In Freedom’s Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce was published by Blackie and Son in 1885. Archie Forbes, a young Scotsman whose father died fighting the English, joins William Wallace’s guerrilla campaign against English occupation in the 1290s, fights at the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) and the disastrous Battle of Falkirk (1298), survives Wallace’s capture and execution, and continues the struggle under Robert the Bruce through to the decisive victory at Bannockburn (1314).
The novel is unusual in Henty’s output because the English are the oppressors. Henty’s sympathy for Scottish resistance was genuine — he admired the martial virtues of the Highland and Lowland Scots — and the novel presented English conquest as tyrannical rather than civilizing. This made it one of his most morally complex works.
Collecting In Freedom’s Cause
First edition (Blackie and Son, London, 1885): Pictorial cloth.
Market values:
- Fine condition: $200–$500
- Very good: $75–$200
- Good: $25–$75
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
Scottish Independence
Set during the Scottish Wars of Independence (1296–1314), the novel follows a young Scot who serves under both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in their struggle against English domination. Henty’s sympathies are with the Scots — unusual for a patriotic English author — and the novel’s depiction of Bannockburn is among his finest battle scenes. The book has remained continuously in print and is one of the most popular Henty titles among homeschooling families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Henty books used in education today? Yes, primarily in homeschooling and classical education communities, where they are valued for making historical periods vivid and accessible. Henty’s Victorian imperial attitudes require contextualisation, and many modern editions include introductions addressing his racial and cultural assumptions.