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Shakespeare in Virginia
In February 1616, William Shakespeare finds himself on the brink of financial ruin and trapped in an unhappy marriage. Desperate for a way out, he agrees to resume his clandestine work for the English secret service. His mission: to report on the Virginia Company and their activities in the Virginia Colony. To maintain his cover, Shakespeare must fake his own death and assume a new identity.
As he embarks on this dangerous journey, Shakespeare befriends John Rolfe and his wife Matoaka (Pocahontas), who are visiting England. The couple provides invaluable insights into Virginia, Powhatan society, and the complex situation unfolding in the Colony. Following Mataoka’s tragic death, Shakespeare accompanies Rolfe to Virginia, taking on the guise of a tobacco planter.
In this new world, Shakespeare must navigate the treacherous waters between the avaricious English colonists and the hostile, embittered Powhatans. Can his experience as a renowned actor and playwright help him survive and thrive in the Colony? And how will the most famous life in history come to an end?
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Before the First Fleet to Australia
Most know the story of Australia’s First Fleet. But who were those convicts, sailors, marines and administrators who travelled to Botany Bay in 1787? And who orchestrated this ambitious expedition? In his meticulously researched new book, John Gardiner pulls back the curtain on the world from which the First Fleet emerged.
Delving into English newspapers, official reports, and government documents from the era, Gardiner vividly captures the squalor of London’s slums, the rotting hulks on the Thames where prisoners languished, and the hardscrabble lives of those who would people New South Wales. We meet real-life figures like Prime Minister William Pitt, Home Secretary Lord Sydney, and the Fleet’s commander, Captain Arthur Phillip. And we discover a society rife with corruption, violence, and despair.
Before the First Fleet to Australia paints an unflinching portrait of late 18th century England in all its vulgarity and cruelty. Gardiner’s fearless account confronts historical truths often glossed over about the First Fleet’s origins. Was this ragged band of convicts a collection of pathetic vagabonds or part of a strategically calculated colonial enterprise? Readers can decide for themselves in this absorbing and revelatory narrative history.
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The Unknown Warriors
The Unknown Warriors is based on a true story set in the beauty and tragedy of Europe in the years just before the Second World War. Abrienda de Soza, inheritor of a fortune stolen from the coffers of Imperial Russia during the last days of the Russian Civil War, fights to keep her country out of the hands of both Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia and preserve a culture threatened by both through any means possible. Nika Molnar, an agent working for Hungarian Intelligence’s Special Unit, seeks to exact vengeance on the man who murdered her father when she was a child. Impeccably researched, The Unknown Warriors captures the feel and nuance of a world soon to be destroyed forever—a uniquely told and deeply compelling story of war, intrigue and betrayal, but also of love and sacrifice played out against the backdrop of a world heading inexorably towards war.
The title is taken from a speech by Winston Churchill. “This is a War of Unknown Warriors, but let all strive without failing in faith or duty…”
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Rolling Stock
This novel, Rolling Stock, is a meta-fiction juxtaposing excerpts from several of the author Stephen Crane’s works with invented lives of his characters. Stephen Crane died at the age of 29 in 1900, having lived a full life of advocacy for poor and disenfranchised American. Ernest Hemingway once said that had Crane not died so young, he quite possibly would have been the greatest American writer. His depth of characters inspired this author to create more life for them, from Ireland to New York, on to Nebraska, and finally in England. The story includes Crane’s philanthropic notions toward poverty and prostitution in 19th-century America. This work is a historical study as well as a creative interpretation of who Stephen Crane was.
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The Lascar Mysteries: A Fate Unwritten
Set against the backdrop of imperial Britain’s zenith, The Lascar Mysteries: A Fate Unwritten is a riveting narrative that plunges into the depths of the 1856 maritime world, where the East India Company reigned with an iron fist over the azure expanses. This is a world where lascars—the backbone of the British maritime leviathan—are wrenched from their homes and compelled to fuel the perpetual engines of empire, enduring the relentless assault of the sea and the biting cold of foreign climes.
In the thick of these toiling masses is Arun Varma, who seems to be but a humble cook aboard the HMS Bengal. Yet, his is a tale of a sharp-witted, educated man, pulled from a life of intellectual pursuit by tragedy. Dreams of scholarly achievements and poetic endeavours are dashed when he is catapulted into the role of sole provider for his bereaved family after his father’s sudden demise. It is this vulnerability that Kabir Khan exploits, luring Arun with the veneer of opportunity, only to shackle him to the grim reality of servitude under the East India Company.
As the story unfolds, Arun’s ordinary existence is swept up into the sinister undercurrents of Victorian London, where he inadvertently becomes embroiled in a menacing conspiracy of murder and deception. His unexpected collaboration with a Scotland Yard Inspector takes the reader through a maze of intrigue, leading to the dark heart of the empire where justice is a rare commodity. It’s a journey that will test his mettle, his intellect, and his courage as he becomes an unwitting detective, navigating through the enigmatic and perilous lanes of the city, determined to untangle the mysteries that threaten not only his life but the very fabric of the society he has come to know.
The Lascar Mysteries: A Fate Unwritten promises an exhilarating adventure of historical suspense, exploring the resilience of the human spirit against the vast and oppressive forces of colonial power.
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Star of Destiny
Flavius Septimus, the commander of the Sepphoris garrison in Galilee, harbors a dark secret that casts a shadow over the lives of his son, Linus Flavian, and Maria of Magdala. In these novels, Linus, Maria, and Joshua, the Biblical Jesus, are born under a mysterious star in a world steeped in superstition and intrigue. As the Jewish Temple hierarchy, the Herodian dynasty, and the Romans vie for power in tumultuous first-century Judea, their adolescent lives unfold, intertwined with personal destinies shaped by the beliefs surrounding their births under that enigmatic star.
“In providing historical, economic, and religious details, Peter Longley builds a bridge between spiritual divinity and traditional Christianity. Finally, it’s a relief to find a theologian that makes sense of the Bible and its many translations!”
– Jeanette Parker, USA“Longley blends a fantastic mixture of historical and fictional figures and events to narrate the early lives of Joshua, (also known as Jesus of Nazareth,) Maria, (also known as Mary Magdalene,) and Linus Flavius, (the fictitious son of a high-ranking Roman official.) Using simple, effective prose, Longley tells an engaging tale that offers plausible explanations of those well-known stories of the miraculous, such as the virgin birth and the turning of water into wine. Longley tells an intriguing story in a setting that is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.”
– Sacramento and San Francisco Book Reviews, USA“Longley’s feeling for the Roman and Jewish point of view is superb.”
– Dorothy Thompson, Scotland“I very much enjoy your interpretation of the life of Jesus and feel it is much more logical than the accepted version. I have always had a fascination with Mary Magdalene and her life as well. I found this book to be very interesting. Nothing I have read on Mary Magdalene has had the same sort of story line including that of her mother.”
– Cheryl Huffman, USA£3.50 -
The Mount of Frogs
COVID-19 saw the death of normalcy. At which point, perspective and proportion evaporated only to reveal the dawn of a new reality. However, outdoor exercise was prescribed during lockdowns and nature eased the transition of feral spirits. By comparison, during the year of this tale, 1651, Thomas Hobbes stated in his societal doctrine, Leviathan, “Life in the state of nature is solitary, nasty, brutish and short”. However, the England of the seventeenth century suffered from a lethal mixture of religious extremism, civil wars and the ensuing societal uncertainty. Such toxic factors became intertwined and spawned an era of hysteria driven Witch Hunts.
Therefore, contrary to Hobbes’ theory, nature would have conceivably been the safest option to eschew the societal catastrophes woven into the 17th Century. Further, 1651 suffered the ongoing effects of a mini-ice-age, which attributed to the occurrence of famine and disease. These ingredients made for a cauldron, filled to the brim with diabolical misery for the British population at this time.
This tale discovers a young native of Somersetshire, Tizzy Greenham and her response to the aforementioned conditions. Although, it should be observed, this is not a children’s story but a story about a child, made concise within a day. Ultimately, Tizzy ascends the discombobulation attributed to such disastrous societal and planetary influences. The Prologue and Epilogue highlight the blights to humanity within the sixteen hundreds are still alarmingly prevalent on an international scale today. Furthermore, Witch Hunts still occur within less progressive countries. However, the Western culture is also guilty of savaging those who have fallen from grace, exemplified by the Cancel Culture. Whereas, to date, within rural East Asia, those accused of witchcraft are cancelled much in the same way.
Bearing these factors in mind, it was our ancestors who withstood the brunt of progression in this country, upon their knees if necessary. However, there are alarming similarities between the 17th and 21st Centuries, both at home and abroad. It is a reassurance to note, we have advanced as a nation to the point, we can tell the truth in this country, express its diversities and this is not only encouraged but valued. Freedom of mind is a given, whilst unfortunately, more dogmatic cultures still indoctrinate, persecute and barbarously execute perceived societal dissenters.
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Those Hidden Monsters
Mona seems to have it all: youth, beauty, intelligence, and a privileged place in Germany’s elite Aryan society. At fifteen, she lives a life where power and wealth seem to affirm her family’s deeply ingrained beliefs. But as she uncovers the disturbing truths lurking behind the façade of her ‘perfect’ world, everything she has been taught begins to unravel.
Those Hidden Monsters is a haunting journey through the dark corners of human nature, exploring themes of fear, flawed ideology, friendship turned betrayal, and the transformative power of love and loss. Although a work of fiction, the novel provides an emotionally charged window into the harrowing years of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, as seen through the shattered innocence of its young characters.
While they start as fervent supporters of Hitler’s regime, a series of betrayals eventually opens their eyes to its horrifying collapse. Masterfully crafted by author Trevor Ripley, the story delves into the complex emotional landscapes of its characters, revealing how evil can flourish in the most ordinary of homes, and how courage can emerge from the most unexpected places. A compelling tale of bravery and tragedy, Those Hidden Monsters forces us to confront the darkest and most hidden aspects of human history.
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Tyke
Against the grim backdrop of WWII London, a destitute young street urchin named Tyke stumbles upon an unconscious railway worker one fateful night. Though tempted by money left unattended, Tyke chooses to save the man’s life instead of stealing the cash. This single act of selflessness sparks a chain of miraculous events that could forever change the course of Tyke’s difficult life.
When the railway man, Mr. Thomas, resolves to find and reward his young hero, a city-wide search ensues. Just as hope dims, Tyke resurfaces. As he recounts his tale of hardship, flashes of innate wisdom and integrity shine through, capturing the hearts of all who meet him. With Mr. Thomas’s support, the chance for mentorship, and even a possible new family connection, has Tyke’s luck finally turned?
From life-threatening danger to unexpected kindness from unlikely sources, Tyke must navigate threats and opportunities alike on his journey to a brighter future. Will fate continue to smile upon this humble yet exceptional boy? Find out in this poignant tale reminding us heroism can come from the unlikeliest of places.
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Endless Mission III
This is a fictional plot, set in the period between the WWI and the WWII, as the third part to the espionage drama “Endless Mission” Trilogy.
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When the Cows Come Home
In this sweeping family saga, the lives of five Bavarian German families unfold against the backdrop of the twentieth century, spanning from 1937 to 2020. At the heart of the story are Herman Finkelstein, a Jewish professor, and his wife Merla Finkelstein, whose tragic fate during the Holocaust sets the stage for the generations that follow. Their descendants, adopted by Lutheran families after escaping to Switzerland in 1943, have only a vague understanding of their Jewish heritage.
The narrative is centered around the Bavarian towns of Berchtesgaden and Oberstdorf, but also ventures to Switzerland and Israel as Germany grapples with its complex past and the specter of antisemitism. Both branches of the Finkelstein descendants find themselves connected through their herds of Hinterwalder cattle, a bond that ultimately brings them together after two generations of separation.
Through the purchase of a Hinterwalder bull, the families are reunited and uncover the full extent of their Jewish ancestry. While the novel explores the profound impact of the Holocaust, it also serves as a rich social history, illustrating how the ordinary lives of individuals are shaped by war, political upheaval, and cultural shifts.
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Mr Roberts On The Tonle Sap and Mekong
In a world in flux, Roberts finds solace along tranquil lakes and serene rivers. Yet shadows of his past, where he was embroiled in the deadly dance of crime, politics, and warfare, still haunt him. When a captivating woman offers Roberts a lucrative opportunity, the stakes seem suspiciously high. With layers of secrets and a pervasive aura of danger, he can’t shake the chilling premonition: ‘This endeavour will end in tragedy.’
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