The author, now retired, lives in a Victorian house with a large garden in South Devon. In his professional life, he was a lawyer specialising in planning law. He has always been an active musician, playing keyboards and the flute.
His other main interest is astronomy, and he is an honorary life member of the Torbay Astronomical Society, of which he was Secretary for many years.
As a Francophile, he is a student of the French language and culture and has visited France many times on holiday, to visit friends there, and on twinning visits.
Who exactly was King Arthur? Why are there many Welsh and Cornish place names in Brittany? What role did the Church play following the fall of the Roman Empire?
The novel gives answers by casting light upon this part of the ‘Dark Ages’ with a vivid picture of life in Britain and Brittany in the fifth century, a time of change and migration. The Roman legions had left Britain to its own devices and the Anglo-Saxons were invading. To escape, some Britons migrated to Brittany, taking their Celtic (Welsh or Cornish) language and their Christian religion with them.
The novel takes in known historical facts and puts flesh on their bones in a fast moving and compelling narrative. Two British bothers, Teged and Owain migrate to and settle in Brittany. They are wealthy, Romanised, devout Christians, literate in Latin and spoke the British (pre-Welsh) language. Cadwyr, the son of Teged, becomes an enthusiastic warrior. Teged’s daughter Nessa, who loves horses, becomes a successful horse-breeder.
The novel tells of battles, a warhorse, sea-voyages, saints, miracles, druids, monks, slaves, astrologers, and a pilgrimage, not ignoring daily life with its harvests, hunting scenes, and celebrations with music and rich fare.
Will Cadwyr and his young son prevail in a famous pitched battle?
We hear of historical characters: Arthur, Vortigern, Hengist, Consul Aëtius, Attila the Hun, St. Germanus, and more.
This fascinating period is brought to light by focusing on individual and colourful characters meeting the challenges of their age.
I am delighted to say that Austin Macauley have agreed to publish my collection of short stories, entitled "The DukeDog and other Stories".The stories are varied in subject matter and in tone. Most ha ........
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I have been getting favourable feedback about "the Migrants", my historical novel set in the fifth century. People seem to like historical novels, particularly those set in an unfamiliar period.I am w ........
Music has always been a part of my life. Since my wife died four years ago, it has become a main interest for me, mainly classical music, but I enjoy other kinds of music. Music can be good or bad in ........
Most British Kings died of natural causes and hopefully in their own beds, but there were exceptions. According to the Shakespeare play, Macbeth, spurred on by his wife, murdered King Duncan I of ........
Don’t worry: no such musical exists yet. But read on. I did not recognise the name Paul Heaton, until recently when I watched some programmes about this amazing musician on BBC2. I am not into ........
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