Westward Ho! [Paperback]

Charles Kingsley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

For studying the Elizabethan era, there is no finer classic novel than this! Full of the drama of this age of exploration, discovery and conquest, Kingsley has truly brought this colorful time to life. From the coral reefs of the Barbados to the jungles of the Orinoco and to the providential defeat of the Spanish Armada, this vibrant novel captures the daring spirit of the Elizabethan adventurers who sailed with Sir Francis Drake.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

13 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) was an English clergyman, novelist, and poet who was born at Dartmoor in Devon and began writing when he was five years old. He was much involved in the social reform movements of his time. Kingsley's best known works are the children's fantasy The Water Babies, and Westward Ho!.

Product Details

• Paperback: 413 pages
• Publisher: Beautiful Feet Books (June 1, 2004)
• ISBN-10: 189310320X
• ISBN-13: 978-1893103207
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,064,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great 19th century adventure read, April 20, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Westward Ho! or, the Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the County of Devon~ in the Reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizabeth (Scribner's Illustrated Classics) (Hardcover)

An exciting tale of the "Spanish Main", South America, "The Inquistion", and adventure, Kingsley 's tale is onpar with Dumas, Dickens, Haggard, and Doyle. Though the prose may be dated for late 20th (alomst 21th)century readers and the tale may strike some as virulently anti-Catholic, the action is epic and story detailed with all the requisite twists and turns. A "ripping" good yarn.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Story of the Spanish Main, April 25, 2005

By 

John D. O'Donnell "opera student" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Westward Ho! or, the Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the County of Devon~ in the Reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizabeth (Scribner's Illustrated Classics) (Hardcover)

While all the accusations that Kingsley rails against the Catholics are true, the characters in Westward Ho! would not have treated the Roman Catholic Spaniards any better. After all, Philip did wish to bring his inquisition to England and England had just endured Bloody Mary (not the drink, the queen of England who re-introduced Catholocism to protestant England) and it is no wonder that the people would react harshly to the Spaniards. That said, Kingsley does get just a bit carried away, but it makes a fantastic story. Swashbuckling, naval battles, fair maidens, heathen Spaniards, the Spanish Main and its treasures: all this Kingsley combines in a well-written memorable tale with endearing characters and strong passions. Westward Ho! stands out in my mind as powerful literature principally because it tackles a complex and often unexpected plot. This may have all the action of an Errol Flynn movie (and it does) but it also has an intelligent plot and strongiy delineated characters. A fantastic read.

And the N.C. Wyeth paintings are fabulous as usual.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enormously popular novelist during his time., January 31, 2005

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: WESTWARD HO (DELUXE EDITION) (Scribner Classics) (Hardcover)

Kingsley was extremely popular during his lifetime in the nineteenth century, but his works have somewhat fallen into obscurity now. He is well worth taking up again. His books are deeply embedded in the Victorian way of life, so he is very much a writer for his own time. Kingsley wrote quite a few books, but "Westward Ho!" has always been his most popular. It is a story of adventure on the high seas and beyond. The book starts in England, but his hero, Amyas Leigh is a sailor, and the book covers his trip to the West Indies and South America. Amyas meets many unique people and experiences many adventures before he finds himself back on "Jolly Old's" shores. Although a bit preachy, the story is pretty good and certainly kept my interest.