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At the end of the 13th century, the oppressed Scots rebelled against England under the leadership of William Wallace and Robert Bruce. This gripping tale of courage, loyalty, and ingenuity takes readers into heroic company with a fictional protagonist, young Archie Forbes, who fights alongside the legendary heroes.
At the turn of the fourteenth century in Scotland, young Archie Forbes becomes involved with both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in the struggle for Scottish independence from English rule.
HomeSchoolBookReview
Posted May 22, 2010
You cannot go wrong with G. A. Henty! Set in Scotland beginning just before 1300 to around 1315, this book weaves the life of fictional Archibald Forbes, from adolescence into manhood, with the historical fight of William Wallace (cf. Mel Gibson's Braveheart), and after Wallace's death, Robert Bruce to help free Scotland from the tyranny of Edward I of England. Looking over some biographical information about Wallace and Bruce, I was once again amazed at Henty's adherence to historical detail.
The book opens with Archie's father, a Scottish lord, having been killed by their neighbor, Sir John Kerr, an English-backed lord who confiscated the Forbes estates at Glen Cairn. As he grows, Archie is steadfast in his support first of Wallace and then of Bruce. As luck would have it, after the death of Kerr and his son in battles, Kerr's daughter who inherits his estates is a loyal Scotch woman who throws her support to Bruce and eventually marries Archie. The book ends with the Scottish victory at Bannockburn which reestablishes their independence. Examples of courage and loyalty abound in this story. We did it as a family read aloud, and everyone agreed that it was great.
Anonymous
Posted April 28, 2005
This book is definantly Henty at its best. The vocabulary is a little much to swallow for some, but so are most Victorian era books. It is unusualy good (for historical fiction) at showing both sides of the story.
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Posted February 6, 2004
A very good historical-fiction if I ever saw one. Although the beginning is somewhat slow the pace will eventually quicken and you will be swept away with the dramatic battle scenes and the amazing smart moves of the young hero. The language that he uses is very eloquent and the battles exciting. Overall it is very well researched and though the speeches are a bit long and can sometimes get old everything will get better and you will come to appreciate them. If you like the Middle Ages this is the book for you.
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Overview
At the end of the 13th century, the oppressed Scots rebelled against England under the leadership of William Wallace and Robert Bruce. This gripping tale of courage, loyalty, and ingenuity takes readers into heroic company with a fictional protagonist, young Archie Forbes, who fights alongside the legendary heroes.
At the turn of the fourteenth century in Scotland, young Archie Forbes becomes involved with both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in the struggle ...