G. A. Henty, 4 Antique Adventure Novels, 135–145 Years Old — Hurst & Co. | A Hidden Foe, The Young Carthaginian, Under Drake’s Flag & The Cornet of Horse

A great little collection of four vintage adventure novels by G. A. Henty, published by Hurst & Co. and housed in matching bindings.

The collection includes A Hidden Foe, originally published in 1891; The Young Carthaginian: A Story of the Times of Hannibal, first published in 1887 and illustrated by C. J. Staniland, R.I.; Under Drake’s Flag: A Tale of the Spanish Main, first published in 1883; and The Cornet of Horse: A Tale of Marlborough’s Wars, first published in 1881.

These books cover some of Henty’s favorite territory: ancient warfare in The Young Carthaginian, the voyages and adventures of Sir Francis Drake in Under Drake’s Flag, and the campaigns of the Duke of Marlborough in The Cornet of Horse. A Hidden Foe is the odd one out in subject matter, being a story of love and mystery rather than one of Henty’s historical military adventures. The Henty books were written for young readers but have long had an audience among collectors of Victorian adventure fiction, particularly for their historical settings and fast-moving plots.

All four books are illustrated except A Hidden Foe. The Young Carthaginian is illustrated by C. J. Staniland, and Under Drake’s Flag was illustrated in contemporary editions by Gordon Browne. Each book is around 375 pages and measures 5” x 7.5”.

The books are in good, solid condition for their age. The covers show age-related wear and soiling, the pages have yellowed, and there are inscriptions inside the books. The bindings remain solid. They have clearly been used and read, but they make a very nice group of Henty’s historical adventure stories with plenty of period character.