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The Young Franc Tireurs And Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian War
The two heroes of this book join the French forces during the Franco-Prussian War and have many escapades and adventures including especially their entry into Paris in disguise by swimming the Seine and their escape from Paris in a balloon.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1872
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About the author
G.A. Henty
1,462 books366 followersGeorge 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 22, 2023
I've been reading GA Henty books. This is my 3rd or 4th and I just couldn't finish it. Not because of the attitudes of the time but because of poor writing. Spoilers ahead.
So GA Henty is a prolific young adult British writer from the Victorian era. Most of his books are military or historical adventure books for young boys.
This one deals with the Franc Tireurs which are kind of volunteer, unofficial men at arms. These men have existed time immemorial and from all nations. In this book the Prussians/Germans have orders to shoot any that they capture.
Because Henty is a British writer writing for British audiences, he made the 2 protagonists (2 young brothers) part French by having a French mother and English father. To get the attitudes of the time out of the way, he does talk about the superiority of the English (boys and girls) by talking about their general positive outlook and mentality and their penchant for outdoor and healthy living and exercise (as if it's a national trait and no other countries do it!) There is also classism where an Irish (called English here) man happily identifies the 2 boys as higher class and happily works for them as an orderly and follower without further thoughts. This is a 100+ year old book and I'm not going to down rate it for that anymore than I will downrate a Roman adventure book who looks down on German "savages".
Where it falls down to me is the realism. Granted, this is also dated. Realism was different then too but I just couldn't get past it.
Anyway the two English/French boys are living in Dijon when the Franco-Prussian War starts. They are accepted into a local FT band. The commander is a good one and the first 30-40% of the book is not bad. It relates the activities of the band against the Prussians. I learned a lot about what they did and how they fought. Apart from that, you have to take with a grain of salt what 14-16 year old boys could do. The book also talks about shooting prisoners and retaliation, which is not something a modern book for teens would do.
The kids get promoted and the realism gets worse. I get the feeling that Henty wrote himself into a corner. I can accept two kids being part of a FT band but not when they get promoted to captain! The part where I quit was when they disguised themselves as Jewish traders and their commanding officer couldn't recognize them. The dialog was a bit inane as well.
Henty was able to write and get lots of books get published for nothing. I can understand that they were popular and acceptable at the time but the unreal realism just got too much for me.
Edit: I did end up finishing the book. I'm going to up the rating to 3 stars. After I got over the pretense that English boys could do no wrong, it was just a fantasy adventure. They disguised themselves into Paris, ballooned back out, participated in a few more battles and that was it. For me it was a window opened into a historical novel written not too long after the FP War and it wasn't too bad as that.
So GA Henty is a prolific young adult British writer from the Victorian era. Most of his books are military or historical adventure books for young boys.
This one deals with the Franc Tireurs which are kind of volunteer, unofficial men at arms. These men have existed time immemorial and from all nations. In this book the Prussians/Germans have orders to shoot any that they capture.
Because Henty is a British writer writing for British audiences, he made the 2 protagonists (2 young brothers) part French by having a French mother and English father. To get the attitudes of the time out of the way, he does talk about the superiority of the English (boys and girls) by talking about their general positive outlook and mentality and their penchant for outdoor and healthy living and exercise (as if it's a national trait and no other countries do it!) There is also classism where an Irish (called English here) man happily identifies the 2 boys as higher class and happily works for them as an orderly and follower without further thoughts. This is a 100+ year old book and I'm not going to down rate it for that anymore than I will downrate a Roman adventure book who looks down on German "savages".
Where it falls down to me is the realism. Granted, this is also dated. Realism was different then too but I just couldn't get past it.
Anyway the two English/French boys are living in Dijon when the Franco-Prussian War starts. They are accepted into a local FT band. The commander is a good one and the first 30-40% of the book is not bad. It relates the activities of the band against the Prussians. I learned a lot about what they did and how they fought. Apart from that, you have to take with a grain of salt what 14-16 year old boys could do. The book also talks about shooting prisoners and retaliation, which is not something a modern book for teens would do.
The kids get promoted and the realism gets worse. I get the feeling that Henty wrote himself into a corner. I can accept two kids being part of a FT band but not when they get promoted to captain! The part where I quit was when they disguised themselves as Jewish traders and their commanding officer couldn't recognize them. The dialog was a bit inane as well.
Henty was able to write and get lots of books get published for nothing. I can understand that they were popular and acceptable at the time but the unreal realism just got too much for me.
Edit: I did end up finishing the book. I'm going to up the rating to 3 stars. After I got over the pretense that English boys could do no wrong, it was just a fantasy adventure. They disguised themselves into Paris, ballooned back out, participated in a few more battles and that was it. For me it was a window opened into a historical novel written not too long after the FP War and it wasn't too bad as that.
July 25, 2020
Henty's first historical novel.
February 6, 2023
3 stars & 3/10 hearts. For some reason, this time when I read this story it didn’t grip me. I like it, and I have enjoyed it before, but this time I had a hard time pushing through, which makes for a rather unenthusiastic review. I did find it thought-provoking and interesting. I’ll be rereading it soon.
Content: Mentions of drinking & smoking, also some lying.
A Favourite Quote: “‘The way in which your boys have stood the fatigue is a proof, in itself, how much the prosperity of a nation depends upon the training of its boys. England is strong because her boys are all accustomed, from their childhood, to active exercise and outdoor, violent games. In case of a war, like this which we are going through, almost every man could turn soldier, and go through the fatigues of a campaign; and what is more, could make light of—not to say enjoy—them.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Well said, Captain Barclay; well said, indeed. I believe I may say that everyone here agrees with you, entirely. There are too many officers continually absent from the army upon “private affairs;” and those of Monsieur Desmaret have taken longer to arrange than usual, for he has been staying here for five weeks now.
“‘However,’ he said, significantly, ‘he will hardly prolong his stay in the island.’”
Content: Mentions of drinking & smoking, also some lying.
A Favourite Quote: “‘The way in which your boys have stood the fatigue is a proof, in itself, how much the prosperity of a nation depends upon the training of its boys. England is strong because her boys are all accustomed, from their childhood, to active exercise and outdoor, violent games. In case of a war, like this which we are going through, almost every man could turn soldier, and go through the fatigues of a campaign; and what is more, could make light of—not to say enjoy—them.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Well said, Captain Barclay; well said, indeed. I believe I may say that everyone here agrees with you, entirely. There are too many officers continually absent from the army upon “private affairs;” and those of Monsieur Desmaret have taken longer to arrange than usual, for he has been staying here for five weeks now.
“‘However,’ he said, significantly, ‘he will hardly prolong his stay in the island.’”
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews