Historical fiction constitutes a large portion of youth literature. Its popularity derives from its usual ingredients: an adventure story, the exoticism of the past and different cultures, and the many historical details interwoven into the stories.

Good historical fiction gives the reader a feel for the time and place, but never by sacrificing the story. Bethlehem Press has reprinted several such works, including the three outstanding books discussed in this review. These three stories of boys becoming men in the Middle Ages will fire the reader’s historical imagination.

Barbara Willard’s Son of Char le magne recounts the foundation of Christian medieval Europe at the time of Charlemagne (Charles the Great). Charlemagne through conquest and the sword established the Holy Roman Empire. This is the story of Carl, the son of a Char le magne, told in the form of novel with a respect for historical accuracy.

Charles, who gave birth to Chris tendom, was a man in many ways worthy of the title great, but at the same time a deeply flawed man whose actions sometimes betrayed his Christian commitment.

Barbara Willard successfully and vividly brings to life dim sha dowy figures of the past. Son of Char lemagne especially excels at de picting the family and court life of Charles.

Like Son of Charlemagne, Ro bert T. Reilly’s Red Hugh, Prince of Done gal tells the true story of a historical person in the form of a no vel. Sev eral years ago, a company once known for mouse ears and family entertainment instead of anti-Catho licism and salaciousness, made this book into a movie. And with good reason, for it is the exciting and true story of young Prince Hugh O’Don nell’s capture and subsequent escape from the English oppressors of Ireland.

The reader soaks up a good deal of Irish history (too little known in our Anglo-American culture) while being entertained by Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal.

Mr. Reilly possesses the skill of an ancient Irish storyteller. This pas sage demonstrates his narrative abilities:

The background of mountains and woods was disturbed but rarely by a small cluster of farm buildings, an occasional village, or by the many Celtic graveyards which shot their stone crosses above the earth like uplifted relics for the wind to kiss. A round Norman tower stood out, pencil-shaped, against the sky near a stream that gestured weakly on its way to join the Liffey. The roar of Polla phuca Falls lay stilled in the crys tal embrace of winter.

Allen French wrote an exciting medieval adventure—The Red Keep —that portrays medieval Burgun dy in all its colors: bloody feudal feuds, castles, nobles, peasants, guilds, and town life. Young Conan fights to aid Anne d’Arcy regain her ancestral home, the Red Keep, from the murdering Sauval brothers who killed her family.

Here is a note of caution for pa rents. Conan dispatches numerous foes throughout the book. Some children may find the bloodiness distressing. In addition, there is one disturbing scene that to my mind mars the book. Ralph, who changed sides joining Conan and Anne in their just struggle, and an attractive character, is mortally wounded. As he lies dying he rebuffs their entreaties to ask forgiveness from God for his sins—he professes that he prefers to go to hell. This scene does present an opportunity for the parent to discuss with his child both the supreme importance of salvation and God’s great Mercy that continually reaches out to souls. Remind your child that even at the last moment someone like Ralph can repent and return to God.