Review: Typical Henty but far from his ususal standards
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 10, 2013
George Alfred Henty (1832-1902) was a prolific author who is noted for his historical novels written for young men.  Those that I have read all feature a young, courageous and heroic youth whose life is woven into true historical events.  They are well-written and entertaining, and always include some local color or history that also makes them educational.Henty was a Victorian imperialist, which shows through in his books.  Some criticize him for this, as well as for his propensity to categorize people by nationality, race and religion - often very harshly degrading those his heroes are opposing.  He is, truly, a product of his time and should be judged so; I suspicion that his critics (who conform to today's political correctness) would have, if born in Henty's time, been as racist and narrow-minded as he.One of the most interesting aspects of his books is the level of knowledge he assumes of his readers.  It is depressing that many (too many) of our young men would be stumped to fully understand his work.I generally enjoy Henty's books as occasional light reading.  "The Young Colonists" was published in 1885, a few years after the British defeat and imperialistic retreat in the First Boer War.  Henty's jingoism and bitterness pervades just about every page.  Henty's youthful hero is present at all the British military disasters; this provides Henty with plenty of opportunities to criticize British incompetence (or bad luck) and to bemoan the (temporary) ascendance of either the Zulus or the Boers.If you are to read just one Henty book, any of this others would be a better choice.  That said, I do not regret having read "The Young Colonists".  I just cannot give it more than three stars.