Blue Lights: Or, Hot Work in the Soudan: A Tale of Soldier Life in Several of Its Phases (R. M. Ballantyne Collection) [Hardcover]

R. M. Ballantyne (Author)

Book Description

Series: R. M. Ballantyne Collection | Publication Date: May 27, 2007

Miles Milton is a prodigal. He struggles with authority and, like the prodigal son in Scripture, must learn the lessons of life the hard way. Through a series of events, he joins the British army for the war in the Sudan, thinking he will experience the good life of adventure and proudly make his way in the world. However, the providential hand of God has prepared a course for young Miles whereby, through the adventures and experiences of life in the blazing heat of the Sudan and among the tribal clans, and while attempting to survive among his enemies, he realizes the folly of his youthful ways. But is it too late?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 397 pages
• Publisher: Vision Forum (May 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934554065
• ISBN-13: 978-1934554067
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,892,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent from a historical and Christian perspective, May 12, 2011

By 

Hannah--reviewing by Philippians 4:8 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Lights: Or, Hot Work in the Soudan: A Tale of Soldier Life in Several of Its Phases (R. M. Ballantyne Collection) (Hardcover)

Nineteen-year-old Miles Martin storms out of his English house in anger and is swept away into an adventure such as he could never have imagined. He joins the army as a private, meets the religious "Blue Lights," and is shipped with his companions to Egypt. Here Miles grows closer to God and his companions, fights the enemy, endures the horrendous climate, and is captured by the vicious Arabs.

I was very impressed by the many moral lessons learned in this book and the amount of Christianity - especially the theme that when in time of trouble, the characters get their strength from God. It is also historically sound, with many, many of the remarkable incidents having been related to Ballantyne by eye-witnesses. There is a lot of violence because it is about a war, but it is delicately handled and most of the men have a good view on war in general (killing to save lives, not just to take them). Miles is an excellent main character because he is nowhere near perfect but he is convicted about his sinful nature and grows throughout the story. Blue Lights is well-written, frequently amusing and often touching, so I highly recommend it to teens and older.