Beric the Briton: A Story of the Roman Invasion

Conquered and oppressed by the Romans, the Britons rise in rebellion behind the leadership of a warrior-Queen Boadicia. Out of the ranks of the Briton warriors emerges a young man, Beric, whose skill and cunning earns him a trusted position among the Queen’s chiefs. With his unique knowledge of the enemy, Beric leads his people in an insurgency against the Romans. The military prowess and self-discipline of the Roman legions is pitched against the wild and heroic charges of the Britons. But when Beric is captured and trained as a gladiator, he must risk his life for a newfound faith.
George Alfred Henty (1832-1902), a former English army officer, veteran of the Crimean War, and newspaper war correspondent, taught world history to generations of young men of the British Empire and America through exciting historical novels. Henty summarized his beliefs and story-telling philosophy in one of his last interviews before his death in 1902 when he said, in part:”…heroism is largely based upon two qualities-truthfulness and unselfishness, a readiness to put one’s own pleasure aside for that of others, to be courteous to all, kind to those younger than yourself, helpful to your parents, even if that helpfulness demands some . . .sacrifice of your own pleasure . . . True heroism is inseparable from true Christianity, and as a step toward the former I would urge most strongly and urgently the practice of the latter.