Fiction > Book editions > London, 1889 - Master of Ballantrae

THE BLACK ARROW:
A Tale of the Two Boses.
By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Thirteenth Thousand. Crown 9,vo, cloth, 5s,
"It is Master Dick Shel ton's perils by forest, field, and flood which
put in the best claim for our sympathies ; stirring they are in good
earnest. That marvellously vivid episode of the Battle of Shoreby would
kindle admiration in a Quaker. ' The Black Arrow ' is a ' well-spring of
English undefiled.' So far as the mind of the Nineteenth Century can
judge, Mr. Stevenson has perfectly reproduced the life of the Fifteenth."
—The Times.
"There is no internal reason why it should not be praised as highly a
hundred years hence as it will be praised in the next few months."^
St. James's Gazette.
"Filled in with endless stirring incidents, hau-breadth escapes, and
deeds of 'daring-do,' and many characters whom we have not been able to
notice, and which in its entirety is a story of so much sterling interest,
that, once beguji, it is not possible to relinquish the romance till its end is
reached." — The Queen.
"Those who have enjoyed the perusal of 'Treasure Island' will be
glad to obtain another book by Mr. Stevenson. This tale is situated in
England, during the Wars of the Roses, and receives its title from a band
of yeomen who had taken advantage of the imsettled times to wi-eak
vengeance on those who had formerly oppressed and ill-treated them.
This they did, under their chief, John Amend-all, by means of their
hereditary weapon, the long-bow, lying in wait in the woods, and pursuing
their victims till a favourable opportunity arose for revenge. The hero of
the tale is one Dick Shelton, an orphan and the ward of Sir Daniel
Brackley, who, aided by the parson, Sir Oliver Gates, had murdered the
lad's father. Sir Daniel is a regular turncoat, and always manages to be
on the winning side, whether of York or Lancaster. Dick, suspecting the
truth about his father, charges his guardian with the murder, but, on his
denial of the deed, his suspicions are lulled for the time. He is too
dangerous, however, to be allowed to escape, and it is resolved to get rid
of him. The attemi^t is frustrated, Dick escapes, and casts in his lot
among the yeomen, and thenceforth makes it his duty to avenge his
father's death and to rescue Joanna Sedley, another ward of Brackley's,
out of his hands. Meanwhile he has many adventures. Altogether it is a
delightful book, not only for boys, but for all who are fond of romance."
— Sheffield Independent.
CASSELL iSc COMPANY, Limited, Ludgate Hill, London;
and all Booksellers.