History is brought alive by the people it affects, rather than those who created it. In Beautiful Star we meet Eilmer, a monk in 1010 with Icarus-like dreams; Charles I, hiding in 1651, and befriended by a small boy; the trial of Jane Wenham, witch of Walkern, seen through the eyes of her grand-daughter. This is a moving and affecting journey through time, bringing a new perspective to the defence of Corfe Castle, the battle of Waterloo, the siege of Toulon and, in the title story, the devastating dangers of the life of the sea in 1875. show more
`Colourful and gripping historical novel' i-Newspaper; `Beautifully done. All the sights, sounds and smells of Elizabethan England are there' Historical Novel Review; `Wonderful - rich, deep, intelligent and thoughtful, with clearly drawn characters and exactly the right amount of suspense' M.C. Scott; `The plot canters along from the very first page ... I cannot wait for the next one' Madhatter show more
About Andrew Swanston
Andrew Swanston read law at Cambridge University before entering the book trade, becoming a director of Waterstones and chairman of Methven's. He is the author of the Thomas Hill novels, set during the English Civil War, and his new series for Bantam began with Impericum in 2017. He lives in Surrey. show more
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