Children’s Heroes Series
The Children's Heroes series was published in the early 1900’s by T.C. and E.C. Jack, and has many of the same
positive attributes as their well known Told to the Children Series. Instead of focusing on literature however,
it is a series of biographies, primarily about historical English men-of-action. Several of the "heroes" dealt
with in this series were not unambiguously good men, but all lived important and action filled lives, that
are of great interest to young people.
A few of the heroes introduced in these tales, such as Lincoln, Columbus, and Joan of Arc, were not figures
related to British history, but most of the others were. This series, therefore, is not only a wonderful collection of
fascinating biographies, but also gives terrific insights into British history. We recommended many of these
books as a supplement to older students who are undertaking a comprehensive study of England and the British Empire.
Children's Heroes by Various Authors
| Title | Compact Library | size |
|---|
| The Story of Columbus by Imlach | Spanish Empire, Young Readers | 34 |
| Story of Joan of Arc by Lang | Christian Europe, Young Readers | 35 |
| Story of Robert Bruce by Lang | British Middle Ages, Young Readers | 44 |
| Story of Napoleon by H.E. Marshall | Modern Europe | 35 |
| Story of Francis Drake by Elton | British Middle Ages, Young Readers | 37 |
| Story of Raleigh by Duncan | British Middle Ages, Young Readers | 36 |
| Story of Lord Clive by Lang | British Empire, Young Readers | 32 |
| Story of Captain Cook by Lang | British Empire, Young Readers | 34 |
| Story of Nelson by Sellar | British Empire, Young Readers | 40 |
| Story of Abraham Lincoln by Hamilton | Early America, Young Readers | 37 |
| Story of Livingstone by Golding | British Empire | 32 |
| Story of H. M. Stanley by Golding | British Empire | 32 |
| Story of Lord Roberts by Sellar | British Empire | 39 |
| Story of General Gordon by Lang | British Empire | 38 |
| Story of Chalmers of New Guinea by Kelman | Not available | |
| Story of Cromwell by Marshall | Not available | |
| Story of Bishop Patterson by Paget | Not available | |
Twins of the World
This series of books is based on the idea of introducing world geography and the customs of different
civilizations, by way of a pair of twins growing up in various countries. The books are written for
grammar school students, and each features a set of twins—always a boy and a girl—who are young and
curious, but developed in enough detail to be of real interest. The books deal primarily with customs,
geographic, and livelihood issues rather than historical or political issues, but several of the stories
are conceived with a historical circumstance such as a war, a flood, or land-reform in the back-ground.
In these cases, the day to day life of a typical family growing up in unusually difficult circumstances
is portrayed. Most of the books, however, are focused on presenting the life-style and customs of the
children in a given country, and their daily activities and education.
While all of the books in the series are intended for elementary school students, and all are well within
our range for introductory readers, there is some progression in difficulty within the series, and the ages
of the subject twins correspond roughly to the increased reading difficulty. The nationality, and range of
difficulty is given roughly as follows: Early elementary: Dutch Twins, Eskimo Twins, Filipino Twins, Japanese
Twins, Swiss Twins, Irish Twins, Italian Twins, Puritan Twins; Later elementary: Scotch Twins, Mexican Twins,
Belgian Twins, French Twins, Spartan Twins, Colonial Twins.
Twins of the World by L.F. Perkins
| Title | Compact Library | size |
|---|
| Mexican Twins | Spanish Empire, Young Readers | 52 |
| Belgian Twins | Modern Europe, Young Readers | 49 |
| French Twins | Modern Europe, Young Readers | 51 |
| Dutch Twins | Young Readers | 50 |
| Eskimo Twins | Young Readers | 49 |
| Japanese Twins | Young Readers | 47 |
| Swiss Twins | Young Readers | 32 |
| Puritan Twins | Early America, Young Readers | 45 |
| Scotch Twins | British Middle Ages, Young Readers | 57 |
| Spartan Twins | Ancient Greece, Young Readers | 43 |
| Irish Twins | Not available | |
| Italian Twins | Not available | |
| Cave Twins | Not available | |
Peeps at Many Lands
This series is published by A. and C. Black, and is related to its companion series,
Peeps at History. Both series feature a collection of short, nicely illustrated books suitable
for middle school students. The Peeps at Many Lands series however, focuses more on
geography, culture, and social history than it does on political history. The Peeps
at History series, on the other hand, provides brief but chronological histories.
Another important difference is that the Peeps of History series includes only ten
volumes, most of which are currently included in the Heritage History library.
The Peeps at Many Lands series, on the other hand, includes over thirty volumes, most
of which are not yet included in our library. The books are especially notable for
their discussion of the notable geographical and cultural features of each society,
and for the fact that they feature many Asian and American societies as well as
European ones. The entire collection is an excellent addition to the study of
world geography as well as history.
Only the volumes that pertain to Hispanic history are listed below. Some of the
other volumes are organized as follows:
| Ancient Civilizations: | Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome |
| British Empire: | England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia |
| Western Europe: | Italy, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland |
| Eastern Europe: | Norway, Sweden, Russia, Hungary, Poland |
| Asian: | Japan, China, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Java, Kashmir |
| Spanish Empire: | Spain, Portugal, Panama, Cuba, South America |
| Mideast: | Egypt |
Peeps at Many Lands Edited by Edith A. Brownee
Life Stories for Young People
The Life Stories Series is a collection of short biographies written
for intermediate students that were originally published in Germany.
At the time, the German national school system was widely admired by
educational reformers in the United States, and many of its features
were incorporated into the American public school system.
The subjects of these books are mostly European, but they cover a wide
variety of personalities and interests. There are a number of famous national
heroes, of course, such as William the Silent, Frederick the Great, and
Eugene of Savoy. But there are also explorers, musicians, and legendary heroes.
At least five of the books in the collection are written primarily from the point
of view the queen or Empress of a prominent European monarch, rather than principle
ruler himself. A number focus on the childhood of famous personages, rather than
their political career. In all cases, an effort has been made to maximize the
interest for younger students in the lives of the subjects, rather than to
emphasize political lessons.
The original German for many of these books were published in the 1880's and 1890's
but the American translations, done by the Chicago Music critic, George P. Upton,
were not completed until 1907 through 1914. The collection was very well received,
and was gaining popularity in children's libraries when the First World War broke
out. Because of anti-German sentiment, however, publication was stopped during the
war and never resumed.
The original series was written by a variety of authors in German, but the translator
of the entire series was George P. Upton, a well known music critic and self-taught
expert on European culture.
Life Stories for Young People Translated by George P. Upton
| Title | Compact Library | size |
|---|
| Maximilian in Mexico | Modern Europe, Spanish Empire | 42 |
| Mozart | Modern Europe | 36 |
| Maria Theresa of Austria | Modern Europe | 43 |
| Emperor William First | Modern Europe | 40 |
| Undine | Modern Europe | 46 |
| Little Dauphin | Modern Europe | 46 |
| Elizabeth of Austria | Modern Europe | 48 |
| Eugenie-Empress of France | Modern Europe | 50 |
| Frederick the Great | Modern Europe | 50 |
| Joseph Haydn | Modern Europe | 57 |
| Louise of Prussia | Modern Europe | 39 |
| Gudrun | Christian Europe | 46 |
| Nibelungs | Christian Europe | 64 |
| Herman and Thusnelda | Christian Europe, Ancient Rome | 41 |
| Barbarossa | Christian Europe | 55 |
| Great Elector | Christian Europe | 53 |
| Prince Eugene | Christian Europe | 50 |
| Swiss Heroes | Christian Europe | 43 |
| William Tell | Christian Europe | 36 |
| William of Orange | Christian Europe | 41 |
| Charlemagne | Christian Europe | 30 |
| Swiss Heroes | Christian Europe | 43 |
| Eric the Red | Early America | 40 |
Young Folks' Heroes of History
The Young Folks' Heroes of History series by George
Makepeace Towle bears some similarities to Frederick Ober's
Heroes of American Exploration Series. Both focus on
the adventure stories of explorers and are rich in adventure
and interest.
Of the two series, Towle's is slightly more accessible to middle school
age children because it uses more dialogue to recreate historical
scenes, but both series are excellent.
Another difference between the series is that Towle does not
limit himself to heroes of American Exploration. His books on
Marco Polo, Magellan, and Vasco da Gama introduce the less celebrated,
but just as important early European explorers of Asia.
Young Folks' Heroes of History by George Towle
Lives of the Saints
This collection of saint biographies focuses on subjects that were not only
personally holy, but also lived lives of great significance and influence.
In each case their courage, piety, and faithfulness led them to choose a
vocation that greatly impacted not only those around them, but also the whole
course of Christianity. A number of these saints founded, or reformed orders
that continued to serve Christ's mission on earth long after they, themselves
passed on. Several others played a decisive role in restoring Christian unity
after a destructive schism. All are exemplary models of Christian piety.
The biographies in this collection are all written in a story based style
that brings the characters to life. They are long enough to give a meaningful
description of the major events in the lives of the saints, but still very
accessible for intermediate readers. Each book is about 120 to 140 pages,
and includes numerous illustrations.
Lives of the Saints by F. A. Forbes
| Title | Compact Library | size |
|---|
| Life of St. Teresa | Spanish Empire | 38 |
| Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola | Spanish Empire | 36 |
| Life of St. Athanasius | Ancient Rome | |
| Life of St. Monica | Ancient Rome | |
| Life of Benedict | Christian Europe | 36 |
| Life of Vincent de Paul | Christian Europe | 36 |
| Life of St. Columba | British Middle Ages | |
| Life of St. Catherine of Siena | Christian Europe | |
Sabin Trail Balzers
Whether Sabin was contributing to the "Trail Blazer" series, published by J. B. Lippincott,
or to the "Great West" and the "Range and Trail" series, issued by Crowell, his plots were
ingenious and his research as meticulous as he could make it. He soon learned that historical
investigation was much like stepping into quicksand—the more one struggled to find truth, the
more one sank by the pull of endless problems and queries. He did the best he could, scouring
the country for primary sources and hard evidence. Perhaps no author of juveniles of the day
labored harder to base his work on facts, or what were believed to be facts.
The previous quote, from a short biography of Edwin L. Sabin's life, illustrates what an
outstanding historian he was. His historical fiction, as well as his regular history stories,
are rich in detail. The dialogue, of course, is sometimes made up, but even then, it abounds
with authentic character and accents. Almost all of Sabin's most notable works refer to the
conquest and settlement of the American frontier, from the earliest colonial settlers in the
East to the Cowboys and Indians of the West.
His Trail Blazer's Series exemplifies the best kind of historical fiction. The plot
lines often feature a young lad who accompanies a famous historical character on his feats
of daring. In the process, a very engaging, as well as historically valuable story is told,
and a great deal of information is absorbed effortlessly on the part of the reader. The subjects
of the Trail Blazers feature many of the most famous heroes of the West, including Daniel Boone,
Davy Crocket, General Custer, Zebulon Pike, Sam Houston, Kit Carson, and many others.
Trail Blazers by Edwin L. Sabin
| Title | Compact Library | size |
|---|
| Into Mexico with General Scott | Spanish Empire | 141 |
| Opening the West with Lewis and Clark | Early America | 114 |
| With Lieutenant Pike | Early America | 114 |
| Gold Seekers of '49 | Early America | 134 |
| With Sam Houston in Texas | Not available | |
| Adventures with Carson and Fremont | Not available | |
| On the Plains with Custer | Not available | |
| David Crockett: Scout | Not available | |
| Buffalo Bill and the Overland Trail | Not available | |
Historical Tales
Charles Morris was a prolific American writer of the late 19th century. After a brief
career in academics, he began publishing a great number of books and articles under
various pseudonyms, but his piece de resistance was his Historical Tales, a collection
of romantic and entertaining stories from history, in fourteen volumes.
Although these tales are organized by civilization, and the stories occur in roughly
chronological order, these books cannot be read as comprehensive histories, as he makes
no particular attempt to tie them together, contenting himself to jump from one fascinating
episode in history to another. For this reason, they are best read after one is already
familiar with the basic outline of the history of a particular civilization.
On the other hand, Morris is an outstanding writing, and he picks fascinating subjects for
his stories. The stories are selected largely for their entertainment value, rather than
purely for historical significance so Morris treats his readers to a fascinating introduction
to some compelling 'secondary' characters and events. He tells all of his stories in enough
depth to make them truly entertaining, even when he is dealing with already well-known events.
The Historical Tales are an entertaining treat, and though they are not recommended for introductory
reading, they are a terrifically rewarding for intermediate or advanced readers of history.
Historical Tales by Charles Morris
| Title | Compact Library | size |
|---|
| Historical Tales: Spanish American | Spanish Empire | 129 |
| Historical Tales: Spanish | Spanish Empire | 130 |
| Historical Tales: Greek | Ancient Greece | 141 |
| Historical Tales: Roman | Ancient Rome | 131 |
| Historical Tales: American I | Early America | 139 |
| Historical Tales: American II | Early America | 138 |
| Historical Tales: German | Christian Europe | 134 |
| Historical Tales: French | Christian Europe | 136 |
| Historical Tales: English | British Middle Ages | 142 |
| Historical Tales: Russian | Intermediate Readers | 136 |
| Historical Tales: Scandinavian | Intermediate Readers | 149 |
| Historical Tales: Japanese and Chinese | Intermediate Readers | 143 |
Heroes of American Exploration
Mr. Ober's story of Cortes belongs to the older rather than to the
newer school of biography—that is, it seeks rather to interest the
reader than to dissect the man. . .
NYT Saturday Review of Books
The so called 'Heroes' of this series, include many of the most controversial explorers
and conquistadors of early America. Cortez, Pizarro, Balboa and De Soto are some of the
more notorious names of the early Spanish conquistadors whose lives and exploits are fully
told in this fascinating series. One need not admire the more sanguinary deeds of these men
in order to recognize the importance of their discoveries, or to be held spellbound by their
reckless courage, tenacity and grit.
The stories of the lives of the explorers are intertwined with those of the first native
inhabitants of the new world to encounter European civilization. In reading the biographies
of these discoverers, therefore, one encounters the stories of such well-known chieftains as
Cotubanama, Montezuma, Atahualpa, Tuscaloosa, and many others. What is more, the stories of the
natives are told in detail rather than in general, so the complicated nature of their alliances
with, and conspiracies against the invaders is fully developed. The native peoples are not all
portrayed as hapless victims, but rather as a broad variety of characters who sometimes trusted,
sometimes resisted, sometimes allied themselves with, and occasionally won victories against the
irrepressible Spaniards.
Likewise, the life stories of even the most wicked and murderous of the conquistadors are
told with enough empathy that they appear recognizably human, and this three-dimensional
characterization actually lends an even more chilling aspect to some of their atrocities
than do modern versions in which they are merely vilified. Broad generalizations only serve
to mask the depth of character of both perpetrators and victims, and erase the features which
lend interest and relevance to their life stories. These excellent biographies are both
exceedingly informative, and far more interesting than shorter and more simplistic
versions.
The author of this series was an ornithologist who lived for over twenty years in the West
Indies and Caribbean, and his intimate knowledge of the region, which factored so importantly
in the early history of the Americas, is apparent on every page. His histories are based
almost entirely on original sources and are accurate and reliable accounts of the some of
the most fascinating and important turning points yin human history.
Heroes of American Exploration by Frederick Ober
Copyright © Heritage History 2012
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