For my independent study project I read the Under Drake's Flag, A Tale of the Spanish Main by G.A. Henty (1832-1902) and Il Corsaro Nero by Emilio Salgari (1863-1911).

Both authors had a lot of adventures. G.A. Henty was present at a lot of historical events in Europe. With the British army he fought against Garibaldi in Italy and he was at the opening of the Suez Canal. Emilio Salgari was captain on a ship and sailed around the world and got to know a lot of other countries.

The main character in Under Drake's Flag is a boy who is getting the attention of captain Francis Drake through rescuing the crew of a ship which sinks at the coast of Plymouth. On Drake's ship he gets some new friends. During the enterprise he is witness of many attacks from the British among the Spanish. Ned...