Charles Kingsley was an English clergyman and novelist. He was the founding member of the Christian Socialist movement and was known for his controversy with Cardinal Newman. He was a chaplain to Queen Victoria, a rector at Eversley, Hampshire and was sympathetic to the Chartists. Found in this book is Part 1 of the novel Westward Ho!, a historical novel revolving around the Ayacanora and her power of song and the relationship between herself and Amyas. Of course, the background of the story is that of the heroes of colonization who sailed forth to expand England with their cry of Westward Ho!