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Charles I's Private Life

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    A biography by Mark Turnbull -published by 'Pen & Sword'  Mark Turnbull is aptly qualified to write a biography of Charles I: He has written four well researched novels set during the British and Irish Civil Wars, and runs the 'Cavalier Podcast' series. Mr Turnbull has also appeared as a speaker on the Civil War history circuit.  This is the author's  the first non fiction work, and as Mr Turnbull already has the skill to make history interesting, the biography is ultimately a success. Also as a Civil War specialist, the author is more pro-Royalist whilst objective enough to look at the broader picture so to speak. The book is well footnoted, including references to  source material from the National Archives. .  I t is fair to say that the author seems quite distanced from the stance taken by historians such as Christopher Hill, who focused on alleged underlying  socio- economic causes of the conflict. Overall the emphasis is firmly place...
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Review -The Wisest Fool by Steven Veerapen

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                                        The Lavish Life of James VI and 1                                           Steven Veerapen is an esteemed Scottish academic and fiction writer drawing on the late 16th century. His biography of Anna of Denmark, wife to James VI/1 was published in 2022, and Mr Veerapen has also written a non fiction book on Mary Queen of Scots-'Blood Feud-Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Moray' amongst other works . Over half the book deals with James's upbringing in Scotland and his kingship there. The focus on Scottish history is well done. The author works hard to try and explain the complex rivalries between the factions of Scottish nobility that could easily break out into armed fighting. The author makes an important distinction is made between the English Refo...
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'Drei Dezennin' (Three Decades) CD by Hâl

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              German  Black Metal referencing Thirty Years War 1618- 1648          Painting of Magdeburg  by Jan van de Velde the Elder - Public Domain courtesy of Wikipedia   Hâl, the project run by German language Black Metal vocalist/ multi instrumentalist Vandergrift, from Magdeburgh, has just released an impressive CD titled 'Drei Dezennin' ( Three Decades). Most tracks are related to  the Thirty Years 1618 - 1648. I have decided to focus on the fourth track 'Knecht und Magd' ('Servant and Maid')  about the 1631 Sack of Magdeburg, with some lyrics translated below. Black Metal seems the most appropriate channel to convey the sheer horror of the event.  The Thirty Years Wars has not really grabbed the attention of British 17th century enthusiasts or the wider public. Have to admit that this blog, going since 2017, has only managed one post about the Thirty Years War ,which looked at the film 'T...
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Review 'Anna of Denmark -Queen in Two Kingdoms'

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            Biography by Scottish academic and historical fiction writer Steven Veerapen                A biography of Anna, princess of Denmark, queen of Scotland, and also queen of England and Ireland from 1603, is most welcome. Published in 2022 by  Peter Lang  .Steven Veerapen is a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde who has written a series of historical novels set during the Tudor period. Amongst Mr Veerapen's  non-fiction work are  'Blood Feud -Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Moray' and 'Elizabeth and Essex, Power, Passion and Politics'. Cultural historians have emphasised Anna's patronage and participation in Court masques, particularly in relation to  the works of Ben Jonson's such Masque of Beauty and Masque of Queens . This is all acknowledged, along with a section on Anna and Ben Jonson's collaboration in organising an 'antimasque'- 'an unnatural and inelegant dance', in ...
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The Gunpowder Treason succeeds -but where was Prince Henry Stuart?

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      Is an Alternative History of the Gunpowder Treason Possible? So far there was nothing in the Plot itself which guaranteed failure -and with its sheer daring, there was a great hope of a triumphant if gruesome success - Antonia Fraser  ( 2005) Not everyone agrees that there is any value in 'What If' speculation. 'Facts, facts, facts,' as Mr Bounderby from 'Hard Times' would put it, 'You are never to fancy'.  On the other hand counter factual history has been popular in recent decades and it is surprising that few seem to have fancied what would have had happened, if in fact Westminster been devastated by gunpowder as intended back in 1605. With a huge swathe of Britain's ruling elite amongst thousands of casualties, there would have been a power vacuum. Along with horrendous damage to the city itself, dying and injured to attend to, countless funerals to organise. Administration records destroyed in the blast.             ...
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Review 'The Drums of War' , new novel by Michael Ward

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             Another Thomas Tallant Mystery set in 1640's London  I was approached by author Michael Ward and asked to  review his third novel 'The Drums of War'.  I thought that Mr Ward's first novel  'Rags of Time' was excellent. Set in London in 1639 as the fault lines that would lead to war between Parliament and the Crown, are starting to emerge, Thomas Tallant from an enterprising spice merchant family, has to extricate himself from a false charge of murder brought by City magistrates . Displays so much knowledge  the whole dynamic of London  life of the time, how the metropolis functions.  His  constant companion is Elizabeth, who has a passion for scientific discovery and enjoys smoking a pipe. The second novel ' The Wrecking Storm' is a sequel set against the acceleration to war in 1641 and beyond. As Mr Ward said of his own writing in an interview with 'A Burnt Ship'  My aim in ‘Rags’ was to interl...
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Review of The Kings Cavalier

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                                           The latest novella by Mark Turnbull  For various reasons, I had a break from history blogging this Summer. Pleased to be back starting with a review  -The King's Cavalier' - featuring Captain Maxwell Walker, the third novella in the 'Rebellion' series by Mark Tunrbull.  Opening at a time  when the Royalists have seemingly lost the Civil War but the King still lives.  Mr Turnbull  is currently completing a biography of Charles 1.  The novella opens on 4th November 1647  with Royalist veteran Captain Maxwell Walker foraging for wood with his two young sons in a forest near Selby near Yorkshire, The story soon shifts to the household of King Charles I.  Various key Civil Wars  events are woven into the story. Personally I have differences of opinion with the author's portrayal of The Level...
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