By Conduct and Courage: A Story of the Days of Nelson is a stirring naval adventure by G. A. Henty, the prolific Victorian author of boys’ historical fiction. Set during the great age of fighting sail, it follows a young hero who rises from humble beginnings through pluck, seamanship, and bravery during the wars against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France.
True to Henty’s formula, the novel weaves real history through its action, sweeping the reader from press gangs and merchant voyages to broadside engagements and the towering figure of Admiral Nelson himself. Patriotic, fast-paced, and rich in period detail, it remains an enjoyable introduction to the Royal Navy of the Napoleonic era and the values of duty and courage Henty celebrated for his young readers.