"Captain Daredevil" summary. "Captain Daredevil" door Louis Boussenard

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Captain Daredevil is a character who has been pleasing the younger generation with his courage, ingenuity and leadership qualities for more than a century. A millionaire who became rich during the gold rush, Jean Grandier left his home and went to distant Africa to liberate this land from the British conquerors.

Legendary Captain

This wonderful hero was introduced to us by the famous author of adventure books - the French writer Louis Boussenard. Captain Daredevil is a legendary character, almost fabulous. It is hard to imagine that he has a real prototype. Millionaire who became rich at fifteen. Legendary scout squad leader. A talented commander and a fiery leader. All these hypostases are united in Jean Grandier.

Being an active participant in the Franco-Prussian war, physician Louis Boussenard knew well the specifics of hard life and fierce battles. The author skillfully reproduces battles, campaigns and life in the rear on the pages of his books. And although more than a century has passed since the events described, the courage, exploits and sense of justice of the heroes still excitereaders.

The Edge of Courage

This is an excellent book, and today it is desirable for almost every schoolchild to know its summary. Captain Daredevil is a wonderful image that contributes to the upbringing of young men. The writer pays much attention to the creation of the multifaceted personality of Jean Grandier. First, we get acquainted with the legendary captain in his combat incarnation. In the first chapter of the novel, he leads his small detachment away from the fire of the British. The author emphasizes the courage of the hero and his ability to make non-standard decisions in a difficult situation. The captain hides the squad in the thickets and makes them crawl.

Already in the next chapter, Boussinard reveals a different side of Grandier's personality, immersing readers in events that happened long before the battles of the Boer War. We learn the story of Jean, who found his riches in the icy hell of a polar mine. On the gold deposits of the Klondike, the hero realizes that now his main stimulus in life will be the search for adventure. From a modern point of view, this position can be called adrenaline addiction. But is it necessary to do it? After all, we have a classic upbringing novel.

Cunning and administrative talent

Let's consider the features of Boussenard's work and its summary. Captain Daredevil is the hero of a historical adventure novel. In it, the writer faithfully conveyed many details of the work of the colonial authorities. For example, in the second chapter, the author tells with humor how the young Grandier transported several boxes ofweapons, giving a bribe to a petty official.

Bussenard pays a lot of attention to Jean's organizational talent. He put together his detachment, which included about a hundred people, in a few months. This group was international, it included Boers, French, Germans, Italians, Spaniards and Arabs. All of them fought fiercely, but strictly obeyed orders. There was no friction within the team, although they communicated through an interpreter. Jean was a talented leader. The soldiers have repeatedly demonstrated their unconditional loy alty to him.

The vicissitudes of war

The hardest part of analyzing a book is retelling its summary. Captain Daredevil is a very unusual character. He is a volunteer, and everyone who goes into battle of their own free will dreams of feats. And then Boussenard reveals the secret of all commanders. In war, battles are rare. The daily life of soldiers is campaigns, forced marches, sieges of cities and patrols. When the volunteers realized this, they were terribly disappointed. So it was with the detachment of Jean Grandier. However, they did not miss their lucky break.

During an unexpected attack by the British, the detachment escaped only thanks to the resourcefulness of the commander. After that, Jean was appointed by the Boer general as head of the scouts. Under tragic circumstances, Grandier met the farmer David Potter, who saved the young Frenchman's life. A patriot of his homeland and an implacable fighter for independence, the Boer was shot by the British in front of hisfamilies. Jean Grandier swore revenge on the killers.

How did the British and the Boers fight?

This storyline defines the composition of the novel and its summary. Captain Daredevil is a master scout. He always supplied the Boer commanders with the most reliable information. The English army was much larger than the modest forces of the locals. Therefore, the Boers had to use non-standard military techniques.

Described in detail by Boussenard the battle between the troops of General George White and the rebels. The English army fought according to all the laws of tactics, and the Boers had to invent new ways of fighting literally under enemy fire. The author pays much attention to the description of the positions of the rebel troops, clearly admiring their thoughtfulness and secrecy. The first line of defense of the Boers was broken through. And when the British, drunk with easy success, went further, their horses became entangled in the wire stretched all over the field. Imperial troops were defeated in this battle. The Boers won but suffered heavy losses.

Some features of military medicine

The author of the novel is the doctor Louis Bussenard. "Captain Daredevil", the summary of which we are now considering, is the chain of adventures of the protagonist. However, the author pays much attention to the medical aspects of the war. The prototype of the Boer surgeon Dr. Tromp is Louis Bussenard himself. This talkative doctor often tells his listeners and readers of the novel about the specifics of field medicine. The author expertly describes the sterilization processsurgical instruments, removing a bullet stuck in a person, as well as the influence of different types of weapons on the nature of the wound.

Mercy and nobility

One can only admire the philanthropy of the writer, who adheres to humane views even in war. Through the mouth of Dr. Tromp, Boussenar says that it is better to incapacitate the enemy than to kill. He calls for the creation of high-tech weapons capable of inflicting a minimum of damage. The master of the word passionately denounces the scorched earth tactics and the extermination of civilians. The author very touchingly describes the friendship between Jean Grandier and a young English lieutenant, who is the son of a sworn enemy of a young Frenchman.

The rebel army and its shortcomings

Louis Boussinard speaks competently about battles and maneuvers, reconnaissance and tactics. "Captain Daredevil", the summary of which constantly revolves around the outstanding personality of the protagonist, tells the story of the courage and ingenuity of the Boer rebels. The author also notes the shortcomings of the organization of their army. The rebel troops are untrained, there is little to no discipline in them, orders are poorly followed, and boring activities such as patrolling and patrolling are generally ignored. The writer emphasizes the peculiar organization of the rebel army, somewhat reminiscent of a family. From this follow both positive and negative features of the Boer detachments. For example, young Paul Potter, obsessed with a thirst for revenge, shoots the killer of his father, the Duke of Richmond. At the same time, he does not think aboutthat the British would torture captured Boers in retaliation. Family ties come to the fore.

According to Boussinard, Captain Daredevil was a noble and decent young man. The young Frenchman, like the Boers, de alt politely with captured opponents, even bitter enemies. But when Grandier himself was captured by the British, he found himself in completely different conditions. Imperial soldiers mocked the captives, not recognizing their human dignity. This further strengthened the belief that Jean is fighting for a just cause.

A parenting novel

In the book "Captain Daredevil" the main characters are very young, almost boys. They go through a difficult life path. Tragic circumstances allow them to strengthen their souls and find their own view of the world. All this makes Boussenard's work a typical upbringing novel. The adventures of Jean Grandier are simply unimaginable. He not only disguises himself in women's clothes to escape persecution, but also spends some time in this guise, working as a maid in the house of a lonely old lady. In this costume, the young Frenchman returns to his scout team again.

How often does the desire to convey the entire tragic depth of events transform into a boring and short retelling? Captain Daredevil is one of the brightest examples of courage and ingenuity shown in difficult life circumstances. He serves as a role model. The rising generation will always find in Jean Grandiervirtual companion and friend. His image was transferred to the movie screen. The young Frenchman became the embodiment of youth, audacity and justice.

The writer Valery Medvedev ("Captain Daredevil") interprets the personality of the young hero in an original way. The summary of short stories often comes down to this character - Dima Kolchanov, who, like Jean Grandier, goes through his journey of growing up.