BOYS.
Boys are here treated as separate subjects. The mild tales that girls will read simply to pass away the time are ineffective with them. Many will not read at all. Those who will read require something either solid, droll, or exciting. There are lads who will study books of real information with all their might, and will take up pursuits of science, or enter into poetry. This, however, comes (if at all) at the age when school is over and labour has begun, so that intellectual occupation is not the task but the refreshment. The solid, therefore, is not attempted in the present list. What it aims at giving is such a choice of books as boys will listen to with interest, or if they read in quieter moments, or in illness, may find so amusing as not to be tempted to think that nothing diverting or stimulating is to be found beyond the Penny Dreadful. If their taste can be kept unsullied during the time of growth, there is more hope for it afterwards.
The books here mentioned are all suitable for circulation in any general library, but are placed separately as an answer to the oft-asked question, ‘Do you know of anything my boys will read?’
Many well-intentioned and really pretty books are omitted, even though written for boys, because they do not seem to hit off the peculiar taste of that large class. Others are omitted because, though there is little harm in them, and we should not object to seeing a lad reading them, if of his own catering, yet parish libraries and school rewards give a kind of recommendation to a book which makes it needful that it should be beyond censure. For instance, that exciting and entrancing tale, ‘King Solomon’s Mines,’ is marred by the falsehoods told to the natives, and (more injuriously perhaps) by the constant reference to bad language on the part of the naval lieutenant, in a style to confirm boys in their notion of its being a manly fashion. Its successor, ‘The Phantom City,’ has none of these defects. Be it remembered that this catalogue is only intended to suggest and assist, not to exclude, and likewise that the works therein are not merely suited to lads, for though girls will often greatly prefer a book about the other sex, boys almost universally disdain books about girls.
116. Robinson Crusoe. By Defoe. (Warne), 1s. 6d. (S.P.C.K.), 3s. 6d. (Cassell), 3s. 6d. (Marcus Ward), 1s. 6d., 2s., 3s.
We need only name this first and best of all desert island tales, which ought to be read as an English classic by all young people—not boys alone.
117. The Swiss Family Robinson. (Warne), 1s. 6d., (Cassell), 5s., (Marcus Ward), 2s. 6d., 3s.
It is a curious fact that this book was written by the tutor of Baron Humboldt and his brothers. It certainly encouraged a considerable spirit of adventure, and perhaps was partly inspired by the pupils’ interest in it as it proceeded. The second edition here mentioned is well illustrated, and is a fresh translation, more accurate perhaps, but scarcely so inviting to the childish English reader as the first more freely abridged version. The adventures are unfortunately more charming than possible in either naval or scientific eyes.
118. Masterman Ready. By Captain Marryat. (Warne) 5s.
The outcome of a sailor’s disgust at the Swiss family’s raft of tubs and other impossibilities. Written with the ability of a distinguished novelist, and exercising over the children the fascination of the two preceding tales.
119. The Island Queen. By R. M. Ballantyne. (Nisbet) 3s. 6d.
Here a young lady is by general consent elected to be queen of a shipwrecked crew. Mr. Ballantyne’s tales of adventure are perfectly safe from the moral point of view, and always have a religious tone, but when any matter brings forward points of difference, the tone is not that of the Church. Happily, however, there is seldom room for any such difficulty.
120. The Young Crusoe. By Mrs. Hofland. (Nelson) 1s. 6d.
The best of this once popular author’s stories republished.
121. The Fate of the ‘Black Swan.’ By F. Frankfort Moore. (S.P.C.K.) 3s.
A search in New Guinea for a missing brother.
122. The Fortunes of Hassan. (S.P.C.K.) 2s. 6d.
Hassan is a dog who sees a good deal of the fortunes of war in Bulgaria.
123. The Good Ship ‘Barbara.’ By S. W. Sadler, R.N. (S.P.C.K.) 3s. 6d.
Two brothers, one in the navy, the other in the merchant service, see a good deal of the coast of Africa. The introduction of an ‘unattached’ and helpless missionary is the only weak point.
124. Ned in the Blockhouse. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
125. Ned in the Woods. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
126. Ned on the River. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
127. The Camp Fire and the Wigwam. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
128. The Lost Trail. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
129. Footsteps in the Forest. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
American, Fenimore Cooper-like adventures, but without the love or the somewhat stilted language. There is an admirable Red Indian hero, a Christian, who appears in all difficulties. Boys revel in these books, which seem to have an unusual attraction for them. The three first form the ‘Boy Pioneer Series,’ the three last the ‘Log Cabin Series.’ Many of the real pioneers of Kentucky are introduced.
130. Lost in the Backwoods. By Mrs. Traill. (Nelson) 3s. 6d.
Adventures in a Canadian forest of fifty or sixty years ago. Well worthy of its republication.
131. The French Prisoners. By Berby. (Macmillan) 4s. 6d.
The friendship that springs up between some German boys and their French captives, well told.
132. Treasure Island. By R. L. Stevenson. (Cassell) 5s.
So exciting and engrossing that it must be mentioned, but bringing the reader into rough company, among a good many horrors.
133. Tom Brown’s School Days. By T. Hughes. (Macmillan) 2s. or 6d.
The life is so fresh and wholesome in spirit that, though the sphere is so different from that of the elementary school-boy, his tone may be raised by it.
134. Ascott Hope’s Tales.
These are too numerous and have too many different publishers for enumeration, but all are lively and wholesome tales of boyhood mostly in school life, and are good to lend and give.
135. The Crofton Boys. By Harriet Martineau. (Routledge) 1s. and 1s. 6d. (With 40 illustrations, 2s.)
A very attractive story of a brave little boy at school, who loses his foot by an accident, and resolutely conceals the name of the perpetrator.
136. Follow the Leader. By Talbot B. Reed. (Cassell) 5s.
Another public-school story, sound and spirited, and likely to interest. People sometimes learn best from what does not profess to be about their own life.
137. In Quest of Gold on the Whanga Falls. By C. H. Johnstone. (Cassell) 3s. 6d.
Exciting Australian adventures. It is to be hoped they will not inspire the gold fever, for which, however, ‘True Gold’ (see [No. 602]) may be an antidote.
138. The Boy with an Idea. By Mrs. Eiloart. (Warne) 2s. 6d.
An inventive genius, always getting into exquisitely droll predicaments, some of which are quite fit to do duty at a penny reading.
139. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. By Jules Verne. Two parts. (Low) Cloth 3s. 6d., boards, 2 parts, 1s. each.
140. The Mysterious Island. Three parts. (Low) Cloth 2s., boards 1s. each.
141. The Earth to the Moon and a Trip round it. (Low) Cloth 2s., boards 1s. each.
142. Five Weeks in a Balloon. (Low) Cloth 2s., boards 1s.
143. Dr. Ox’s Experiment. (Low) Cloth 2s., boards 1s.
144. The Steam House. (Low) Two parts. Cloth 2s., boards 1s. each.
Jules Verne is a modern Baron Munchausen with an air of science and a Frenchman’s ironical gravity. To some he is perfectly enchanting, but there are soberer minds who are bewildered as to whether the wonders they read of are meant for truth or fiction, and dislike him accordingly. We have only mentioned a small selection of his translated works, but all are perfectly safe, for he is a religious, sound-hearted man. ‘Dr. Ox’s Experiment’ is short enough for a penny reading among intelligent people.
145. Ben Sylvester’s Word. (See [No. 55].)
146. Frank’s Debt. By C. M. Yonge. (Walter Smith) 3d.
The dull rude lad raised by better surroundings.
147. The Little Duke. (See [No. 488].)
148. The Caged Lion. (See [No. 410].) 6s.
149. Harry and Archie. (See [No. 254].)
150. Pickle and his Page Boy. (See [No. 30].)
151. For Fortune and Glory, a Story of the Soudan War. By Lewis Hough. (Cassell) 5s.
A somewhat wild story, involving adventures with an old semi-madman who has turned Mahometan, but with a very graphic description of life in the English army.
152. On Board the ‘Esmeralda.’ By J. Hutcheson. (Cassell) 3s. 6d.
No harm in it, though the Squeers establishment at the beginning might have been spared.
153. Jackanapes. By J. H. Ewing. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
This beautiful story wins the attention of boys, but those who read it to them find it advisable to skip the unnecessary incident of the elopement.
154. Mutiny on the ‘Albatross.’ By F. Frankfort Moore. (S.P.C.K.) 3s. 6d.
Exactly fulfilling the boy’s description, ‘A pretty book with plenty of killing.’
155. Nimrod Nunn. (S.P.C.K.) 2s.
A village waif becomes a brave soldier, and is killed in Egypt.
156. Pirates’ Creek. By S. W. Sadler. (S.P.C.K.) 3s.
157. Tales by W. H. Kingston.
There are so many of these, and brought out by so many publishers (S.P.C.K.), (Griffith, Farran, & Co.), (Warne), (Shaw), (Nisbet), (Routledge), that it is hardly possible to collect or enumerate them, and one description answers for all. They are full of adventure, well studied from travels and geography, perfectly safe and innocent, with more incident than character, and very useful for those who love adventurous tales.
158. Tales by R. M. Ballantyne.
These also are too numerous for individual mention. They teach much as to manners, geography, &c., and there is a conscientious, religious tone about both authors, but Mr. Ballantyne’s are apt to be rather confused where any Church matter comes in question.
159. A Hero: Philip’s Book. By the Author of ‘John Halifax.’ (Routledge) 1s.
A very striking picture of moral versus physical courage.
160. Straight to the Mark. By the Rev. T. S. Millington. (R.T.S.) 5s.
A good schoolboy tale.
161. Paul Howard’s Captivity. (Griffith, Farran, & Co.) 1s. 6d.
A boy who propitiated his Chinese captors by his knowledge of watches.
162. Will’s Voyages. By F. F. Moore. (S.P.C.K.) 3s. 6d.
163. The ‘Great Orion.’ By F. F. Moore. (S.P.C.K.) 3s.
164. The Adventurous Voyage of the ‘Polly.’ By S. W. Sadler. (S.P.C.K.) 3s.
165. Scapegrace Dick. (See [No. 460].)
166. In the Land of the Moose, the Bear, and the Beaver. By Achilles Daunt. (Nelson) 3s. 6d.
167. In the Bush and on the Trail. (Nelson) 3s. 6d.
Both these are beautifully got up, and will make the boy who gets either of them for a prize happy at the moment, and sure to imbibe some real knowledge of the places named and animals described.
168. Yussuf the Guide. By G. Manville Fenn. (Blackie) 5s.
Travels in Asia Minor. Full of adventures and often very droll.
169. Devon Boys. By G. Manville Fenn. (Blackie) 6s.
An excellent set of seaside adventures near Barnstaple in the old smuggling times.
170. The Final Reckoning. By G. A. Henty. (Blackie) 5s.
Bush life in Australia in the convict times.
171. Beyond the Himalayas. By John Geddie. (Nelson) 3s. 6d.
172. Lake Regions of Central Africa. By John Geddie. (Nelson) 3s. 6d.
173. The Castaways in the Wilds of Borneo. By Mayne Reid. (Nelson) 3s. 6d.
174. Frank Redcliffe. (Nelson) 3s. 6d.
Adventures in South America.
175. Mark Willis. (Nelson) 1s. 6d.
Adventures of a sailor boy.
All these are interesting tales of enterprise conveying much useful geographical information, and wholesomely sound and amusing.
