G A Henty was a 19th century novelist. His best-known works are historical adventures. The Lion of the North is the story of Gustavus Adolphus a Scotsman fighting with the Army of the King of Sweden. The time setting is the first years of the Thirty Years War. The main conflict in this war was the issue of religious freedom in Germany. When the Emperor of Austria wanted to eliminate Protestant churches from Germany the King of Sweden fought for the people of Germany. Malcolm was a young lad whose intelligence and quick thinking helped him battle the enemy.