I have often featured work by the
author G. A. Henty on my blog (http://www.defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/search/label/Henty) but this is the first time I have
reviewed one of his books. This is in
spite of the fact that I have read about 40 Henty novels over 5 years. Today’s review will cover When London Burned: A Story of Restoration
Times and the Great Fire.
The historical setting is during the reign of
King Charles II of England from 1661-1668.
The English Civil Wars have concluded and the King enjoys his own, but
feeling still runs strongly in the country.
The Cavaliers (supporters of the King) and the Roundheads (supporters of
Parliament) are not fighting with swords, but continue to regard each other
with suspicion. In foreign affairs, France and England are friends, but Holland is ready to make with England over trade and colonies.
The story begins by introducing
us to Sir Aubrey Shenstone, a nobleman turned out of his estate after supporting
King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642-1651). He is forced to flee to France with his only
son named Cyril, for his wife had died.
When Charles II returned to the throne, Sir Aubrey sailed to England to
recover his estate—vainly, as it turned out.
In London father and son reunited, but not for long for Sir Aubrey
died. He had neither a penny to his
name, nor any friends to help Cyril through the world
But Cyril had learned the trade
of a clerk in France and had supported himself and his father while in
London. Now after much reflection, he
decides to keep working as a clerk with the hope to buy back his rightful
estate. He worked for many men in London
and one of them recommends him to a merchant named Captain Dave. Captain Dave used to be a sailor but now
sells merchandise for ships: rope, copper bolts, compasses, anchors. Cyril is hired to help him keep the accounts
and quickly discovers that someone has been stealing Captain Dave’s goods. After some careful investigation, Captain Dave’s
two apprentices are discovered to have been the thieves. They and their accomplices are arrested and
brought to trial.
This success in defending Captain
Dave’s property has earned Cyril the hatred of the criminals, who go by the
name of the “Black Gang.” Cyril is
kidnapped and sent to Holland, where he books passage on a ship back to
England. There the members of the “Black
Gang” are tried and found guilty. But
two escape from the prison: Robert Ashford the apprentice and “Black” Dick. But Cyril has other matters to worry him more
than the escape of two prisoners.
Captain Dave’s daughter Nellie has been swept off her feet by a young
gallant of Charles II’s Court, and is prepared to elope with him. But he is not a nobleman but instead a
fortune hunter named John Harvey. To
thwart him, Cyril enlists the help of John Wilkes, an old and trusty employee
of Captain Dave’s. Together, they fight
and defeat Harvey and two of his cohorts as they attempt to carry Nellie
off. This narrow escape has its effect
on Nellie, and she becomes more kindly and less vain.
Shortly after this, Cyril and
Wilkes fight a fire. Together they
rescue four women from a burning house and meet the Cavalier, Prince Rupert. The Prince appoints Cyril as a volunteer
aboard his own ship, the Henrietta, which is preparing to fight the Dutch
fleet. The English ships sail and engage
the Dutch in what would become known as the Battle of Lowestoft. During the battle, a Dutch fire ship (a ship
lit on fire and then sent into an enemy ship) is bearing down on the
Henrietta. Cyril manages to steer it
away from impacting his ship. This action
saved his life, for “Black” Dick was aboard the Henrietta and had determined to
kill Cyril until he saw his sacrifice to save their ship.
Returning to England, Cyril helps
battle the Plague of London in company with Dr. Hodges. During this time, Cyril meets several
Independents, so called because they were independent of the Church of England. Among these are a Mr. and Mrs. Harvey. They are nearly robbed by their son John, but
Cyril manages to thwart him. Mr. Harvey
quickly writes out his will to prevent his son from inheriting any money. But John Harvey is determined to strike back
and since he has the Plague, infects Cyril before dying of it. Cyril and John Wilkes the seaman fight the
Plague with sweating, tobacco, and fresh air.
After this exhausting regimen of treatments, the plague spots abate and
disappear completely. Captain Dave and
his family return from the country back to London in November. On Christmas Eve, a lawyer arrives informing
Cyril that he has received an inheritance of a house and land. It comes from Mr. Harvey, who wishes to do
justice by restoring it to the son of the former owner.
But war flares up again between
the English and Dutch, and the English fleet is ordered to put to sea. It clashes with the Dutch fleet for the
four-day long Battle of Dunkirk. Cyril
is appointed to a small yacht and manages to reroute a few Dutch fireships
during the battle. Both sides refit
their ships and clash in another battle.
After his service, Cyril returns to London only to find that the Great
Fire of 1666 has broken out. Cyril, John
Wilkes and Captain Dave’s family work frantically to save a few of their goods
from the fire by boarding a ship. But
the Dutch are far from beaten and proceed to land on the coast of England and
capture Sheerness. Again the English
fleet meets them in battle. Shortly
after, the peace treaty between the two countries is signed.
This is one of Mr. Henty’s finest
books. Cyril’s hard work and his
willingness to sacrifice for others give excellent lessons to the reader. Wise quotes and maxims are sprinkled
throughout the book as well. It can be read for
free at: https://archive.org/details/whenlondonburned00hentuoft
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