Bonnie Prince Charlie, A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden

Published by Blackie & Sons Limited, London Glasgow and Bombay, hardcover, gilt figure to red cloth board with design & gilding to spine, decorative binding, no date but circa. 1910, illustrated, 384 pages, 13.7 cms x 19.2 cms x 4.2 cms, condition: very good.

George Alfred Henty (8 December 1832 16 November 1902) was a prolific English novelist and war correspondent. He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include The Dragon & The Raven (1886), For The Temple (1888), Under Drake's Flag (1883) and In Freedom's Cause (1885).

This is a work of historical fiction, which retells two famous battles and the fate of nations and peoples. Bonnie Prince Charlie's fate affected my own family profoundly, having been on the side that lost, so it's a tale that's a bit dear to my heart. The writing style is perhaps a bit antiquated, but the heroes and villains are as big as they were once real, and the story winds out in sequence as history unfolds yet again. I liked it, and furthermore I think that even if a reader isn't Scottish, they can still appreciate a good tale, cleverly told.

This book has an old-fashioned style to it, think "The Scarlet Pimpernel" or "The Last of the Mohicans", but was enjoyable for this historical novel fan. I liked the characters, especially the usual intersection of fictional and composite characters with actual historical figures. The book contains details of a soldier's life, the manners and mores of the period, and some fun melodrama. Quick and easy to read.

The decorative binding is eye-catching.