Through the Fray

by G. A. Henty
Available from Amazon
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This book deviates from the most frequent pattern of G. A. Henty’s books. Usually his heroes are in the midst of a historical time, are well acquainted with some of the leading figures of the day, emerge victorious from their conflicts, and come to be known and admired due to their courage, honesty, and wholesome character. This book is set in the Luddite Riots at the beginning of the industrial revolution in the early 1800s. However, even though Ned Sankey behaves with distinction in these affairs, the main battle of the book is with his own temper.

Left to the care of his ayahs in India during his early childhood, Ned was wont to give way to his passionate temper to get his way. He learned to control it under his father’s hand after the family relocated to England, but he still gave way under severe provocation. From the beginning of the book, Ned has the reader’s sympathies as he struggles to do what is right, and take his schoolmaster’s abuse quietly. We approve of his valor in a fair fight against an older boy, as well as his kindness to him afterwards. Ned’s anger erupts in a few incidents, one of which leads his mother, the town and the authorities to believe him guilty of a heinous crime, although he was entirely innocent. He was acquitted at his trial, but most believed it was only because there was not enough evidence to convict. In the end, the true criminal is exposed and Ned’s character is redeemed. Through this all, Ned learned the disastrous results of an uncontrolled temper, and we are told that he was always the master of himself ever after. I only wish that his father and counselors, when encouraging him to do right, had shown him the strength available in Christ, rather than appealing to his manhood.

I really enjoyed this book, certainly more than others by Henty, probably because the enemy to be conquered was not a foreign foe, but self, the enemy we are born to battle. Henty's skill in weaving a story is almost more apparent in this book, as he gives so much information on the Luddites and their conditions, information I'd never heard. He blends this so well - better than in some of his other works, in my opinion - with the drama in Ned's personal life. Perhaps because of this, there is never a dull moment in the book. I found no areas that seemed easier to skim, and there are no long passages of pure history dropped into the story. The history is always enjoyable, but in this book, it is blended so well, that the historical facts will be picked up effortlessly while enjoying the tale. Recommended!