In 18th-century Whitehaven, Kit Ravenglass grows up in a house of secrets.
A shameful mystery surrounds his mother’s death, and his formidable, newly rich father is gambling everything on shipping ventures.
Kit takes solace in his beloved sister Fliss, and her sumptuous silks, although he knows better than to reveal his delight in feminine fashion.
As the family’s debts mount, Kit’s father turns to the transatlantic slave trade – a ruthless and bloody traffic to which more than a fortune might be lost.
Adventures will see Kit turn fugitive and begin living as ‘Stella,’ before being swept into the heady violence of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rising.
Driven by love, revenge and a desire to live truly and freely, Kit must find a way to survive these turbulent times — and to unravel the tragic secrets of the Ravenglass family.
Ravenglass by Carolyn Kirby is published on 25 September, 2025.
Read Carolyn’s interview with AD Bergin in which they discuss the history behind her book.
If you’d like more reading ideas, there are over 190 books in our round-up of historical writing published this year.
