Westward Ho!

Summary

Westward Ho! is one of the works of Kingsley’s mid-thirties, and was published in 1855 and was his second historical novel (after Hypatia (1853)). It was inspired by a period of increased patriotism, and is set appropriately for those sentiments in the time of Elizabeth I. Its setting is largely the North Devon port of Bideford Quay from where various adventures to America and against the Spanish take place. Its hero is Amyas Leigh who, after a rebellious childhood, leaves with Captain Francis Drake across the seas for a some time. One of the main storylines concerns Rose Salterne, who every young man in Bideford wishes to marry, as Amyas finds out when he returns. Amyas captures a Spaniard in Ireland but the man escapes with Rose and the English spend much of the novel chasing Rose in a ship named after her to little success. Later adventures include a voyage to the Caribbean where Amyas and others seek gold and meet a Spanish girl called Ayacanora. The summer of 1588 brings the Spanish Armada and a final journey for Amyas takes place and through certain difficulties he finds his true love somewhat unexpectedly.

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18
• Chapter 19
• Chapter 20
• Chapter 21
• Chapter 22
• Chapter 23
• Chapter 24
• Chapter 25
• Chapter 26
• Chapter 27
• Chapter 28
• Chapter 29
• Chapter 30
• Chapter 31
• Chapter 32
• Chapter 33

More by Charles Kingsley

• Water Babies

Other Fiction classics

• Lady Chatterley's Lover — D.H. Lawrence
• Crime and Punishment — Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Billy Budd — Herman Melville
• Ulysses — James Joyce
• Dubliners — James Joyce
• Little Women — Louisa M. Alcott