What the book was about: To further his education, Harry Sandwith is sent to France to live with the family of the Marquis of St. Caux. The Marquis hopes that some of Harry’s common sense and independence will also rub off on his son Ernest. The French family is at first put off by Harry’s rough English ways, but their opinions quickly change when he saves the two younger daughters, Jeanne and Virginie from a rabid dog. The French Revolution is in full sway, and the family travels to Paris so the Marquis and his wife can offer their support to the king. When the king is arrested, the Marquis realizes his family is in serious peril. He and his wife decide to stick with their sovereign. He sends Ernest and his other son out of the country to preserve the family line. (We learn later that they didn’t make it and are killed.) He sends his three daughters (the two mentioned earlier plus Marie, the oldest) to stay with the family’s old governess. Harry takes on the disguise of a French worker and watched over the girls. He is aided by Marie’s fiancé, Victor.

The two young men are watching a trial of nobles when Victor sees his own father being led out to be executed. He goes mad and Harry is forced to knock him out. He hides him in the home of an honest French merchant, and Victor remains an invalid for most of the rest of the book. Marie is then recognized and arrested. She is offered freedom if she will marry Labat, the man responsible for her arrest. She refuses. Harry schemes to help her escape, but without hope until he rescues a man being beaten on the street. This man turns out to be Robespierre, and Harry becomes his secretary. Labat gets permission from Robespierre to release Marie. Harry finds out and waylays them. Labat is killed and Marie is taken to where Victor is to nurse him. Jeanne, Virginie and their governess are in danger. Harry hired a cart and takes them to Nantes, hoping for a ship to England. But the girls are arrested and sentenced to death on the coffin ships. Harry goes aboard one of the ships and, when it sinks, rescues the girls by hiding under a hatch until they’re picked up by fishermen. They soon board a boat for England and are reunited with Harry’s family. Harry becomes a doctor and marries Jeanne (with all her family’s riches). Virginie marries his younger brother. Victor becomes a general under Napoleon and he and Marie also live happily ever after.

What I liked about the book: The plot was exciting — complete with sword fights and romance and all. The characters were likeable, if a bit too perfect.

What I didn’t like about the book: The writing was choppy and Henty uses lengthy explanations to show how plot inconsistencies and inconveniences are gotten out of the way.

Recommendation: The history was educational and the plot was exciting, but the writing and plot problems were just a bit too much for me.

In the late 1800s, G.A. Henty wrote a truckload of adventure stories for boys. In all of them, his young heroes are patriotic, God-fearing, courageous, intelligent and strong and his villians are ruthless and despicable. The books also do a good job of telling the history of the time in which they are set in a realistic and exciting manner. Most (if not all) include a meeting between the hero and some famous historical figure — in this case it was Robespierre. The novels have attracted the attention of home schoolers and are all back in print.

I would have loved this book if I had read it when I was 10 or 12, but at this point in my life I found it impossible to get past the choppy writing or the plot defects. The basic story was exciting, and the characters, while a bit too good to be true, were likeable. It was an enjoyable read, but certainly not a great one.