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[ [ [ Heroes Every Child Should Know [ HEROES EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW BY Mabie, H. W. ( Author ) Apr-18-2006[ HEROES EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW [ HEROES EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW BY MABIE, H. W. ( AUTHOR ) APR-18-2006 ] By Mabie, H. W. ( Author )Apr-18-2006...
A comprehensive collection of tales edited by the American essayist, editor, critic, and lecturer. American culture is indebted to him for helping to spread, by his lectures as well as his writings, a love of good reading in the United States.
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First published January 1, 1905
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About the author
Hamilton Wright Mabie
670 books34 followersHamilton Wright Mabie, A.M., L.H.D., LL.D. (1846–1916) was an American essayist, editor, critic, and lecturer.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 13, 2025
A book about different figures throughout legend and history. Good for discussion about what makes a hero, if X man really was a hero in your opinion, learning about the past, and just some amazing, interesting, or inspiring stories! I learned a lot about men I'd never heard of, and those I had.
The Figures Mentioned:
Perseus~ 1st 'hero'
Hercules~ 2nd 'hero'
Perseus and Hercules would be good for discussion, with kids or adults. What makes a hero? Do you think Perseus really was one? Do you believe Hercules was? Why, or why not?
What do you think about (any event you choose) that happened?
Daniel~ About his bout with the lions. More or less just quoting the Bible.
David~ About his bout with Goliath. More or less just quoting the Bible.
St. George- The core of this story was fascinating! I'll be wanting to read more about him. The facts we know and the less factual legends.
King Arthur~ Like Perseus and Hercules, I fail to understand why he was/is seen as a hero.
He was a coward in regards to defending his innocent wife and best friend. Betraying them both because it was easier.
He seems to have been a decent king, ruling-wise, but he also embraced witchcraft. (His closest advisor and mentor was a wizard, as well.)
Sir Galahad~ He was given honors as the best knight, but I fail to see anything admirable about him.
Siegfried~ He helped a friend deceive a woman into marriage. The consequences of this eventually cost him his life.
Again, I don’t see why I should like or think the fellow a hero. Could he run fast? Yes. Could he throw a spear? Sure. Could he hunt extraordinary amounts? Useful enough... though it was for sport.
But what of his heart? Like many of these 'heroes', the motives seem to be little more than himself.
Roland~ Fool. Fearless, mule-headed, misguided, deceived fool...
Why are you a hero? You didn't listen to counsel. You bragged something any could know was ridiculous. So many died because of your mistakes...
Also. You sounded as if you took killing so lightly. As if every person you killed was a bug, not a soul about to spend eternity in Hell. Did it not grieve you? Even a bit?
This man frustrated me...
Robin Hood~ So unlike the stories I've heard. I've always seen him as a villain, certainly not a good man.
Yea, he stole. But he gave to the deserving rich and poor alike. He stole from thieves masquerading as God's servants.
As this story tells it, I believe he was a flawed, good man. A man who did his best to be a hero, to serve any in need, but went about it not the best way, truly believing it was.
King Alfred~ A good king, who loved his people and God. I have a historial fiction about him, 'Among the Great' by Amy Ullrich. I need to pull it out, now!
The Cid~ Another man who I fail to see as admirable, let alone a hero. He was little better than a pirate and marauder, perhaps worse, for he seemed to believe he was good.
The story about what they traditionally did with his dead body was interesting...
Richard the Lion-Hearted~ A piece of history. Not particularly admirable, in any sense. But, not vile or as selfish as others. A man.
A fairly decent king, aside from abandoning his lands to go conquer for ever and anon, even after being told how his brother was misusing his temporary power. I feel if he'd been in England he might have been a decent king.
King/St. Louis~ If I was a soldier, I would've wanted him for my general. He truly cared about them.
He was a great king. He was beautifully humble and good to those none cared about, serving his subjects in ways that'd make other royalty gag. (He washed the poor's feet, for example!)
His one failing would be starting a crusade. He could have done so much good if he'd shared the gospel with the Muslims, who respected him, instead of trying to steal their home. So sad. Instead, he made the great divide wider.
William Tell- A brave man, who didn't err from what he believed was right even under threat of death. A loving husband and father. A hero indeed.
(William Tell's Overture... I listened to it, thinking about this biography!)
Robert Bruce~ Good to know the history.
A tireless freedom fighter, who learned he was successful before his death. He died young(ish) and left other things he longed for undone.
Not perfect, and not particularly phenomenal outside of his war strategies and tenacity. At first I wasn't inclined to think him a hero. I'm still not sure, but he did fight for the freedom of his people from England.
George Washington~ A good man.
This biography was mostly of Washington's life after he resigned the presidency. I learned things!
Robert E. Lee~ About him, up until 1860.
A collection of quotes from one of his sons, and series of quotes from his letters.
He was a man who loved his wife and children deeply. He loved his country and his state. He served both in every way he could, until forced to choose just one. This he did. A horrible choice.
I have so many thoughts about Mr. Lee, but will limit them unless you'd like to talk about him. <3
He was a good man, a very good man. I want to learn more about him.
Abraham Lincoln~ About the early years of Lincoln, before he got into politics. I learned things I'd never heard of, and learned more about what I did.
A better man than any of the medieval knights this book thought so much of. 💛
A good, humble, beautiful, righteous man... There are so few in this world, it seems. I wish I could have known him.
Father Damien~ He gave himself to God. He then gave himself to a colony of lepers, serving them with all his heart. Because of this, he contracted leprosy. He continued to serve, as a leper himself, and died.
Another humble, beautiful man. I need to know more.
The Figures Mentioned:
Perseus~ 1st 'hero'
Hercules~ 2nd 'hero'
Perseus and Hercules would be good for discussion, with kids or adults. What makes a hero? Do you think Perseus really was one? Do you believe Hercules was? Why, or why not?
What do you think about (any event you choose) that happened?
Daniel~ About his bout with the lions. More or less just quoting the Bible.
David~ About his bout with Goliath. More or less just quoting the Bible.
St. George- The core of this story was fascinating! I'll be wanting to read more about him. The facts we know and the less factual legends.
King Arthur~ Like Perseus and Hercules, I fail to understand why he was/is seen as a hero.
He was a coward in regards to defending his innocent wife and best friend. Betraying them both because it was easier.
He seems to have been a decent king, ruling-wise, but he also embraced witchcraft. (His closest advisor and mentor was a wizard, as well.)
Sir Galahad~ He was given honors as the best knight, but I fail to see anything admirable about him.
Siegfried~ He helped a friend deceive a woman into marriage. The consequences of this eventually cost him his life.
Again, I don’t see why I should like or think the fellow a hero. Could he run fast? Yes. Could he throw a spear? Sure. Could he hunt extraordinary amounts? Useful enough... though it was for sport.
But what of his heart? Like many of these 'heroes', the motives seem to be little more than himself.
Roland~ Fool. Fearless, mule-headed, misguided, deceived fool...
Why are you a hero? You didn't listen to counsel. You bragged something any could know was ridiculous. So many died because of your mistakes...
Also. You sounded as if you took killing so lightly. As if every person you killed was a bug, not a soul about to spend eternity in Hell. Did it not grieve you? Even a bit?
This man frustrated me...
Robin Hood~ So unlike the stories I've heard. I've always seen him as a villain, certainly not a good man.
Yea, he stole. But he gave to the deserving rich and poor alike. He stole from thieves masquerading as God's servants.
As this story tells it, I believe he was a flawed, good man. A man who did his best to be a hero, to serve any in need, but went about it not the best way, truly believing it was.
King Alfred~ A good king, who loved his people and God. I have a historial fiction about him, 'Among the Great' by Amy Ullrich. I need to pull it out, now!
The Cid~ Another man who I fail to see as admirable, let alone a hero. He was little better than a pirate and marauder, perhaps worse, for he seemed to believe he was good.
The story about what they traditionally did with his dead body was interesting...
Richard the Lion-Hearted~ A piece of history. Not particularly admirable, in any sense. But, not vile or as selfish as others. A man.
A fairly decent king, aside from abandoning his lands to go conquer for ever and anon, even after being told how his brother was misusing his temporary power. I feel if he'd been in England he might have been a decent king.
King/St. Louis~ If I was a soldier, I would've wanted him for my general. He truly cared about them.
He was a great king. He was beautifully humble and good to those none cared about, serving his subjects in ways that'd make other royalty gag. (He washed the poor's feet, for example!)
His one failing would be starting a crusade. He could have done so much good if he'd shared the gospel with the Muslims, who respected him, instead of trying to steal their home. So sad. Instead, he made the great divide wider.
William Tell- A brave man, who didn't err from what he believed was right even under threat of death. A loving husband and father. A hero indeed.
(William Tell's Overture... I listened to it, thinking about this biography!)
Robert Bruce~ Good to know the history.
A tireless freedom fighter, who learned he was successful before his death. He died young(ish) and left other things he longed for undone.
Not perfect, and not particularly phenomenal outside of his war strategies and tenacity. At first I wasn't inclined to think him a hero. I'm still not sure, but he did fight for the freedom of his people from England.
George Washington~ A good man.
This biography was mostly of Washington's life after he resigned the presidency. I learned things!
Robert E. Lee~ About him, up until 1860.
A collection of quotes from one of his sons, and series of quotes from his letters.
He was a man who loved his wife and children deeply. He loved his country and his state. He served both in every way he could, until forced to choose just one. This he did. A horrible choice.
I have so many thoughts about Mr. Lee, but will limit them unless you'd like to talk about him. <3
He was a good man, a very good man. I want to learn more about him.
Abraham Lincoln~ About the early years of Lincoln, before he got into politics. I learned things I'd never heard of, and learned more about what I did.
A better man than any of the medieval knights this book thought so much of. 💛
A good, humble, beautiful, righteous man... There are so few in this world, it seems. I wish I could have known him.
Father Damien~ He gave himself to God. He then gave himself to a colony of lepers, serving them with all his heart. Because of this, he contracted leprosy. He continued to serve, as a leper himself, and died.
Another humble, beautiful man. I need to know more.
December 29, 2016
Wonderful compilation! Many of the entries are excerpts from larger works written by very skilled, well-known authors (Sir Walter Scott, Tennyson). All are entertaining and richly written. I was pre-reading in prep to share with my son & enjoyed it - also learned a few things.
Pairs pretty well with Heroines Every Child Should Know.
One warning: the chapter on George Washington includes a scene with a slave tasked for fishing who tended to fall asleep in the boat. The author refers to "somnolence common in his race." There is a fair bit of subtle racism throughout that chapter. Somewhat mild phrasing for its time, but be prepared to discuss.
Pairs pretty well with Heroines Every Child Should Know.
One warning: the chapter on George Washington includes a scene with a slave tasked for fishing who tended to fall asleep in the boat. The author refers to "somnolence common in his race." There is a fair bit of subtle racism throughout that chapter. Somewhat mild phrasing for its time, but be prepared to discuss.
September 11, 2013
As this is a compilation of others' writings, the quality of the writing varies. Some I enjoyed more than others. Great stories, though, that help form the basis of our Western culture. Very readable, this would make a great read-aloud for grade-schoolers.
September 4, 2014
Amazing
November 27, 2014
Not only are these heroes every child should know, but heroes every adult should know, too. :) Great book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews