STUNNING!

I’ve just seen the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  It was proper amazing!  Breathtaking and it blew me away how hard working even some of the minions were!

Review: The Young Buglers by G. A. Henty

The Young Buglers by G. A. Henty tells the tale of motherless Eton boys Tom and Peter Scudamore.  A father who trusted a clerk too much led to the father’s bank losing everything, and the father’s death.  The boys and a younger sister then go on to stay with an Aunt, who has a low opinion of boys, and thinks she needs to iron out their mischievious natures.  The two boys then run away to join the army, as buglers, and then, as before, get up to all sorts of curious antics and excel themselves far beyond their age.  This is set in the early 1800s, when the English were trying to drive the French out of Spain.  Being written in such a way as to be historically accurate, and trying to give a bit of an education as well as entertainment, the occasional chapter has no reference to the heroes of the story, rather giving details of the war as a whole.  These historical insertions are perfectly readable, but are incredibly easy to skip over without really reading, and yet not going too far and missing some story.

Although this story is has of some of the most improbable scenarios or escapes you’re likely to read, its well written, and flows well.  A very good read.

Henty’s tales of war are better than a lot of the books you read of gold diggers etc, which despite being very good, are somewhat formulaic with a steryotypical early view of america, its landscape, indians, and the heroes making their fortune either by hard work or they stumble onto something.  The new exciting land of america (as it was then), was therefore described extirely in extensive detail, whereas the books set in the continent of Europe that Henty writes generally are a better read.  I’d recommend any Henty book I’ve read as a good proper read steryotyped as a boy’s adventure story however with – I believe – a wider appeal.  Like an Enid Blyton, but more actionfilled, instructive and for a older and perhaps wider age range.

For clarification, I’ve only read two thirds of this book so far, but its going real good.  Last night I averaged 23888 words per hour and this morning reading I was up to 23934 wph for the short time I was reading.