G. A. Henty 
With Clive in India 
Or, The Beginnings of an Empire

Set during the turbulent period when the British were just beginning to make inroads into India, this gripping tale centers on a young merchant from England who sets off to make his fortune in the country. Although his original goal was financial gain, this youth finds himself at the center of the action where he tests his mettle and displays his valor and loyalty again and again.