Deborah Swift came across an intriguing area of research when working on her latest novel based on the lives of the women who appear in Samuel Pepys’s Diary, Entertaining Mr Pepys, set in 1666. Among the records we have on the Great Fire of London, there’s one topic which was something of a beast to […]
The triumph of Greek myths and the destruction of a civilisation
With the recent publication of several acclaimed novels based on Greek myths, author Hilary Green wonders whether the time is right to look again at the history behind the ancient stories – and maybe for a novel based on the archaeological record. As someone who cut her teeth on the novels of Mary Renault, I […]
My writer’s circle friend keeps getting his facts wrong
Our resident agony aunt, Dr Darwin, answers a common question: how can we make sure our historical details are accurate – and believable? Dear Dr Darwin, Someone in my writers’ circle keeps getting facts wrong: things like calling a 17th-century character Tiffany, and giving her mother a vote in elections. He makes both of them keen […]
The power of alliance in the Viking Age
Matthew Harffy is well known for his Bernicia Chronicles, set in Northumbria in the turbulent mid-7th century. For his new book he moves place and era, and his research has led him to ask an intriguing question: were there two kings of Wessex who could claim to be called ‘the Great’? My latest novel, Wolf […]
Top ten films set in the Victorian era
Kate Griffin admits that films have influenced the world of her Victorian melodramas. On the publication of the fourth book in her Kitty Peck series, she offers a viewing top ten. One Christmas towards the end of the 1970s I made a teenage stand against the tyranny of spending Boxing Day evening with my parents’ […]
HWA Crown Awards 2019
The Historical Writers’ Association is delighted to announce the winners of the 2019 HWA Crown Awards, celebrating the best historical writing of the year, fiction and non-fiction. After months of reading, discussing, disagreeing, agreeing, and many difficult choices, the judges have awarded the top prizes in the three categories, the Gold, Non-fiction, and Debut Crowns. […]
Historia interviews: Anna-Marie Crowhurst
In this sixth and final interview with authors shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown Awards, Anna-Marie Crowhurst, shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown, talks about the background to her novel, The Illumination of Ursula Flight. She also has some tips for other first-time writers. The HWA Debut Crown celebrates new voices in historical fiction. Have […]
Historia interviews: Laura Shepherd-Robinson
The fourth in Historia’s series of interviews with writers shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Crown awards is with Laura Shepherd-Robinson. Her acclaimed novel, Blood & Sugar, is set in London and Deptford in the 18th century and is shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown. The HWA Debut Crown celebrates new voices in historical fiction. Have […]