah Pengembaraan yang Berbahaya, 2) Ghauts: Kisah Dacoit dan Beruang, 3) Terumbu Paternosters, 4) Paip Misteri, 5) Dick Si Muka Pucat dan 6) Pertarungan dengan Cina. Saya paling mengemari kisah Lanun Melayu dan Paip Misteri.

[Bobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baca terjemahan Ali Qowais. Walaupum banyak kesalahan ejaan, masih lagi menarik dibaca. Tanah Melayu semasa era kolonial membangkitkan rasa klasik!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. An adventure in the land of the Malay Pirates ending in Canton China.

From start to completion it was an extremely interesting time. Centuries having been left behind us. The struggles and troubles being a part of life then. And makes one aware of what people had to endure to live together.

[Audiobook Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjPXK...

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I said I wanted to challenge myself by reading all of G. A. Henty's books, but I promptly forgot about it. Or rather, I had so many other books I wanted to read and I'm not good at e-books. All excuses I know, but well, I've finally finished another book(:

I started reading Among Malay Pirates for two reasons - the word Malay (which means it might be close to Singapore) and the fact that it began with an A. But unlike the other Henty Books I've read, this isn't a novel but a collection of 3/4 stories set in Asia.

The first story is the only one that's set around Malaysia/Indonesia. And, I'm very glad to see that Singapore gets a brief mention (although I also wish a story was set there). And I found the description of Durians very amusing:

"... and those who could overcome their repugnance to the disgusting odor of the durians found them delicious eating."

Strangely, I've always thought durians smelt nice. Then again, I love durians so the their smell means that a treat is coming.

And of course, rice gets a mention, although it's called "beastly". Again, I don't get it.

The stories themselves? Well, the plots are all pretty much the same. The brave soldier gets captured and then finds a way to escape. I believe there was only one of the stories where the plot differed (It was set on the ocean and about storms).

Personally, I think the stories were too short for the characters to develope fully. After reading this book, I realised that the strength of G.A. Henty would be the world-building and the characters. The plots feel the same (somehow), and although the characters are, to be frank, two-dimensional, they're somehow very endearing. It's a paradox I can't fully explain myself.

I liked the first story the best, and I think I would have liked the book a lot better if it focused on developing this story fully.

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Geoff Woodland · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that was popular in its day - dated dialogue, perhaps quaint would be a better word - full of 'daring do' and boys adventure, but oddly enough I enjoyed reading this book as a fine example of all our yesterdays.
The author died on 1902 and a few years later I wonder if his stories were recast with certain swashbuckling actors for the cinema.

[Paul A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henty’s stories often follow similar patterns and tropes, but the world building and setting is always stellar.

[Ping · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consists of few short stories, an enjoyable read though at times I had to check out the glossary of nautical terms.