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George Alfred Henty: The Story of An Active Life by George Manville Fenn is a definitive Victorian biography of one of Britain's most prolific boys' adventure writers, published shortly after Henty's death in 1907. This intimate portrait traces Henty's extraordinary journey from sickly Cambridge child to Crimean War volunteer, then to pioneering war correspondent covering nine conflicts across three continents, before becoming the era's dominant writer of historical fiction for young readers. Fenn structures this literary biography around Henty's dual careers, first documenting his groundbreaking frontline journalism from witnessing Garibaldi's campaigns to reporting on the opening of the Suez Canal then analyzing how these experiences informed his 144 adventure novels. The biography reveals how Henty's military service shaped classics like Under Drake's Flag, with Fenn noting his unique ability to "make history live" through protagonists who embody Victorian ideals of courage and fair play. Particularly valuable are chapters detailing Henty's writing discipline (producing 2,000 words daily before breakfast) and his collaboration with illustrators like Gordon Browne. Fenn also addresses criticisms of Henty's imperialist themes, contextualizing them within late 19th century authors' worldview. The work includes rare personal insights, from Henty's grief after his wife's early death to his mentoring of younger writers like Rider Haggard. For scholars of British novelists, this remains the primary source on Henty's creative process, enriched by Fenn's own expertise as a contemporary children's author. The biography preserves crucial publishing history, including Henty's innovative contract with Blackie & Son that revolutionized royalties for juvenile literature.
