Her Benny
KMCS Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-0681917-5-6 (ISBN)
First published in 1879, Her Benny by Silas K. Hocking quickly became one of the most widely read novels of the Victorian era. It tells the moving story of Benny Bates, a poor boy in the streets of Liverpool, who struggles against poverty, loss, and hardship yet finds strength in faith, kindness, and the love of his devoted sister Nelly.
Hocking’s story captured the hearts of late-Victorian readers with its vivid portrayal of working-class life and its central message of hope rising out of despair. For decades, Her Benny was a favourite in Sunday schools, youth groups, and homes across Britain. Yet like many Victorian classics, the language, structure, and typesetting of older editions can make the text challenging for modern readers.
This KMCS Publishing edition reintroduces Her Benny for the twenty-first century. The novel itself remains in the public domain, but this release has been carefully modernised and enhanced to make the story accessible to today’s audience while staying faithful to Hocking’s intent.
What makes this edition distinctive:
· ✅ A carefully proof-read and modernised text, smoothing Victorian phrasing for contemporary readers.
· ✅ Professional 5×8″ formatting, designed for readability with clear chapter divisions and attractive cream-paper layout.
· ✅ A thoughtful new introduction that reflects on the enduring themes of poverty, faith, social justice, and resilience.
· ✅ A striking new cover design, exclusive to KMCS Publishing, which captures both the period atmosphere and modern appeal.
About the story:
Benny Bates is just a child when tragedy strikes. Orphaned and forced to survive in the unforgiving streets of Liverpool, Benny is sustained only by the loyalty of his sister Nelly. Together they face hunger, loss, and the grinding indifference of a city that offers little mercy to the poor. Yet Benny’s courage, honesty, and determination gradually win him friendships and opportunities, leading him on a path from hardship to hope.
Hocking weaves into Benny’s tale the struggles of countless Victorian children — the neglected, the exploited, the forgotten — while at the same time offering a narrative of redemption and faith. The novel’s mix of social realism and Christian morality touched a deep chord in its original audience, making it one of the best-selling works of its time.
Why read Her Benny today?
Though written nearly 150 years ago, the themes of Her Benny remain strikingly relevant. Questions of poverty, child welfare, social inequality, and the power of faith and kindness are as important today as they were in Victorian Liverpool. Readers who enjoy stories of resilience against impossible odds — or who wish to understand how fiction shaped social awareness in nineteenth-century Britain — will find Her Benny both moving and inspiring.
This edition offers students, teachers, book clubs, and general readers the chance to encounter the story without the barriers that sometimes come with older, unedited reprints. It is equally suited to those discovering Hocking for the first time and to those who read the book in childhood and want to return to its pages with fresh eyes.
About this edition:
· Author: Silas K. Hocking
· Modernised and republished by S A Carmody (KMCS Publishing)
· First published: 1879 (public domain text)
· This edition © 2025 KMCS Publishing
By bringing Her Benny back in a modern, beautifully designed format, KMCS Publishing aims to preserve its legacy while ensuring new generations can read, enjoy, and be inspired by Benny’s journey of courage, compassion, and hope.
Silas Kitto Hocking (1850–1935) was a Cornish novelist, Methodist minister, and social reformer. He became one of the most widely read authors of his day, known for writing stories that combined moral purpose with vivid depictions of working-class life. First published in 1879, Her Benny was his most famous novel and one of the first works of fiction to sell over a million copies in Britain. Its tale of two Liverpool street children reflected both Hocking’s concern for the poor and his belief in the power of honesty, faith, and perseverance to overcome adversity. Though Hocking later wrote many other novels, it was Her Benny that secured his legacy as one of the most popular Victorian writers of inspirational fiction.
Chapter 1 — The Streets of Liverpool
Chapter 2 — A Sister’s Care
Chapter 3 — The Mission Door Shut
Chapter 4 — Bread and Comfort
Chapter 5 — A Kindly Hearth
Chapter 6 — The Streets of Toil
Chapter 7 — Shadows of the City
Chapter 8 — A Friend in Need
Chapter 9 — A Place by the Fire
Chapter 10 — New Bonds
Chapter 11 — The First Test
Chapter 12 — Nell’s Fragile Health
Chapter 13 — A Brother’s Desperation
Chapter 14 — The Kindness of Strangers
Chapter 15 — The Shadow Over Nell
Chapter 16 — A Bitter Choice
Chapter 17 — The Doctor’s Word
Chapter 18 — Benny’s Burden
Chapter 19 — A Desperate Errand
Chapter 20 — The Silver Spent
Chapter 21 — A Winter’s Blow
Chapter 22 — The Last Hope
Chapter 23 — Nell’s Farewell
Chapter 24 — Alone in the City
Chapter 25 — A Harder Road
Chapter 26 — Temptations of the Street
Chapter 27 — A Glimpse of Better Things
Chapter 28 — The Mission School
Chapter 29 — Balancing Burdens
Chapter 30 — A Step Forward
Chapter 31 — A Test of Honour
Chapter 32 — A Helping Hand
Chapter 33 — A New Beginning
Chapter 34 — Trials of Trust
Chapter 35 — Respect Earned
Chapter 36 — Shadows of the Past
Chapter 37 — Mr. Lawrences Offer
Chapter 38 — A Hard Lesson in Trust
Chapter 39 — A Place Among Them
Chapter 40 — New Horizons
Chapter 41 — Glimpses of the Future
Chapter 42 — Tempted Once More
Chapter 43 — A Light in the Gloom
Chapter 44 — The First Recognition
Chapter 45 — Looking Back
Chapter 46 — The Gang’s Revenge
Chapter 47 — A Hand of Friendship
Chapter 48 — The Path Ahead
Chapter 49 — Fulfilment of a Promise
| Erscheinungsdatum | 04.09.2025 |
|---|---|
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Literatur ► Klassiker / Moderne Klassiker |
| ISBN-10 | 1-0681917-5-9 / 1068191759 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-0681917-5-6 / 9781068191756 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
aus dem Bereich
