But that’s great, because it means that my editor signed it off yesterday, happy with the homework that she’d given me last week. Phew. I wrote it in 6 months, 2 weeks. That’s pretty good, I reckon. Good timing too, because it means that I can go to the Festival of Living History at Kelmarsh this weekend and not have to think about it. Then there’s Bodies in the Bookshop in Heffer’s of Cambridge next week. Busy time! If you read the Spartacus excerpt a few days ago, and want to read the rext of that scene, please read on… [Read more…] about Spartacus: The Gladiator goes off to see the copy editor
Spartacus: The Gladiator – almost done!
Well, the fantastic news is that my editor is delighted with the final manuscript of Spartacus: The Gladiator. She’s given me some homework (as always), but it shouldn’t take me more than 2-3 days to sort out. Knowing that on Friday evening felt like the holidays had begun early. To celebrate, I’m putting up some of the first chapter – a taster, if you like. To be continued later in the week. I hope you enjoy it! [Read more…] about Spartacus: The Gladiator – almost done!
Tarquinius goes to Australia (sort of!); a chance find in the Mediterranean
Tarquinius would be proud to know that an exhibition about his people, the mysterious Etruscans, has recently opened in Sydney. Read about it here. Hmmm. Can I excuse the expense to go down under to see it? I wish…
A British underwater research team has discovered an amazing haul of rare Roman vessels, and brought some of them to the surface. This is one of the things I love so much about history – that every week or two, something new turns up! Read about it here. [Read more…] about Tarquinius goes to Australia (sort of!); a chance find in the Mediterranean
Launch parties; Roman baths in York; Spartacus
Apologies for not posting for a week or so – I’ve been mentally busy finishing off Spartacus: The Gladiator, which is the first of two books about the man himself. My editor will be readying her red pen, and while she’s busy, I am tonight going to the launch of Harry Sidebottom’s new book, The Caspian Gates. The [Read more…] about Launch parties; Roman baths in York; Spartacus
Could Hannibal Barca’s ashes be buried in Malta?
Of course no one knows what happened to Hannibal’s body after he took poison in 183 BC, in Bithynia (part of modern day Turkey). A debate has reawakened in Malta, however, over the mysterious find made by a British person in the early 1800s. There’s not much to the argument, but it makes for interesting reading. Some good comments below the article too. Read it here.
Kelmarsh, Kelmarsh, please come to Kelmarsh
English Heritage run an amazing weekend in the grounds of Kelmarsh, a stately home in Northamptonshire. It’s on every year in July, this year on the 16th/17th. Over 1,000 reenactors, from Roman legionaries to WW2 soldiers, battle against each other while more than 20,000 members of the public watch. In other words you can see reenactment of gladiator fights, Viking battles, the siege of Harfleur, knights jousting against each other, Spitfires flying overhear, WW2 airborne troops parachuting in and so on.
There are hundreds of stalls selling replica gear and history books, events for children, and for the first time, a festival of Historical Writing. Organised by the Historical Writer’s Association, of which I am the proud Treasurer, more than 30 authors (fiction and non-fiction) will talk about their historical work. Michael Morpurgo will be there. So too will Michelle Paver. Then we have Anthony Riches, Robert Low, Robyn Young, Douglas Jackson, Giles Kristian and a host of others, including me!
If you can come along, it would be brilliant. See you there!