School Stories by Desmond Coke
The Bending of a Twig
Illustrated in Colour by H. M. BROCK.
When “The Bending of a Twig” was first published it was hailed by competent critics as the finest school story that had appeared since “Tom Brown.” It is a vivid picture of life in a modern public school. The hero, Lycidas Marsh, enters Shrewsbury without having previously been to a preparatory school, drawing his ideas of school life from his imagination and a number of school stories he has read. How Lycidas finds his true level in this new world and worthily maintains the Salopian tradition is the theme of this most entrancing book.
“A real, live school story that carries conviction in every line.”—Standard.
“Mr. Desmond Coke has given us one of the best accounts of public school life that we possess.... Among books of its kind ‘The Bending of a Twig’ deserves to become a classic.”—Outlook.
The School Across the Road
Illustrated in Colour by H. M. BROCK.
The incidents of this story arise out of the uniting of two schools—“Warner’s” and “Corunna”—under the name of “Winton,” a name which the head master fondly hopes will become known far and wide as a great seat of learning. Unfortunately for the head master’s ambition, however, the two sets of boys—hitherto rivals and enemies, now schoolfellows—do not take kindly to one another. Warner’s men of might are discredited in the new school; Henderson, lately head boy, finds himself a mere nobody; while the inoffensive Dove is exalted and made prefect by reason of his attainments in class work. There is discord and insurrection and talk of expulsion, and the feud drags on until the rival factions have an opportunity of uniting against a common enemy. Then, in the enthusiasm aroused by the overthrow of a neighbouring agricultural college, the bitterness between them dies away, and the future of Winton is assured.
“This tale is told with a remarkable spirit, and all the boys are real, everyday characters drawn without exaggeration.”—British Weekly.
The House Prefect
Illustrated in Colour by H. M. BROCK.
This story of the life at Seiton, a great English public school, mainly revolves around the trouble in which Bob Manders, new-made house prefect, finds himself, owing to a former alliance with the two wild spirits whom, in the interests of the house, it is now his chief task to suppress. In particular does the spirited exploit with which it opens—the whitewashing by night of a town statue and the smashing of certain school property—raise itself against him, next term, when he has been set in authority. His two former friends persist in still regarding him as an ally, bound to them by their common secret; and, in a sense, he is attracted to their enterprises, for in becoming prefect he does not cease to be a boy. It is a great duel this, fought in the studies, the dormitories, upon the field.
“Quite one of the books of the season. Mr. Desmond Coke has proved himself a master.”—World.
“Quite the best school story of the year.”—Morning Leader.
By A. C. CURTIS
The Voyage of the “Sesame”
A Story of the Arctic. Illustrated in Colour.
The Trevelyan brothers receive from a dying sailor a rough chart of a locality where much gold is to be found in the Arctic regions. They set out in quest of it, but do not have things all their own way, for some rival treasure-seekers have got wind of the enterprise, and endeavour to secure the gold for themselves. There is a race between the two expeditions, and fighting takes place, but the crew of the Sesame are victorious, and after enduring great hardships amongst the ice, reach home safely with the gold on board.
The Good Sword Belgarde or, How De Burgh held Dover. Coloured Illustrations by W. H. C. GROOME.
This is the story of Arnold Gyffard and John Wotton, pages to Sir Philip Daubeney, in the days when Prince Lewis the Lion invaded England and strove to win it from King John. It tells of their journey to Dover through a country swarming with foreign troops, and of many desperate fights by the way. In one of these Arnold wins from a French knight the good sword Belgarde, which he uses to such good purpose as to make his name feared. Then follows the great siege of Dover, full of exciting incidents, when by his gallant defence Hubert de Burgh keeps the key to England out of the Frenchman’s grasp.
By FRANK H. MASON, R.B.A.
A Book of British Ships
Written and Illustrated by FRANK H. MASON, R.B.A.
The aim of this book is to present, in a form that will readily appeal to boys, a comprehensive account of British shipping, both naval and mercantile, and to trace its development from the old wooden walls of Nelson’s time down to the Dreadnoughts and high-speed ocean liners of to-day. All kinds of British ships, from the battleship to the trawler, are dealt with, and the characteristic points of each type of vessel are explained.
By GEORGE SURREY
Mid Clash of Swords
A Story of the Sack of Rome. Coloured Illustrations by T. C. DUGDALE.
Wilfrid Salkeld, a young Englishman, enters the employ of Giuliano de Medici, the virtual ruler of Florence, whom he serves with a zeal that that faint-hearted man does not deserve; he meets Giovanni the Invincible; and makes friends with the great Benvenuto Cellini. He has many a fierce tussle with German mercenaries and Italian robbers, as well as with those whose jealousy he arouses by his superior skill in arms.
A Northumbrian in Arms
A Story of the Time of Hereward the Wake. Illustrated in Colour by J. FINNEMORE.
Harold Ulfsson, companion of Hereward the Wake and conqueror of the Wessex Champion in a great wrestling bout, is outlawed by the influence of a Norman knight, whose enmity he has aroused, and goes north to serve under Earl Siward of Northumbria in the war against Macbeth, the Scottish usurper. He assists in defeating an attack by a band of coast-raiders, takes their ship, and discovering that his father has been slain and his land seized by his enemy, follows him into Wales. He fights with Griffith the Welsh King, kills his enemy in a desperate conflict amidst the hills, and, gaining the friendship of Harold, Earl of Wessex, his outlawry is removed and his lands restored to him.
By Rev. J. R. HOWDEN, B.D.
Locomotives of the World
Containing sixteen plates in Colour.
Many of the most up-to-date types of locomotives used on railways throughout the world are illustrated and described in this volume. The coloured plates have been made from actual photographs, and show the peculiar features of some truly remarkable engines. These peculiarities are fully explained in the text, written by the Rev. J. R. Howden, author of “The Boy’s Book of Locomotives,” etc.
By JOSEPH BOWES
The New-Chums
A Story of Adventure in Australia. Illustrated in Colour.
The “New-Chums” is a capital story of rough-and-tumble adventure in the “Territory,” as the little-known northern region of the Australian continent is called. Mr. Bowes knows this region thoroughly, and much of the “New-Chums” is evidently based upon personal experience. His knowledge of the aborigines, too, is extensive, and he is able to describe their mode of life, their customs and curious beliefs in detail. They figure largely in this story, for the two heroes, after suffering shipwreck, fall into the hands of natives, who spare their lives and treat them with rough kindness. The boys pass through many strange experiences in company with the tribe, and have some exciting adventures before they find their way back to their own people.
Comrades
Illustrated in Colour by CYRUS CUNEO.
This book describes the adventures of three boys in the northern territory of Australia, whither they go with their uncle to gain health and acquire experience of farming and stock-raising. The life that awaits them is interesting and varied. They go on expeditions in search of natural history specimens, and assist in rounding-up cattle. Their great opportunity of adventure presents itself when a party of natives drive off a considerable number of cattle. The boys start in pursuit, and go through some dangerous scouting operations before they return successful.
By WILLIAM J. MARX
For the Admiral
Illustrated in Colour by ARCHIBALD WEBB.
The brave Huguenot Admiral Coligny is one of the heroes of French history. Edmond le Blanc, the son of a Huguenot gentleman, undertakes to convey a secret letter of warning to Coligny, and the adventures he meets with on the way lead to his accepting service in the Huguenot army. He shares in the hard fighting that took place in the neighbourhood of La Rochelle, does excellent work in scouting for the Admiral, and is everywhere that danger calls, along with his friend Roger Braund, a young Englishman who has come over to help the cause with a band of free-lances.
This story won the £100 prize offered by the Bookman for the best story for boys.