14 h 40 minAudiobook14 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Audiobook edition · 14 h 40 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
Night falls, boats slip toward danger, and a young sailor enters a world shaped by bold naval command.
In With Cochrane the Dauntless, G. A. Henty follows a young sailor through historical adventure at sea. At its heart stands Thomas Cochrane, the Scottish naval officer whose service takes him from Britain to the new nations of South America. Action under sail and night boat raids bring the dangers of naval life close.
As Chile fights to free itself from Spain, Cochrane takes command of its young navy. He shapes a small, mixed force into a fighting fleet, while the story explores the struggle against Spanish rule in South America. Henty pairs these campaigns with plain heroes and a patriotic view of what makes a good sailor.
What you’ll discover
- Daring under sail Follow sea battles where bold action puts a sailor's courage to the test.
- Raids in the dark Feel the tension of night boat attacks in a story driven by naval danger.
- Cochrane at the helm Meet a Scottish commander whose boldness carries him into the service of new nations.
- South America in conflict Explore Chile's naval struggle and the wider breaking apart of Spanish rule.
- A Victorian heroic ideal Discover the qualities Henty values in sailors through his plain heroes and patriotic tone.
Who will love it
Readers who love sea stories, shipwrecks and daring escapes, and anyone curious about Lord Cochrane and South America's wars of independence. It suits those who enjoy a young hero with a cool head and good seamanship.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- Training prepares Stephen for the sea
- Preparation matters before danger appears
- A watch glass becomes a tool
- Courage does not guarantee fair treatment
- Calm authority holds a fleet together
- Planning creates a way off the island
- Friendship opens a route toward freedom
- Mercy builds loyalty beyond divided sides
- Skill and mercy matter beyond rank
Who’s who
- Stephen EmbletonA fifteen-year-old apprentice trained in navigation by his father, he grows into a resourceful officer who serves Lord Cochrane and survives every disaster.
- Lieutenant EmbletonStephen's father, a half-pay officer who served under Cochrane and lost his career for it, he trains his son and sends him to sea.
- Lord CochraneA daring and honest naval commander, punished by officials at home, who takes command of the fleets of Chile and Brazil.
- Captain PinderThe careful master of the Tiger, who teaches Stephen that vigilance among the Malay islands is the price of safety.
- WilcoxA steady sailor who stays loyal to Stephen through the swamp, the island and the rescue of Joyce.
- JoyceThe elder apprentice on the Tiger, brave and cheerful, whose life Stephen saves from the Malay village.
- PitaA tall Indian guide from the Andes who hates the Spaniards and leads Stephen down the rivers toward Brazil.
- HurkaPita's small, cheerful companion and an extraordinary shot, who treats Stephen as a comrade and a friend.
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- Read by Lucas Linden, complete. It opens once the recording is online.
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- The key ideas in about 14 minutes, to read today.
- Paperback
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- Hardcover
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- Large print paperback
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- Large print hardcover
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With Cochrane the Dauntless
by G. A. Henty · 1897
A young midshipman builds a boat from a wreck and sails home carrying gold.
Medium level5–10 hours to readEnglish
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In short
What would you do if a cyclone threw your boat onto a strange shore, the crew vanished into a Malay village, and you were the junior officer left to decide what came next? That is where fifteen-year-old Stephen Embleton finds himself in With Cochrane the Dauntless, long before he sees a Spanish gun.
With Cochrane the Dauntless at a glance
- Reading time
- About 8 h 10 min6 h 30 min fast, 9 h 45 min slow
- Length
- 116,600 words
- Library level
- Medium longer sentences, everyday words
- First published
- 1897by G. A. Henty
Reading time at 238 words a minute (fast 300, slow 200). How long the classics take to read · Updated
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
A half-pay lieutenant sends his son to sea
The story opens on a cliff at Ramsgate. Lieutenant Embleton sits with his son Stephen and looks out over the water. He served under Lord Cochrane, and the Admiralty has marked him ever since. A wound in his hip keeps him ashore, and his half-pay barely covers the bills.
For four years he has taught his son at home. Stephen can take a sight by sun, moon or stars, splice a rope and go aloft like a monkey. There is no hope of a navy berth in a shrunken fleet, so a London shipowner offers to take Stephen as an apprentice on the trading ship Tiger.
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Which edition is right for me
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas of the whole book in about 14 minutes. A good first look, or a refresher.
Details
- First published
- 1897
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 9 h 30 min
- Level
- Medium level
Cite this edition
Henty, G. A. With Cochrane the Dauntless. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/with-cochrane-the-dauntless.
Henty, G. A. (2026). With Cochrane the Dauntless. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/with-cochrane-the-dauntless (Original work published 1897)
Henty, G. A. With Cochrane the Dauntless. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/with-cochrane-the-dauntless.
@book{henty2026with,
author = {Henty, G. A.},
title = {With Cochrane the Dauntless},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/with-cochrane-the-dauntless},
note = {First published 1897}
}
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What is With Cochrane the Dauntless about?
It follows Stephen Embleton, a young English sailor, from a trading voyage in the Malay islands to the wars of independence in Chile, Peru and Brazil, where he serves under the real naval commander Lord Cochrane.
Is With Cochrane the Dauntless a true story?
Lord Cochrane and his campaigns in Chile and Brazil are real history. Stephen and his companions are invented, and Henty uses them to take readers through real events in clear, vivid scenes.
Who was Lord Cochrane in real life?
Thomas Cochrane was a British naval officer famous for taking a Spanish frigate with a tiny brig. After a rigged conviction at home, he commanded the navies of Chile and Brazil, then later saw his rank restored.
The author
G. A. Henty
1832–1902 · English historical adventure novelist
George Alfred Henty (1832–1902) was a British novelist and war correspondent. He was born in Trumpington, Cambridgeshire, and lived in London. During the late nineteenth century, he wrote historical adventure novels for young readers. His books include The Cat of Bubastes, The Dash for Khartoum, and With Cochrane the Dauntless.
More by G. A. Henty
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