Amara’s journey has taken her far, from a lowly slave in Pompeii’s brothel to a high-powered courtesan in Rome. She is now a freedwoman with wealth and influence, yet she is still drawn back to her past. For while Amara is caught up in the political scheming of the Imperial palace, her daughter remains in […]
The Dead Men by JC Harvey
It’s Summer, 1630. The Swedish army is fighting its way down through Germany, with Jack Fiskardo and his company of scouts, or ‘discoverers’, fighting the guerrilla war ahead of the main advance. There are new allies to be made, new perils to overcome, new enemies to outwit and new adventures to pursue; but there is […]
A Thief’s Justice by Douglas Skelton
London, 1716. The city is caught in the vice-like grip of a savage winter. Even the Thames has frozen over. But for Jonas Flynt – thief, gambler, killer – the chilling elements are the least of his worries. Justice Geoffrey Dumont has been found dead at the base of St Paul’s Cathedral, and a young […]
Tyranny’s Bloody Standard by JD Davies
After a daring escape from a British prison, Philippe Kermorvant returns to France and gains command of a frigate in the Mediterranean, where France is trying to rebuild its decimated fleet. Facing overwhelming odds, the fleet is forced to flee for refuge to a fortified bay. The prospect of an interminable blockade looms, but Philippe […]
The 2023 HWA Crown Awards shortlists
It’s a pleasure to announce the HWA Crown Awards shortlists for 2023: 18 books celebrating the best in historical writing, fiction and non-fiction, published during 2022–2023. There are three awards categories: HWA Gold Crown, HWA Non-fiction Crown, and HWA Debut Crown. The books shortlisted for the HWA Crown Awards for 2023 are: Debut Crown Award […]
Historia Live in November – author event
Historia Live, the HWA’s series of author events showcasing historical fiction and history writing, is back at the Wheatsheaf in London on Wednesday, 15 November, at 7pm. This month we welcome Nikki Marmery, whose novel Lilith has just been published; Francesca Peacock, author of Pure Wit, a biography of Margaret Cavendish; and Lola Jaye, whose […]
The House of Whispers by Anna Mazzola
Rome in 1938, and as the world teeters on the brink of war, talented pianist Eva Valenti enters the house of widower Dante Cavallera to become his new wife. On the outside, the forces of Fascism are accelerating, but in her new home, Eva fears that something else is at work, whispering in the walls […]
The 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition shortlist and winner
Here are the shortlisted and winning stories in the 2023 Historical Writers’ Association (HWA) Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition. The 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition shortlist: Black Christ by Judith Wilson The judges said: “The central motif of Liverpool’s Black Christ gives a familiar story new grace. Wilson cleverly sets everyday tragedy against […]