Kindle Free Picks: Howard Pyle's Men of Iron

If you haven't checked out the free titles on Kindle lately, there really are some hidden gems between those less than compelling book covers.

Take today's book, for example,  Men of Iron by Howard Pyle, renowned illustrator and historical fiction author.

Back in the days of my childhood, well before Kindle, I can fondly remember reading Men of Iron.  The coming-of-age boy's adventure novel follows the rise of Myles Falworth, a boy from fifteenth century England (the opening paragraph mentions the year 1400) who navigates his way through competing squires, courtly intrigue, and eventual knighthood, culminating in trial by combat to exonerate his father. 

The book is an old classic--it was published in 1891--but its strong narrative make it a fun read that teaches children a little about the days of chivalry along the way.  Some of the language, while not especially difficult, might still challenge young readers ("thou" and "thee" seem to be the pronouns of choice), but it is worth the challenge.  You can find the book for free on the Internet or secure the free Kindle edition by going here: Amazon.com.