Toil and Trust: Or the Life Story of Patty the Workhouse Girl (1860)

Frank Forester’s Field Sports of the United States and British Provinces of North America, ranks among the most significant works describing our native game birds and mammals and their pursuit during the mid-1800s. Throughout much of his literary career Henry William Herbert wrote under the pseudonym ‘Frank Forester’, thus he is generally better known by his nom de plume. This scarce work contains vignettes of North American small upland game species including the hares. This is followed by a section about means of pursuing and taking many of these species. Another section addresses hunting dogs and their care. Next comes waterfowl and their pursuit, North American big game, a six-part appendix, one of which is devoted to fish and fishing, and a well organized index. Herbert was a gifted artist, as established by fine sketches of many species he discusses. Some personally composed poems are scattered throughout his narration. Henry William Herbert was indeed an important author in nineteenth century America, particularly of the sport of hunting as it was then practiced.–Henry M. Reeves.