Westward Ho! (Illustrated): or, the Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight of Burrough, in the County of Devon-In the reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizabeth

Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley (1819–1875) was originally published in 1855, midway through this prolific writer's body of work. Sixty five years later, when the book was in the public domain, this illustrated American version was published with a couple of the more hysterical anti-Catholic and ant-Jesuit diatribes removed. The story flows much better without them.

An adventure story of the British sailing era, Westward Ho! vied for popularity among 19th-century readers with Treasure Island (pub. 1883). This is an all-encompassing adventure story based upon actual historical events of the 16th century--akin to Treasure Island in cultural setting and appeal to male readers but perhaps aimed at a slightly older audience--featuring the Spanish Main, pirates, circumnavigations, the Inquisition, a detailed recounting of England's annihilation of the Spanish Armada, and more. This novel is preternaturally excellent, an absolute requirement for every enthusiast of the genre, so good that even during proofreading, when the editor was already completely familiar with it, he nevertheless, repeatedly, found tears of emotion in his eyes.