A Jacobite Exile

Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 617K words
Chapters: 62

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.A Jacobite Exile by G. A. HentyAuthor: Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: May 8, 2006

Editor's review

This is a historical adventure novel by the English writer G. A. Henty, set against the Jacobite risings. Henty excelled at placing a young protagonist within the real currents of history, letting readers encounter the political landscape and social life of a particular era while following the character's fate. Its value lies in a narrative-driven approach to history: the plot moves briskly, personal action intertwines with historical events, and readers need no large store of background knowledge to enter the story. As a public-domain ebook, it is a light option for reading in the original English, with length and difficulty friendly to readers with some English. Focus on how the protagonist makes choices amid turmoil and how the author reflects grand history through personal experience. Note that nineteenth-century adventure novels carry the narrative habits and biases of their time; read critically, as a text for understanding how history is written rather than as the only historical reference.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Middle school and adult readers who enjoy historical adventure fiction
Beginners who want to learn Jacobite history through story
Readers with some English who want to try a public-domain classic in the original
Those interested in the nineteenth-century British boys' adventure tradition

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer rigorous academic history and sourced scholarship
Beginners with limited English who struggle with nineteenth-century expression
Literary readers with no interest in political intrigue and war

Reading tips

Read one chapter to get a feel for the pacing before deciding whether to read straight through
Keep a simple timeline marking how the story corresponds to historical events
Skip unfamiliar historical terms at first and look them up after finishing the chapter
Afterward, compare the novel's narrative with other sources on the historical record

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can I understand this book without a background in Jacobite history?

Yes. The novel advances through character action, and the historical background unfolds as the story proceeds, so you need not know everything in advance. Mark unfamiliar names and events as you go and look them up after finishing the relevant chapters, so you are not stalled mid-read.

Is this book suitable for practicing English reading?

It suits readers with some English. The text is nineteenth-century English with long sentences and expressions that differ from modern usage. Start with a page or two a day and focus on following the plot rather than checking every word; with persistence you will grow used to the author's voice.

What should I keep in mind when reading a public-domain ebook?

Public-domain ebooks are usually prepared by volunteers, and editions may differ in layout and annotation. Choose a clearly typeset edition, and check other editions if you suspect a transcription error. The content is historical fiction and should not be treated directly as historical fact.

Comments

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About the author

Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902 Author

George Alfred Henty (1832–1902) was a well-known British writer of historical adventure novels for young readers in the nineteenth century. The collection here contains 107 of his works, most of them drawn from major historical events in Europe and the Americas: By Right of Conquest is set during Cortez's conquest of Mexico, Under Wellington's Command takes the Peninsular War as its background, and For the Temple deals with the fall of Jerusalem. He typically placed a young hero at the centre of real historical scenes, weaving military campaigns and political struggles together with personal adventure. The plots are tightly paced and rich in detail, and they reflect a distinctly British outlook and the moral tastes of the Victorian age. His output was considerable, and his books had a lasting influence on later historical adventure fiction. Public information about his family, education and career is limited, so no speculation is offered here.