The Migrants

Who exactly was King Arthur? Why are there many Welsh and Cornish place names in Brittany? What role did the Church play following the fall of the Roman Empire?The novel gives answers by casting light upon this part of the ‘Dark Ages’ with a vivid picture of life in Britain and Brittany in the fifth century, a time of change and migration. The Roman legions had left Britain to its own devices and the Anglo-Saxons were invading. To escape, some Britons migrated to Brittany, taking their Celtic (Welsh or Cornish) language and their Christian religion with them.The novel takes in known historical facts and puts flesh on their bones in a fast moving and compelling narrative. Two British bothers, Teged and Owain migrate to and settle in Brittany. They are wealthy, Romanised, devout Christians, literate in Latin and spoke the British (pre-Welsh) language. Cadwyr, the son of Teged, becomes an enthusiastic warrior. Teged’s daughter Nessa, who loves horses, becomes a successful horse-breeder.The novel tells of battles, a warhorse, sea-voyages, saints, miracles, druids, monks, slaves, astrologers, and a pilgrimage, not ignoring daily life with its harvests, hunting scenes, and celebrations with music and rich fare.Will Cadwyr and his young son prevail in a famous pitched battle?We hear of historical characters: Arthur, Vortigern, Hengist, Consul Aëtius, Attila the Hun, St. Germanus, and more.This fascinating period is brought to light by focusing on individual and colourful characters meeting the challenges of their age.

The author lives in South Devon in a Victorian house with a beautiful large garden.

He was born in Mid-Wales in 1945 at a time when the war was still going on, with gas masks and ration books everywhere, many soldiers billeted in the town and German prisoners of war in a camp nearby.

His father died when he was just three, and he was brought up by his mother with support from the family.

He read classics and law at Cambridge and had a long career in the law. Since retiring he has pursued several interests, including writing, studying French, visiting France, playing music on keyboard instruments, astronomy, sea angling and gardening. He is a member of the local Society of Arts and has served a secretary of the Torbay Astronomical Society.

He attended French classes until the pandemic, and found that he had a talent for writing stories in French. In 2019, he entered a writing competition in the French magazine used in the classes and won the competition, with a short romantic story. The Editor of the magazine wrote that they were entranced by the suspense and emotion of his story. Since then he has written the back stories of the characters in his winning entry, and this evolved into his novel, The Curious Tale of a French Salesman.

He has other novels in the pipeline: one about man who plays the guitar and likes rainbows, called Rainbow over Rocheville; one called The Transit of Venus a romantic fantasy story; and a historical novel set in Britain and Brittany in the Dark Ages in the era of King Arthur.

Sadly his wife, Liz died in 2022 after fifty-two very happy years of marriage. He appreciates the support from friends and family.

He feels that his long experience of life during changing times has given him the advantage of a wide perspective and an understanding of attitudes and values over the years.

He also feels that his experience in the law, where there is a need to understand and present a client’s “story”, is another advantage for a writer of fiction.

Favourite author: Guy de Maupassant (French); Joseph Conrad (English).