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Historical Stories of Exile
... a risky defiance, a perilous journey, a family’s tragic choice – or an individual’s final gamble to live. voluntary or enforced, a falling-out between friends, a lost first love, a prejudiced betrayal – or the only way to survive persecution? In this historical fiction anthology thirteen authors (they are not superstitious!) have written exclusive short stories on the theme of exile. Some are based on true history, others are speculative fiction. All mine the depths of human fear, hope, love, and the fortitude to survive.
And as an exclusive treat special guest author, Elizabeth Chadwick, reveals a tale about the 12th-century’s heiress, Isabelle de Clare, and the Greatest Knight of all time – William Marshal.
With an introduction by multi-award-winning author Deborah Swift, enjoy these tales of exile across the ages. Some are hopeful, some sad, some romantic, some tragic, but all explore the indomitable spirit of resolute, unforgettable characters.
And as an exclusive treat special guest author, Elizabeth Chadwick, reveals a tale about the 12th-century’s heiress, Isabelle de Clare, and the Greatest Knight of all time – William Marshal.
With an introduction by multi-award-winning author Deborah Swift, enjoy these tales of exile across the ages. Some are hopeful, some sad, some romantic, some tragic, but all explore the indomitable spirit of resolute, unforgettable characters.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2023
6 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Cryssa Bazos
7 books95 followersI am a historical fiction writer and 17th Century enthusiast, with a particular interest in the English Civil War (ECW). I blog about English history and storytelling at my blog, the 17th Century Enthusiast, and I'm a co-editor of the English Historical Fiction Authors blog site.
My debut novel, Traitor’s Knot, a romantic tale of adventure set during the English Civil War. Traitor’s Knot is the first in a series of adventures spanning from the ECW to the Restoration and is now available from Endeavour Media.
My debut novel, Traitor’s Knot, a romantic tale of adventure set during the English Civil War. Traitor’s Knot is the first in a series of adventures spanning from the ECW to the Restoration and is now available from Endeavour Media.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 10, 2023
Historical fiction aficionados will treasure this new collection. The authors are seasoned hands and know well how to avoid the pitfalls of over- explanation and a flood of obvious research. But as good histfic should, it holds resonances for the modern reader, as refugees flee war and small boats cross dangerous waters, or religious differences create such tension in a society that splinters form.
There is a wide range in the eras explored here, from the fourth century to several decades in the future. Famous faces are lit with new light, and unknowns brought forward to illuminate the effect of the times on the people who had no power, the children, women and the poor. The stories take the reader all over Europe, and I was struck by how well the anthology illustrates the changes the area has gone through over the last millennium or two.
It is always a joy to find a corner of history explained - not didactically, but as part of the story - and the anthology succeeds admirably here. There was a lot of “Oh I never knew that…” as I read. There are wonderful descriptions of life and people and settings. I urge you to just sit and read it through in one reading as I did.
Everyone will have their own set of favourites from the collection and I hope nobody minds if I single out a handful that particularly caught my imagination.
I am a lifelong Rome nerd, so it will come as no surprise that my favourite story in this anthology was Alison Morton’s “My Sister” set in fourth century Rome. The brother/sister relationship at the heart of this story was particularly well-drawn, with elements of humour that set off the grim story of Christians persecuting others.
Marian L. Thorpe’s hero is a falconer, “exiled” to thirteenth century England from his native Norway by his love of the falcons he captured and reared. The focus here is on the birds, with the falconer’s wonder at their power of flight woven into the story, the writing soaring into the heights with the falcon.
Elizabeth Chadwick’s “Coming Home” examines the fate of the ward of the King, the heiress whose life rests entirely in the hands of a man who will use her to build alliances. To Isabelle, whose world is now constrained by the Tower of London, life is effectively that of a prisoner, and her uneasy combination of acceptance and frustration is very well-drawn.
The hero of Elizabeth St John’s story is her own ancestor, another Elizabeth, and a woman who is believably both Puritan and passionate, refuting the age-old stereotype of the dour and black-garbed tribe. Elizabeth’s dream of religious freedom in the New World sustains her through increasing danger as she and her husband arouse suspicion and hostility in pre-Civil War England.
Cathie Dunn’s exiles cross the English Channel in a small boat and find a better welcome than many nowadays - though I felt for poor Poppa as she endured a hurried escape and a rough crossing while pregnant and ill. The ending made this already disturbing tale all the more emotional.
There is a wide range in the eras explored here, from the fourth century to several decades in the future. Famous faces are lit with new light, and unknowns brought forward to illuminate the effect of the times on the people who had no power, the children, women and the poor. The stories take the reader all over Europe, and I was struck by how well the anthology illustrates the changes the area has gone through over the last millennium or two.
It is always a joy to find a corner of history explained - not didactically, but as part of the story - and the anthology succeeds admirably here. There was a lot of “Oh I never knew that…” as I read. There are wonderful descriptions of life and people and settings. I urge you to just sit and read it through in one reading as I did.
Everyone will have their own set of favourites from the collection and I hope nobody minds if I single out a handful that particularly caught my imagination.
I am a lifelong Rome nerd, so it will come as no surprise that my favourite story in this anthology was Alison Morton’s “My Sister” set in fourth century Rome. The brother/sister relationship at the heart of this story was particularly well-drawn, with elements of humour that set off the grim story of Christians persecuting others.
Marian L. Thorpe’s hero is a falconer, “exiled” to thirteenth century England from his native Norway by his love of the falcons he captured and reared. The focus here is on the birds, with the falconer’s wonder at their power of flight woven into the story, the writing soaring into the heights with the falcon.
Elizabeth Chadwick’s “Coming Home” examines the fate of the ward of the King, the heiress whose life rests entirely in the hands of a man who will use her to build alliances. To Isabelle, whose world is now constrained by the Tower of London, life is effectively that of a prisoner, and her uneasy combination of acceptance and frustration is very well-drawn.
The hero of Elizabeth St John’s story is her own ancestor, another Elizabeth, and a woman who is believably both Puritan and passionate, refuting the age-old stereotype of the dour and black-garbed tribe. Elizabeth’s dream of religious freedom in the New World sustains her through increasing danger as she and her husband arouse suspicion and hostility in pre-Civil War England.
Cathie Dunn’s exiles cross the English Channel in a small boat and find a better welcome than many nowadays - though I felt for poor Poppa as she endured a hurried escape and a rough crossing while pregnant and ill. The ending made this already disturbing tale all the more emotional.
November 15, 2023
To be honest I only bought this book as I’m a fan of Deborah Swift Elizabeth St John and Cathie Dunn and I’m glad I did it was fabulous read
November 5, 2023
Deborah Swift, one of my favourite authors, has written a perfect introduction to this excellent collection, with a brief overview of the content as well as thoughts on the subject of exile itself.
I loved reading these stories, the standard of which is high throughout, though they are all so different, in subject matter and writing style. It is these two aspects that determine one's favourites in an anthology such as this, and can only ever be subjective; bearing this in mind, the story that stood out most for me (and stayed with me afterwards) was the heartbreaking The Unwanted Prince by Anna Belfrage, about a 16th century heir to the Swedish throne forced into exile for his own safety - especially sad because the story is true, as I read at the end, with great fascination. I would have happily read a whole novel about the rest of his life, as outlined.
My other favourites:
Wadan Wræclastas (Tread the Path of Exile) by the Lady of Saxon History, Annie Whitehead, is set a few years before the Norman Conquest. The title comes from 10th century poem The Wanderer, and in this case refers to the much travelled Ealdgyth. Again, most of the events really took place, but what I loved most about this one was the glimpse into the Saxon world.
On Shining Wings by Marian L Thorpe, a beautiful story about a 13th century Norwegian falconer, telling his tale to his grandson.
Betrayal by Cathie Dunn: set in AD 900, it tells the story of the urgent flight of Rollo the Viking and his wife Poppa place from the part of modern day France then known as Neustria, to England.
I also liked The Past, My Future by Loretta Livingstone, which is a bit different as it involves time travel from a dark, dystopian future England, to an abbey in the 13th Century.
The book is beautifully presented, with notes about each story and a biography and links for each author. Congratulations to Helen Hollick for the original idea, and a big thank you to Annie for sending me an ARC when I said how much I looked forward to reading this! Historical Stories of Exile is available for pre-order now, and for sale on November 12th. Highly recommended, and a great way to dip into the work of authors yet to be discovered.
I loved reading these stories, the standard of which is high throughout, though they are all so different, in subject matter and writing style. It is these two aspects that determine one's favourites in an anthology such as this, and can only ever be subjective; bearing this in mind, the story that stood out most for me (and stayed with me afterwards) was the heartbreaking The Unwanted Prince by Anna Belfrage, about a 16th century heir to the Swedish throne forced into exile for his own safety - especially sad because the story is true, as I read at the end, with great fascination. I would have happily read a whole novel about the rest of his life, as outlined.
My other favourites:
Wadan Wræclastas (Tread the Path of Exile) by the Lady of Saxon History, Annie Whitehead, is set a few years before the Norman Conquest. The title comes from 10th century poem The Wanderer, and in this case refers to the much travelled Ealdgyth. Again, most of the events really took place, but what I loved most about this one was the glimpse into the Saxon world.
On Shining Wings by Marian L Thorpe, a beautiful story about a 13th century Norwegian falconer, telling his tale to his grandson.
Betrayal by Cathie Dunn: set in AD 900, it tells the story of the urgent flight of Rollo the Viking and his wife Poppa place from the part of modern day France then known as Neustria, to England.
I also liked The Past, My Future by Loretta Livingstone, which is a bit different as it involves time travel from a dark, dystopian future England, to an abbey in the 13th Century.
The book is beautifully presented, with notes about each story and a biography and links for each author. Congratulations to Helen Hollick for the original idea, and a big thank you to Annie for sending me an ARC when I said how much I looked forward to reading this! Historical Stories of Exile is available for pre-order now, and for sale on November 12th. Highly recommended, and a great way to dip into the work of authors yet to be discovered.
November 24, 2023
Exile is an especially poignant topic at present and it has been part of the lives of so many people throughout history. As a background to fiction it enables us to become closer to the characters as they respond to their new environment while experiencing Hiraeth or Saudade.
I enjoyed this opportunity to discover the talent of several authors whose novels I will now seek out. The stories in this volume range between Roman Times to 1945 and beyond, to time travel back from 2042 to 1227 which must have been a cultural shock.
It was fascinating to read Helen Horlick’s account of the real Doones of Exmoor, a name so familiar from R D Blackmore’s “Lorna Doone” and so sad to discover the sad story of Sigrid, the unwanted Swedish prince abandoned in Poland. Two stories were my particular favourites. One, by Charlotte Newcombe, was the tale of Robin in 1199 who carried out the orders of Queen Eleanor to seek out her son John when her firstborn, King Richard, was dying. As a follower of Richard, he knew John hated him and most of us know that John was going to be a bad King, but he was the true English heir to the throne. The other story, by Elizabeth Chadwick, which I found engaging was that of Isabelle, a young Irish heiress, kept in protection in the Tower of London by the King for 4 years until a suitable husband could be approved for her. Her interaction with the much older William the Marshall showed a strong connection and I had to research this couple’s future.
I would very much recommend this volume for its varied content and writing styles, introducing you to current writers of historical fiction and widening your knowledge of history as it has mine.
I enjoyed this opportunity to discover the talent of several authors whose novels I will now seek out. The stories in this volume range between Roman Times to 1945 and beyond, to time travel back from 2042 to 1227 which must have been a cultural shock.
It was fascinating to read Helen Horlick’s account of the real Doones of Exmoor, a name so familiar from R D Blackmore’s “Lorna Doone” and so sad to discover the sad story of Sigrid, the unwanted Swedish prince abandoned in Poland. Two stories were my particular favourites. One, by Charlotte Newcombe, was the tale of Robin in 1199 who carried out the orders of Queen Eleanor to seek out her son John when her firstborn, King Richard, was dying. As a follower of Richard, he knew John hated him and most of us know that John was going to be a bad King, but he was the true English heir to the throne. The other story, by Elizabeth Chadwick, which I found engaging was that of Isabelle, a young Irish heiress, kept in protection in the Tower of London by the King for 4 years until a suitable husband could be approved for her. Her interaction with the much older William the Marshall showed a strong connection and I had to research this couple’s future.
I would very much recommend this volume for its varied content and writing styles, introducing you to current writers of historical fiction and widening your knowledge of history as it has mine.
November 15, 2023
A captivating compilation of stories penned by a roster of many of my favorite authors! I’m enjoying delving into these narratives that traverse diverse landscapes and eras. Each portrays the intricate emotions of exile, touching upon not only the pervasive sense of loss that accompanies every form of banishment but also the enduring threads of hope and resilience that sustain the exiled. These tales encompass a spectrum of experiences, with some drawing inspiration from authentic historical events and others venturing into the realms of speculative fiction.
"Historical Stories of Exile" is an enriching read that resonates with the human spirit's capacity to persevere amidst the challenges of displacement.
"Historical Stories of Exile" is an enriching read that resonates with the human spirit's capacity to persevere amidst the challenges of displacement.
June 30, 2024
I only bought this because it had a story by Elizabeth Chadwick, one of my favourite authors, in it, but I ended up enjoying the others much more than I thought I would. Unusually for an anthology, I enjoyed all the stories. Anna Belfrage contributed a terribly sad one about a seven year old Swedish prince abandoned in Poland. The Exiled Heart features a doomed love story with an imprisoned Prince Rupert of the Rhine and I really enjoyed being taken back to ducal Normandy in Cathie Dunn's Betrayal. The stories range from Roman times to the second world war so there is something for most readers of historical fiction to enjoy.
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November 3, 2023Obviously, I can't rate this as I'm one of the authors. That being the case, I got chance to read this before publication, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
There are some excellent stories here set in times from Early Roman and Old English, through Mediaeval and Tudor and right up to the World War II.
It's due to be published on 10th November (Kindle) and 12th November (paperback). I recommend it.
There are some excellent stories here set in times from Early Roman and Old English, through Mediaeval and Tudor and right up to the World War II.
It's due to be published on 10th November (Kindle) and 12th November (paperback). I recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews