Blue Lights

Miles Milton is a stubborn and strong-willed young man, determined to join the army as soon as he can, much to his father’s horror. The pair often clash over the matter and one day, following a particularly furious row, Miles storms out of the family home – to make good on his word to join the military. Before long Miles finds himself sailing away on the high seas, en route to unforgettable adventures and experiences - but his conscience won’t let him forget the way he spoke to his father, and the manner of his departure. Can Miles ever forgive himself? An exciting and moralistic tale from the popular children’s author R.M. Ballantyne.

R.M. Ballantyne (1825-1894) was a Scottish artist and prolific author of mostly children’s fiction. Born in Edinburgh, Ballantyne was the ninth of ten children. At the age of 16 Ballantyne moved to Canada, where he worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company, travelling all over the country to trade for fur. He returned to Scotland in 1847 following the death of his father, and it was then that he began his literary career in earnest, writing over 100 children’s adventure books over the course of his life. Stories such as ‘The Coral Island’ and ‘The Young Fur Traders’ were hugely popular, and many of them drew on his own experiences of travelling throughout Canada. A stickler for detail, Ballantyne continued to travel widely to research the backgrounds and settings for his exciting stories. His tales became an inspiration for authors of the future, including ‘Treasure Island’ novelist Robert Louis Stevenson. Ballantyne spent the latter period of his life living in London and Italy for the sake of his health. He died in Rome in 1894 at the age of 68.