George Alfred Henty, commonly known as G.A. Henty, was a renowned English author and war correspondent, born in Trumpington in 1832. Henty's childhood was marked by frequent illnesses, which often left him bedridden and led to his development of a keen interest in reading. His varied interests, cultivated during his sickly youth, would later become the foundation for the historical adventure stories that he would eventually write. Henty attended Westminster School and later Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge, but he left his studies to join the Army Hospital Commissariat as a volunteer when the Crimean War broke out. His experiences in the battlefield, which included witnessing the harsh conditions faced by soldiers, led to his letters being published in The Morning Advertiser newspaper, after his father forwarded them to the publication. This success eventually motivated Henty to become a special correspondent and war correspondent.
As a writer, Henty is best known for his historical adventure stories, which were extremely popular in the late nineteenth century. Some of his most famous works include "Freedom’s Clause" (1885), "Under Drake’s Flag" (1883), "For the Temple" (1883), and "The Dragon & The Raven" (1886). Henty's stories were unique in that they featured young heroes living through tumultuous historic eras, meeting famous leaders of that time, and experiencing various cultures. Henty's heroes were always depicted as diligent, intelligent, and dedicated to their country and cause, even in the face of great danger. These stories provided readers with a deep understanding of the culture of the time period, as well as a comparison and contrast of various societies. Henty's writing career spanned many years, and he wrote approximately 144 books, in addition to stories for magazines, earning him the title "The Prince of Story-Tellers" and "The Boy's Own Historian." One of his secretaries reported that Henty would quickly pace back and forth in his study, dictating stories as fast as the secretary could record them.