By G.A. Henty
Greathall Productions, Inc.
www.greathall.com
PO Box 5061
Charlottesville, VA 22905-5061
800-477-6234
The Lion of the North, read and thoughtfully abridged by Jim Weiss, is a story of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) in Europe. This war was actually a series of religious wars in which people were fighting for the freedoms of Protestantism in a Catholic world. There are 6 CDs in a durable case, providing 7 1/2 hours of informative, educational fun for the whole family. G.A. Henty covers the first half of the Thirty Years' War, beginning with the invasion of Germany by the Protestant champion, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. He is joined by Scottish commanders, one of which is our "boy-hero," as is commonly seen in Henty's novels. Our hero, Malcolm, is the epitome of godly manhood--courageous yet humble, brave beyond belief, and willing to risk his life for others against impossible odds. He is a hero any young person should long to emulate. These years of war were filled with various skirmishes, battles, and sieges. Though The
Lion of the North covers only the first stage of the Thirty Years' War, it clearly shows the struggle for religious freedom in a post-Reformation era. One-third of the German population was wiped out during these years, but the people who died did not do so in vain. In the end, half of Germany remained loyal to the Protestant cause.
This set of CDs could be used at home or in the car while on long trips. Though the story could be enjoyed by all ages in the family, I believe it is most appropriate for ages twelve and up. It would be great to add to a study of this time period or to a general study of Europe. Because many historical battles and specific towns in Europe are mentioned, you may find it helpful to use maps while following along with the book.
The well-known and much appreciated strength of G.A. Henty's works is their wealth of historical content. He believed that young people were only being exposed to their own country's history, and he longed to broaden their understanding of the world. He accomplishes this goal as he weaves delightful characters, romance, and suspense in all his stories. It is true that the stories can be a bit predictable. However, in a day and age when there are so few examples of courage, honor, and bravery mixed with humility, Henty's books are a "breath of fresh air" for the younger generation. Jim Weiss does a wonderful job with German, Scottish and Swedish accents, making the story come alive! I highly recommend this product--an excellent resource to teach history!
Product review by Kathi Van Der Linden, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January 2010
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