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Category Archives: UK
A Cornwall Recollection
As the world turns its eyes on the G7 Summit currently taking place in Cornwall, I’m reminded of a lovely book published by Wanderland Writers in 2015 filled with stories and poems written by a group of travelers visiting, most … Read More
Cnut the Great, d. 12 November
Cnut the Great, England’s Viking king, died on Wednesday, 12 November, 1035. Cnut’s birth date was not recorded, but it was likely some time in the 990’s, so he was probably in his early to mid-forties when he died at … Read More
Falling Stars, Bloody Moons and Dragons
Tonight we will be able to witness a total lunar eclipse – the last in this year’s rare series of four such eclipses, which astronomers call a tetrad. This time round we have a harvest moon and a supermoon in … Read More
Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, UK
Tagged Angl-Saxons, history, Medieval, Shadow on the Crown
4 Comments
What Happened at Corfe in 978?
Today, the chalk hill of Corfe on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset is crowned by the ruins of, for the most part, a 12th century Norman castle. But in Anglo-Saxon times a hunting lodge stood on the hill, and … Read More
Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Research, UK
Tagged Aethelred, Anglo-Saxons, architecture, history
8 Comments
Review: The Ceremony of Innocence, a play written in 1968 by Ronald Ribman
It is Christmas Eve in the year 1013. The king of England, Ethelred, has retired to a cell in a monastery on the Isle of Wight. He is mournful, despairing, and self-exiled from his court and kingdom due to remorse … Read More
Posted in Anglo-Saxons, Art, History, Research, Review, Theatre, UK, Vikings
Tagged Aethelred, Anglo-Saxons, Art, Emma of Normandy, history, Medieval, Review
7 Comments
The Riddle of the Stones
They had arrived at last at a long, low ridge where the standing stone, its edges scored in primitive runes, pointed skyward. Athelstan checked his horse beside the ancient, lichen-covered stone. Gazing into the shallow vale beyond, he caught his … Read More
Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Inspiration, Research, UK
Tagged Angl-Saxons, archaeology, Athelstan, Castlerigg, dolmens, history, Rollright Stones, Shadow on the Crown, Stone circles, The Price of Blood, Wales
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Guest Interview with Historical Mystery Novelist Candace Robb
Historical novelist and mystery writer Candace Robb is in the spotlight today as she celebrates the re-issue of her Owen Archer mysteries in brand new editions from Diversion Books, on sale today as e-books and next month as trade paperbacks. … Read More
Posted in Books, Guest Interview, Guest Interview, Inspiration, UK
Tagged Authors, Book release, Books, Candace Robb, historical, Medieval, mystery, Owen Archer, York
8 Comments
5 May 1010: The Battle of Ringmere
On 5 May in the year 1010, a great battle was fought between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes at a place in East Anglia called Ringmere. In the fall of 2012, as part of the research for my novel The … Read More
Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Inspiration, Research, UK, Vikings
Tagged Angl-Saxons, Battle, East Anglia, history, Medieval, Ringmere, The Price of Blood, Vikings
4 Comments
Æthelred II – the Haunted King
On 23 April 1016, King Æthelred II died in London. He was about 50 years old, and he’d ruled England for 38 years. At his death he’d not yet been given the byname, Unræd, (ill-counseled, a play on the Old … Read More
Posted in Anglo-Saxons, Art, Essay, History, Research, UK, Vikings
Tagged Aethelred, Angl-Saxons, Ghost, history, murder, The Price of Blood
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The Literary Feast at Gladstone’s Library
I am into my second week as Writer-in-Residence here at Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden, Wales.