Historia Magazine

The magazine of the Historical Writers Association

  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • New Books
    • TV, Film and Theatre
    • One From The Vaults
  • Latest Releases
  • Columns
    • Doctor Darwin’s Writing Tips
    • Watching History
    • Desert Island Books
  • Awards
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Historia in your inbox

Desert Island Books: Victoria Blake

24 July 2017 By Victoria Blake

I have absolutely no illusions that I’d last very long. The crabs would be nibbling on my toes in about a month I reckon, so I don’t think the length of the books matters much because I won’t have much time to read them. And I’m not going to waste any time with worthy books I […]

Desert Island Books: Cecilia Ekbäck

13 July 2017 By Cecilia Ekbäck

I am so, so hoping my desert island will be one of the bare, windswept islands in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland. As I am not a fan of heat (nor palm trees, nor sand), I am hoping for cool cloudy weather and big flat rocks. Then I shall be happy to sit […]

Desert Island Books: Nicola Pryce

5 July 2017 By Nicola Pryce

At first, I thought it would be impossible to choose just five books for my desert island. My head was brimming with countless possibilities, but in less than five minutes my heart had led me straight to five rather worn and browning books. As I looked at them, I realised I had read them all before […]

Desert Island Books: Emily Holleman

26 April 2017 By Emily Holleman

I admit my first reaction was to see if there was a way to bend the rules—what exactly counts as a “book”? Can I include Complete Works? Facing-page translations? After abandoning my attempts to “cheat” this hypothetical situation, I tried to balance the familiar with the new, the entertaining with the mind-bendingly complex. (I should probably […]

Desert Island Books: Margaret George

22 February 2017 By Margaret George

This is fun, because my first novel (unpublished) was about three people on an island – not a desert one but a tropical one so I could have snakes, volcanoes, and so on – and I made it really difficult for them by not having any books at all.  By the end of the novel […]

Desert Island Books: Michelle Birkby

8 February 2017 By Michelle Birkby

I can only take five books to a desert island? Just five? And I presume one of them can’t be an exceptionally large map book, with tidal currents and shipping lanes and a handy pair of semaphore flags? No? Alright then, just five books to while away the hours. Sounds rather fun, actually. Jane Eyre […]

Desert Island Books: Anna Mazzola

26 January 2017 By Anna Mazzola

Like all writers, I sometimes dream of being locked away from all humanity so that I can have the time to, a) write, and b) get through the enormous ‘TBR’ pile that has actually become an entire room. A desert island would be even better, assuming it’s the sunny, sandy kind with palm trees, hot […]

Desert Island Books: Sophia Tobin

11 January 2017 By Sophia Tobin

I’m well aware that when choosing five books for a desert island, the most sensible choice would be a bushcraft manual by Ray Mears or Bear Grylls. But, frankly, I’m going to be relying on low-hanging fruit for my survival (the chances of me wrestling a caiman are zero). I’m also hoping there’s enough dry […]

Next Page »

Search

Latest Releases

The Straits of Treachery by Richard Hopton

21 January 2021

A Prince and a Spy by Rory Clements

21 January 2021

Powder Smoke by Andrew Martin

21 January 2021

See more new releases

Let’s stay in touch

Sign up for our monthly email newsletter:

Or follow us on social media:

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook

Editor’s Picks

The Darker Quacks – Between folklore and science

8 August 2019

Trader caravan on the Silk Road

International trade in the early Middle Ages

12 March 2019

Was America, not Wallis, the real reason Edward VIII abdicated?

23 September 2018

Popular Topics

16th century 17th century 18th century 19th century 20th century 2020 Ancient Rome Anglo-Saxons author interview biography book review Catherine Hokin Competition Debut Crown Elizabeth Fremantle Emma Darwin Giveaway historical fiction Historical Writers Association history HWA HWA Crown Awards HWA Non-Fiction Crown Imogen Robertson interview Katherine Clements Matthew Harffy medieval new release paperback research review Second World War Shortlist short stories the writing life Tudors TV drama TV review Vikings World War II writing writing advice writing tips WWII

The Historical Writers’ Association

Historia Magazine is published by the Historical Writers’ Association. We are authors, publishers and agents of historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction. For information about membership and profiles of our member authors, please visit our website.

Read more about Historia or find out about advertising and promotional opportunities.

ISSN 2515-2254

Recent Additions

  • The Straits of Treachery by Richard Hopton
  • A Prince and a Spy by Rory Clements
  • Powder Smoke by Andrew Martin

Search Historia

Contact us

If you would like to contact the editor of Historia, please email editor@historiamag.com.

Copyright © 2014–2021 The Historical Writers Association