Interview with Michael Ward , on his debut novel 'Rags of Time '
This Autumn read a debut novel by Michael Ward 'Rags of Time' . Was most impressed - and I attempted a review on 'Goodreads' . Besides, a novel which takes its title from a line in a John Donne poem ( 'The Sun Rising' ) deserves a post here:
"An astonishing murder mystery novel set in 17th century London. Can not fault it at all. The author displays great knowledge of the working of the merchant companies, and how trade was conducted. Opens with a murder , and Thomas Tallant a youth a City magistrate are trying to frame for the offence, emerges as the main character. The backdrop of King Charles recalling parliament, religious and political tensions, subversive literature being circulated, a war with Scotland which the Crown is losing. One of the leading female characters is exploring the new scientific discoveries. Was impressed how the author portrays the life of a family and their associates in a society which is fracturing around them. Enjoyed the detail of the flowers, the spices, clothing, everyday in life in general as well as the graphic portrayal of urban filth and disease. ........"
And was pleased to get an interview with Michael Ward , via questions sent by email, in December. Thank you to Michael for his time.
Interview with Mike Ward, author of ‘Rags of Time’
1. Obvious question to start with it-how did you come to write 'Rags of Time' ?
I have been a factual writer throughout my working life, as a journalist, an academic and finally a commercial copywriter. I didn’t feel ready to write fiction until about five years ago. By then, it was ‘now or never’!
Historical fiction was the obvious genre because I read a lot of it – Patrick O’Brian, CJ Sansom and latterly the wonderful Hilary Mantel. I chose the Stuart period because it was a less well-ploughed field than the Tudors or Romans. And when I started my research, I discovered in the thirty years between 1640 and 1670 an unprecedented period of political, religious, commercial and scientific change. I had stumbled upon an Aladdin’s cave of story themes and characters that led to ‘Rags of Time’.
2. And when can we expect a sequel? Will there be a whole Thomas Tallant series?
I’m currently working on the sequel which is due for publication next Spring. Before I started ‘Rags’ I mapped out a series of books which would follow Thomas Tallant and Elizabeth Seymour through the early years of political and religious strife, the Civil War, Cromwell’s Republic and finally the Restoration. My aim in ‘Rags’ was to interlace themes of merchant rivalry, scientific discovery, street politics and conflicting religious certainties to hopefully provide a real sense of what it was like to live in those extraordinary times - a mixture, I suspect, of exhilaration and fear, depending on who you were. This approach will be central to the other books.
3. The tensions of London in 1639 -1640 with the illicit printing press, rioting apprentices, sudden growth in population to support, the Failure of the Bishops War, Parliament being recalled, are conveyed so well in the novel There's a remarkable sense of a storm looming. Do you think that the Civil War between King and Parliament was inevitable?
It’s really pleasing to hear your description of a ‘storm looming’ as that is what I wanted to convey. This continues in the sequel to ‘Rags’ as the forces pulling England apart increase in ferocity until the existing political and religious structure can no longer hold them and the country explodes into Civil War.
Was it inevitable? I think some kind of armed conflict probably was because (a) the sources of tension were so strong and widespread, in almost every aspect of life and (b) the existing mechanisms for non-violent discourse and resolution were, by then, almost entirely broken, a vacuum rapidly filled by the politics of the street and the illegal printing press.
However, I’m not sure even the most vehement supporter of either side realised at the time just what they had unleashed. I don’t believe regicide was in the minds of reformers in 1642 when the initial battle lines were drawn; and there was a palpable sense of shock at the number of casualties from the first major battle at Edgehill.
4. Particularly like the emphasis on the Merchant Adventures, the Spice Trade, the links between London and the Dutch Republic, the fact that Thomas has been to the Indies. What has made you explore the more international aspect of the time as a background to the novel?
Although a Civil War by its nature would appear to be a domestic affair, this one occurred at a time when London was beginning to assert its presence on the world stage, through the growth of merchant trade and its own population, which was rocketing. This in turn led to terrible living conditions, which contributed to rising dissent among the people.
It didn’t seem right to ignore this international dimension, and I chose the Dutch link because they were our greatest trading rivals at the time and their relationship with the English throughout this period would be complex, leading on occasion to war – a challenging dynamic for the Tallant family that will be another feature of the series.
5. Quite intrigued by the leading lady of the novel having an interest in new scientific discoveries. Normally such subjects are connected to the Restoration-William Harvey being the exception. What influenced to add this element to a portrayal of life in 1639-1640?
First because, like mercantile growth, it was a feature of the time. Towering figures in the fields of science and mathematics such as Galileo, Francis Bacon and Pierre de Fermat were all active in the first half and mid-17th century, and influenced thinking in England.
Second, one of the very few aims I had from the outset of planning ‘Rags’ was to have a strong female main character. I wanted her to be distinctive and influential but was wary of creating someone who would seem completely out of place in the 17thcentury with its many constraints on women. I then read several pieces about women who were included by their male peers in scientific discussions at that time, and something went ‘click’ in my head and Elizabeth Seymour was created! I then added a few foibles into the mix (she’s has an addiction problem – tobacco and gambling) to ensure she wasn’t a complete paragon, and am delighted by how my readers have received her. There’s much more from Elizabeth in Rags: Book 2.
6. Which writers -including historians and novelists - have inspired the writing of 'Rags of Time'?
It was after reading ‘Dark Fire’ by CJ Sansom that I thought: ‘I think I’d like to try my hand at writing a historical fiction book’, but all the writers I mentioned earlier have inspired me plus Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, Robert Harris, S.J.Parris, Toby Clements, etc, etc.
My other great influence has been my work as a journalist with its emphasis on economy and impact. ‘Rags’ is by no means a short book yet a number of reviewers have commented on its fast pace and strong dialogue. I think this comes from my early training, and learning from the works of great journalists such as Harold Evans.
7. What has made you pick the murder genre - as opposed to historical novel ( without the murders)?
That’s a good question. I think, with ‘Rags’, it was my first book and, in retrospect, I probably threw the kitchen sink at it! But the book’s catch line is ‘A Thomas Tallant Mystery’ so murder is not a pre-requisite for further adventures and I’m already playing with different plot devices that don’t necessarily depend on the inevitable body in the lake/ditch/cellar.
8. Any advice you can offer to someone wanting to write a novel set in the 17th century?
Crikey!...hmm. I suppose I would say ‘dig deep’. There’s a lot more to this period than meets the eye initially.
And then, pile in! More HF books about the 17th century will attract a broader readership.
Just don’t steal any of the ideas I’ve got squirrelled away!
Ends
I read this book last year, it was really good!
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