Deeds of Daring Done by Girls

In Short

This 1906 volume gathers tales of historical and legendary heroines, spanning from medieval Europe to the American Revolution and the Peninsular War. Through vivid, dramatic vignettes, the book profiles figures like the young Duchess Eleonore, the defiant Princess Jacqueline, and the intrepid Dicey Langston. It serves as an earnest, didactic call to young readers to recognize the potential for heroism within themselves. By framing these women’s actions as triumphs of character, the book has endured as a charming, if highly romanticized, artifact of early 20th-century juvenile literature.

The Story

The collection opens in 1392, following the young Duchess Eleonore, whose life of courtly pageantry is observed by her loyal page, Jehan. Her story highlights the dual existence of a noblewoman navigating both domestic refinement and the political theater of the French court. The narrative then shifts to the life of Princess Jacqueline, the "Daughter of Holland." Born into high-stakes politics and betrothed as a child, she faces the crushing weight of superstition and the brutal reality of civil war. Despite her youth and the "bad omen" of a violent hailstorm, Jacqueline eventually dons armor and leads her troops in battle at Grocum, though she privately admits to her mother that she wept from fear before the victory.

The focus moves to the New World in 1692 with the story of Madelon de Verchères. Facing an Indian raid on a frontier settlement, Madelon takes charge of a tiny, disparate garrison—including an eighty-year-old man—to defend their fort. Her story emphasizes tactical presence of mind and the necessity of acting when others hesitate. Later, the narrative follows Clemence Valvier, a French settler in Louisiana. Her arc depicts the quiet courage required to leave a life of privilege for the hardships of a plantation, eventually showing her wisdom in protecting family heirlooms during political upheaval.

The tone grows more intense as the book visits the American Revolution through Dicey Langston. A committed patriot, Dicey risks everything to carry information to her brother’s revolutionary unit. She repeatedly faces down armed men, most notably the ruthless "Bloody Bates," shielding her elderly father with her own body and daring her enemies to fire.

Finally, the book portrays the legendary Augustina of Zaragoza. During the French siege of Spain, Augustina abandons her domestic life to support her betrothed, Felipe, on the city walls. When the soldiers fall, she takes control of the artillery, firing the cannon against the invaders. Her exploits earn her national fame, and she spends her later years honored by the Spanish government, a decorated veteran walking the Prado. The volume concludes by solidifying the connection between these individual acts of bravery and a universal, timeless spirit of endurance, encouraging readers to see these heroines not as anomalies, but as examples of the latent power held by girls everywhere.

How It Unfolds

The call to courage The author begins with an open letter to the reader, asserting that "stout hearts" belong to girls as much as to their brothers. She sets a tone of encouragement, promising that the trials and triumphs within will inspire similar bravery.

From courts to battlefields The stories move chronologically and geographically, beginning with aristocratic French life and moving into the grit of border warfare. Each chapter functions as a self-contained character study, grounding the heroine's specific context before presenting her moment of crisis.

The test of character In each account, the protagonist is confronted with a external threat—be it a siege, an executioner, or a political uprising. The narrative focuses heavily on the moment of decision, where the girl must choose between passivity and active resistance.

The aftermath of valor The sketches finish by situating the heroines in their later lives, showing how their youthful daring shaped their legacies. Whether they find peace, as in Louisiana, or public recognition, as in Spain, the focus remains on the lasting impact of their resolve.

The People

• Eleonore, Duchess of Berry: A noblewoman who balances the soft "gauds" of court life with the heavy responsibilities of her station, showing that grace and authority can coexist in a fifteen-year-old.
• Jacqueline, Daughter of Holland: A young Countess who must navigate the treacherous politics of "John the Pitiless." She is defined by the tension between her youth and her duty, eventually proving her mettle on the battlefield.
• Madelon de Verchères: A frontier leader whose coolness under fire saves her settlement. She stands out for her ability to command men much older than herself through sheer force of will.
• Dicey Langston: A revolutionary patriot whose primary conflict is the protection of her family from the "King's party." She is defined by her verbal defiance and her willingness to put her life between her father and a firing pistol.
• Augustina of Zaragoza: A woman driven by love for her country and her betrothed. She transitions from a supporter to a combatant, ultimately becoming a national symbol who lives to see her bravery formally recognized by the state.

In Its Own Voice

"Do not think, dear girls, that because you are girls you may not have as much courage as your brothers."

The author makes this central appeal in her open letter, which serves as a preface to the entire collection of stories.

“Coward, shoot now if you dare!”

Dicey Langston says this to a British soldier, "Bloody Bates," as she shields her father from a loaded pistol.

“I pray you tell no one that last night I wept from fear!”

After leading her troops to victory at Grocum, the young Jacqueline confesses her vulnerability to her mother, highlighting the private cost of her public bravery.

What It's Really About

The book explores the interplay between gendered expectations and human agency. Its primary argument is that courage is an inherent trait rather than a masculine privilege, and that societal crises act as catalysts to reveal this reality. It grapples with the transition from the sheltered, domestic sphere to the public, political, or martial sphere, suggesting that girls are uniquely capable of bridging these worlds. Underneath the dramatic plot points lies a question about duty: to what extent must an individual abandon their own safety, or even their youth, to preserve the lives and honor of their family or nation?

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate historical sketches and a clear, didactic moral focus will find this book an engaging trip through a specific, romanticized view of history. It is highly readable for those interested in the evolution of juvenile literature, as it captures the earnest, elevated prose style common at the turn of the 20th century. However, modern readers should be prepared for the book's period-specific perspectives; it frequently treats historical events as if they were legends, and its characterizations—particularly of "Bloody Bates" and the "dastardly" enemies—are intentionally black-and-white.

The dialect and the rigid, often superstitious, attitudes toward omens and social standing reflect the values of the early 1900s. There is little room for nuance in the political conflicts described, as the focus remains strictly on the individual heroine's emotional and moral response. Those who enjoy tales of "the girl who stood her ground" will find much to admire in the portraits of Dicey Langston and Augustina. It is a book that feels like a classic storybook, meant to be read slowly, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of the romantic, if heavily stylized, heroism that defined this particular era of writing for girls.