The Child's Crusade (1916)

The Child's Crusade is a historical novel written by William Hale Beckford and published in 1916. The story is set in the 13th century and revolves around a group of children who are inspired by a young boy named Stephen to embark on a crusade to free Jerusalem from the Muslims. The children, who range in age from six to sixteen, leave their homes and families behind to follow Stephen on his quest. As they journey across Europe, the children encounter various challenges and obstacles, including hunger, illness, and dangerous terrain. Along the way, they are joined by other young people who are drawn to their cause. However, their idealistic mission is ultimately doomed to failure, as they are unable to overcome the realities of war and the political machinations of those in power.The Child's Crusade is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of faith, innocence, and the dangers of blindly following charismatic leaders. It offers a vivid and compelling portrayal of a little-known chapter in history and raises important questions about the nature of religious fervor and the consequences of war.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.