Friends, though divided - A Tale of the Civil War by George Alfred Henty AUDIOBOOK

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the English Civil War, "Friends, though divided – A Tale of the Civil War" stands as one of George Alfred Henty’s most reflective historical novels, written with his characteristic attention to accuracy and a steady moral tone. Henty presents a landscape marked by the clash between Royalist and Parliamentarian forces, focusing not only on the epochal struggles that reshaped England, but also on the intimate cost as friends and families found themselves torn by opposing loyalties.

The narrative follows Herbert Rippinghall and Harry Furness, two boyhood companions whose destinies diverge as the nation descends into conflict. Henty’s skillful depiction of their friendship, despite differing allegiances, serves as a nuanced exploration of loyalty, conscience, and the price of principle. Rather than favoring one side, the author strives to balance the complexities and faults of both Royalists and Parliamentarians, offering an impartial portrait of the tumult—an attitude he outlines in his thoughtful preface for young readers.

Alongside evocative descriptions of rural Oxfordshire and the looming tension on the eve of war, Henty weaves in meditations on duty, tradition, and the obligations of youth in a country riven by religious and political discord. The backdrop of 17th-century England—its customs, debates, and familial relations—is rendered with atmospheric clarity, making the novel as valuable for its vivid recreation of the period as for its adventure and drama.

Listeners will find both the immediacy of characters’ personal dilemmas and the far-reaching currents of history. The work is at once a coming-of-age story and a thoughtful meditation on civil strife, appealing to those interested in the enduring dilemmas of justice, authority, and the bonds that persist even when friends are divided.

Audiobook time & format : 10h11m2s, OPUS, 477 Mo
Audiobook free extract time & format : 5m (see below to listen), WAV
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