The Lily Of Leyden (1880)

The Lily of Leyden is a historical novel written by William Henry Giles Kingston in 1880. The story is set in the 16th century during the Dutch War of Independence, also known as the Eighty Years' War. The protagonist of the novel is a young girl named Jacqueline Van der Gheynst, who lives in the city of Leyden in the Netherlands. Jacqueline is a Protestant and her family is persecuted by the Spanish rulers who are Catholics.As the war intensifies, Jacqueline's family is forced to flee Leyden and seek refuge in the nearby town of Delft. There, Jacqueline meets William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch rebels, who is impressed by her courage and intelligence. William takes Jacqueline under his wing and she becomes a spy for the Dutch cause.The novel follows Jacqueline's adventures as she risks her life to gather information for the rebels and help them in their fight against the Spanish. Along the way, she falls in love with a young Dutch soldier named Dirk, but their relationship is threatened by the dangers of war.The Lily of Leyden is a thrilling tale of love, courage, and patriotism set against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in Dutch history. Kingston's vivid descriptions of the battles and the Dutch countryside bring the story to life, while his portrayal of Jacqueline as a brave and resourceful heroine makes this novel a classic of historical fiction.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.