Vision Forum E-mail Newsletter

SECOND PLACE WINNER

Sarah Byrum

FOR GENERATIONS to COME
The Writings of G.A. Henty

As the year draws to a close, and the world in which we live increases in its deception and mixed culture, Christian parents everywhere look for innovative ways to affirm the God-given roles their boys and girls were created with, roles that contrast strikingly with those our phlegmatic, cowardly, feministic and godless world presents. It is during the radiant time of their youth that the boys and girls of today need strong tools to help build them up into Godly and honorable men and women, a strong people to be used by the Lord Jesus. In their search for an affirming tool that will extend itself to future generations, parents are greatly rewarded if they are led to the beautiful writings of a man named G.A. Henty.

George Alfred Henty was a man of utmost integrity, a man whose writings speak clearly for what he believed. As a young person reads his books, he or she is inspired to live out their roles with purpose and zeal, and can see how much he despised cowardly and feministic culture, as is strongly emphasized throughout his books and writings. He knew that boys and girls learn best by example, and that examples have a strong influence on every young person. He sought to create models who could not only teach great lessons of character, but who could also affirm the roles of male and female readers. He attained the first great step to his remarkable goal when he published his first book, Out on the Pampas.

Masterfully crafted for his own children, Henty used incredible skill as he weaved together the story of a British family who takes an astonishing action of faith, and leaves the comfort of England to pursue pioneer life on the frontier of Argentina. As children are enveloped into the excitement of the story, they learn how Charles and Hubert, the two Hardy brothers, throw themselves heartily into the task of preparing for frontier living. Without complaint, the boys manfully exercise themselves in the studies of carpentry, farming, live-stock raising, and the use of firearms, while Maud and Ethel, the lads’ two sisters, follow their brothers’ examples, and willingly join their mother in their womanly tasks to prepare themselves for an unaccustomed lifestyle. With great determination the little women cook, clean, and study all the womanly skills necessary so that in time, they could become gracious, hospitable, and well balanced keepers at home. The four children’s effort is shown to be of wonderful use when they do leave the comforts of their native land and step onto foreign soil. Their work produces remarkable harvest and profit, and teaches that skills of trained men and women serve and benefit them greatly. Adventure weaves its way through the story, and the boys and their father end up rescuing their stolen livestock and their gentle, brave young sister, from the grasps of the Indians. This fascinating book teaches many Henty ideals, and from it, children are encouraged to live out their created roles with joy and purpose.

Through the thick danger in one of Henty’s later works, St. Barthlomew’s Eve, readers learn about courage and perseverance as they watch the hero of the story, Phillip Fletcher, encounter dangerous situations and battles in the French Huguenot era of persecution. The manly way young Phillip handles the dilemmas is extraordinary, while his presence of mind through horrific ordeals is tremendous. The ladies of the story are equally remarkable, as they perform many acts of service with love, even through castle sieges and battles surrounding them. With courage and patience they strove on, a true example of faithful women who believe in their calling and fulfill it beautifully. Lads who read this tale cannot help but be inspired to live out their masculine roles courageously, while the young ladies who read it are exhorted to be faithful, true, and dutiful-such women as God created and wants them to be.

In another of his books, Beric the Briton, Henty’s admirers watch in awe as a young chief of a British tribe masters Roman tactics of discipline, battles with the Romans, sacks Roman cities with his fellow countrymen, and zealously strives for freedom with his native country. Still more amazement follows when Beric and his tribe are taken to Rome and made gladiators, yet without broken spirits or offended pride. Beric’s courage is unmatched when Henty weaves in the exciting part of Beric rescuing a defenseless, Christian girl from a cruel death to lions in a Roman coliseum. From reading literature like this, boys are exhorted to “quit themselves as men,” ever ready to die for the weaker, dependent human beings of our world. Beric’s wife portrays great inner beauty, strength, and a sweet spirit of joy, even though her own life was often at stake with her husband’s. No matter what trial or difficulty they were forced to endure, she was ever ready to smile, always cheerful and bright, bringing hope to even the most discouraged of the tribesmen. Henty created her honorably, and through her, affirms Godly virtue in girls.

Mr. Henty presented a strikingly different story when one of his later books, Facing Death, was published. Set in Victorian England, the story opens in one of the many coal mines of that era. Jack Simpson was a typical mining boy, hearty and strong, but not at all bright, and without any life purpose. His life was drastically changed when one day, God’s providence brought a new life goal for him. He suddenly didn’t want to waste his life, nor just skip through it as his friends were. A goal, a plan, a high idea of what he wanted to be consumed him, and with great energy he strove to educate himself, labored to be a hard worker, and determined to be a strong leader. Although others may have laughed at him, he never wavered, never hesitated in his course, but always persevered. As young Jack grows older, others become enthused with his high example and begin to pursue their own life goals. Instead of “just making it through life,” Jack’s friends began to see the joy in excelling. The young ladies of the mining village too, began to work hard at becoming well equipped women who could cook tasteful meals for their families, nurse the sick, tend to beautiful gardens, sew lovely clothing, and care for their children. As a result of their effort, the homes of the coal miners changed wondrously, and as time went on, this one little mining village became a shining example to all the villages surrounding. Jack succeeded not only in his goal, but also in making the goals of others. He becomes a hero when the mine has an enormous explosion, and Jack, along with twenty other men, escape being killed due to a brave deed of Jack’s. The story concludes victoriously; Jack, now a gentleman, attains a high position of honor, and is rewarded beyond his expectations with a prosperous and radiant life. Boys and girls are left having learned extremely valuable lessons about the roles of men and women, and with a burning desire to portray their own sacred callings as deliberately as Jack did.

Henty’s models are practically endless. He created Walter and Edith Somers, medieval survivors of the Black Plague in his book, St. George for England, who stood a strong couple together, serving the many victims with love through their unique roles, regardless of the fact that their own lives were in immense danger. In the Reign of Terror presents a young lad named Harry, who fearlessly encounters numerous dangers and heroically rescues two brave ladies from a horrific death. Mr. Henty’s beloved book In Freedom’s Cause, portrays yet another brave man and woman who face the dangers of their day with faith. Archie is a brave Scotchman and part of Bruce’s courageous party while his wife, Marjory, dignified and feminine, joins the struggle in her womanly way, rescuing prisoners and serving the needy with a compassionate spirit. These are but a glimpse into the world of Henty that beautifully affirms the divinely appointed roles of men and women in boys and girls.

G.A. Henty used his exceptional talent of storytelling to capture the hearts of children and kindle a burning passion in them to be Godly men and women who are confident and radiant in their callings. G.A. Henty gave boys and girls a bright spark of inspiration to live out their roles with purpose, and vision to see into future generations of courageous boyhood and virtuous girlhood. With G.A. Henty, boys and girls soar in their goals, achieve their highest expectations, and become the God-honoring men and women they dream of becoming. Through his writings, G.A. Henty affirms the roles of boys and girls in a beautiful way, not affirming them only, but also their generations to come.


ABOUT SARAH BYRUM

Sarah Byrum is a fifteen-year-old Christian homeschooled student who’s two favorite pastimes are reading and writing. She is an avid reader of G.A. Henty’s historical novels, and is of the opinion that no child’s curriculum is entirely complete without his books. Sarah is passionate about restoring the lost vision of Christian heritage and generational faithfulness in America. She desires that every child raised in a Christian home be joyful, radiant, fulfilled, and confident in their life’s role and purpose, and positively believes that G.A. Henty is one of the most powerful tools to encourage them toward those goals. Sarah currently resides in North Idaho with her parents and eight siblings, of whom she is the eldest daughter.

Return to Henty Essays