For the Temple

For the Temple takes us back to 70 C.E. and the Siege of Jerusalem during the First Jewish-Roman War. A work of historical fiction, G.A. Henty's book follows John of Gamala as he navigates a difficult and blood-soaked path across the Roman-occupied Holy Land, suffering significant hardships and setbacks on his way. Published in 1887, the novel quickly became beloved by fans of historical adventure and daring deeds. The work would go on to inspire generations of readers as a prime example of what would become known as “the Henty Tradition.

”Born in Cambridgeshire, England in 1932, George Alfred Henty was an interesting figure and an immensely prolific writer — authoring as many as 122 books during his lifetime. His journalism and war correspondence has been celebrated for their candor, particularly regarding the brutality and scale of rapidly modernizing combat in locations like Crimea. Often controversial in both tone and subject matter, his fiction writing — and his own views — does not sit well with modern sensibilities, particularly regarding race and imperialism. However, his work does provide valuable insight into popular British writing in the latter part of the 19th century.