Writing during the great period of the British Empire about a century ago, G. A. Henty was a very careful student of history - and a personal participant in some of the important events of his time. He studied not only the great happenings themselves, but also the ways of life of the different sorts of people caught up in those events.

In a Henty book, a young person is swept up in some great event and becomes a significant participant. By participating in the event through the eyes of the young hero, the reader learns about people and customs in all strata of the societies involved.