By Pike and Dyke

By Pike and Dyke
A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic

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By Pike and Dyke by G. A. Henty

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1890

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By Pike and Dyke
A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic

By

1
(1 Review)
A story covering the period which forms the thrilling subject of Motley's Rise of the Dutch Republic, when the Netherlands, under the guidance of William of Orange, revolted against the attempts of Alva and the Spaniards to force upon them the Catholic religion. To a story already of the keenest interest, Mr. Henty has added a special attractiveness for boys in tracing through the historic conflict the adventures and brave deeds of an English boy in the household of the ablest man of his age—William the Silent.

Book Excerpt

I think, neighbour; but, you see, we have not got the responsibility of it. The queen has to think for us all. Though I for one would be right glad if she gave the word for war, she may well hesitate before she takes a step that might bring ruin, and worse than ruin, upon all her subjects. We must own, too, that much as we feel for the people of the Low Countries in their distress, they have not always acted wisely. That they should take up arms against these cruel tyrants, even if they had no chance of beating them, is what we all agree would be right and natural; but when the mob of Antwerp broke into the cathedral, and destroyed the altars and carvings, and tore up the vestments, and threw down the Manes and the saints, and then did the same in the other churches in the town and in the country round, they behaved worse than children, and showed themselves as intolerant and bigoted as the Spaniards themselves. They angered Philip beyond hope of forgiveness, and gave him something like an excuse for his crue

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So, another Henty snoozer. In this the protagonist is an unrealistic uber-competent Dutch boy who fights against the spaniards. Though he's from Holland he constantly reminds everyone that his father is English so he's only half-dutch, ad nausium, because only the english are flawless.
typical Henty, the Protestant Dutch (supported by the English ) are all good and the catholic Spaniards are all evil.
ust replace Spaniards for any other opponent of the english and you have the template for every henty book. As always you learn ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the cultures he writes about. how can anyone spill so much ink and include no local colour?