The Ballad of Ensign Joy

Name: The Ballad of Ensign Joy
Author: E. W. Hornung

By E. W. Hornung

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About This Book

A comic and poignant narrative follows a young, flippant junior officer whose playful courtship with a prim young woman leads to marriage, wartime wounds, and an uneasy adjustment to married life while he returns to the front. His jaunty letters and anecdotes are at odds with the grim realities of trench service; blunt comradeship with a sergeant supplies practical grounding. A sudden poison‑gas attack forces an immediate choice between self‑preservation and aiding others, and the crisis exposes fear, duty, and a small, ambiguous act that both tests and redeems him.

About the Author

E. W. Hornung

E. W. Hornung was an English author best known for his creation of the character A. J. Raffles, a gentleman thief and cricketer. His most notable work, "A Thief in the Night," showcases Raffles' adventures and has contributed significantly to the genre of crime fiction. Hornung's writing often blends elements of humor and suspense, reflecting the social mores of his time. In addition to his Raffles stories, he wrote novels such as "A Bride from the Bush" and "Dead Men Tell No Tales," which further demonstrate his versatility as a storyteller. His works remain a part of the literary heritage of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.