Lamplighter Rare Collector Series

There's a theory that suggests children (and adults, for that matter) can only learn virtue if it's explicitly demonstrated. This theory was particularly prevalent in the Victorian Era, and led to hundreds of books that sacrificed narrative or stylistic embellishment in favor of stories specifically designed to frighten children into righteous behavior.

Many of these books are being reprinted to influence new generations of readers. The Lamplighter Rare Collector Series has undertaken to offer a number of the better ones in handsome hardbound volumes reminiscent of the original editions. Texts are mostly facsimile reproductions, and include the original (often quite beautiful) black and white illustrations.

Stories like The Basket of Flowers and Hedge of Thorns feature near-perfect heroes and heroines whose earthly lives are beset by troubles, yet they endure all things and maintain unshakeable faith in Christ. They're always young (faith like a child), usually orphaned or missing a parent, and often fall extremely ill or are robbed by heartless thugs. Rum is the devil, and the world is a fierce and dark place with no rest for the good.

To be fair, there have always been faithful Christians who've been forced into dire circumstances through no fault of their own. But there's never been a perfect person besides Jesus Christ, certainly no one more perfect than Him, which is how many of the main characters of these stories are portrayed—if they do sport an imperfection it's usually something non-sin related, like a lame leg or a blind eye.

These are by no means the only types of stories available from Lamplighter Press, however. The book for which the company is named, The Lamplighter, avoids the unrealistic hyper-piety of other volumes and focuses on the Gospel itself—our salvation from sin through Jesus Christ. It's fairly well written, contains an engaging story, and shows people pretty much as they are.

Other titles, like the Boys of Grit books and Shipwrecked But Not Lost, feature heroes whose great virtue is faith and reliance on God, not simply adherence to their own code of morality. These stories are often adventurous, and the character building elements are believable and God-centered. We heartily recommend titles like these, especially for younger students not yet able to critique stories from a Christian perspective.

We believe our children need godly examples, not just in the pages of God's Word or at church, but also in the pages of the books they read and love. The children in these books are certainly good examples. The writing often leaves something to be desired, but the stories (while often not realistic) are compelling.

It took us awhile to decide to bring these in, but we feel we can offer them without too many reservations. Lamplighter Press publishes 8-10 books a year, but selects 2-3 as Books of the Year; we've begun by bringing in all the Books of the Year, and are growing our collection based on customers' recommendations of their favorites.

There's certainly nothing objectionable, inappropriate, or pernicious in these stories. Children with a taste for Shakespeare and Milton may find much to criticize, but in the end those criticisms are going to be fairly shallow, while the messages the Lamplighter books convey are deep and true.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
28 Items found Print
Active Filters: 7th grade (Ages 12-13)
Basket of Flowers
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Christoph von Schmid
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Boys of Grit Who Became Men of Honour
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Archer Wallace
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Boys of Grit Who Changed the World
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Archer Wallace
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Boys of Grit Who Never Gave Up
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Elsie E. Egermeier
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Cross Triumphant
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Exiles in Babylon
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E.
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Falsely Accused in the High Sierras
by Frederick Vining Fisher
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Frozen Fire
by Karl Gustav Nieritz
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 5th-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Giant Killer
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E
1st Printing from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Hidden Hand
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by E.D.E.N. Southworth
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Ishmael
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by E.D.E.N. Southworth
1st edition from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
It's All Real True
by Eglanton Thorne
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Jessica's First Prayer
by Hesba Stretton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 4th-7th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
King's Gold
by Mrs. Elizabeth Cheney
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Lost Clue
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O. F.Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
My Mates and I
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by O. F. Walton
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Paul
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 4th-7th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Self-Raised
by EDEN Southworth
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Shepherd of Bethlehem
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E.
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Shipwrecked, But Not Lost
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by The Hon. Mrs. Dundas
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by W. E. Cule
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
The Lamplighter
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Maria S. Cummins
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Titus: A Comrade of the Cross
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Florence Morse Kingsley
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
True to the Last
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Evelyn Everett-Green
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Walty and the Great Geyer
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Franz Hoffman
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
Wanderer In Africa
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by A.L.O.E
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
White Gypsy
Lamplighter Rare Collector Series
by Anette Lyster
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 6th-10th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)
White Knights
Rare Collector's Series
by W. E. Cule
from Lamplighter Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Lamplighter Rare Collector Series (Location: FIC-WH04)