Welcome to the About Charles Cordell page. I am the author of English Civil War historical fiction series Divided Kingdom, including the novel God’s Vindictive Wrath. This page includes a little about me, my writing, this website, my partners in publishing and the Service Charities I support.
I hope this page helps you find what you are looking for. If not, please get in Contact and let me know what is missing.
About the Author
I am a writer with experience as a soldier on the ground in the Middle East, South Asia, the Sahel, North and West Africa. I believe I have seen humanity at its best, its worst and near its most desperate. My writing draws on my time spent in the fraying margins of civilisation, as well as a long study of The General Crisis of the 17th Century.
If you want to know a little more about Charles Cordell, my writing and life as an author, please do join the Divided Kingdom Readers’ Club, or follow Charles Cordell Author and/or #DividedKingdomBooks on social media at:
About God’s Vindictive Wrath
God’s Vindictive Wrath is a debut novel. It is the first book in the Divided Kingdom series of English Civil War historical fiction. I hope you will enjoy them all. God’s Vindictive Wrath has been described as:
'As only a soldier could, Charles Cordell does not flinch from drawing attention to the shear terror of battle, in a way that emphasises detailed research woven meticulously into this gripping first book.'
Jeremy Fowler, Adjutant General of The Sealed Knot
'A great read! Do not miss this evocative account of the start of the English Civil War.'
Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author, The Forgotten Legion, Hannibal, Spartacus and The Lionheart series
'A fast-paced read that brilliantly captures the fear, confusion and luck of battle for the soldier.'
General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE
'The problem with this book is not to start reading it, but to stop and do anything else. It's a page turner alright.'
Bob Burgess, Master of Horse of The Sealed Knot
'That rare talent of blending historical veracity with the credible reality of contemporary personal stories.'
General Stuart Skeates CB CBE
'It was also the one that made me care most about the characters.'
Professor Ronald Hutton CBE FRHistS FSA FLSW FBA
'Charles Cordell, a former soldier, writes with a bravura confidence.'
Antonia Senior, The Times
'Characters that immediately grow on you, experiencing battle through the eyes of each personality, as it happens in the same engagement. Quite unique.'
Jeremy Fowler, Adjutant General of The Sealed Knot
'Straight into the action, fast-paced and authentic, with characters that are colourful and believable.'
Michael Arnold, author of the Civil War Chronicles and Highwayman series
'Quite outstanding - historical fiction at its very best.'
General Stuart Skeates CB CBE
'There are not enough tales like this set in the 17th Century.'
Michael Arnold, author of the Civil War Chronicles and Highwayman series
'Of all the many novels set in the English Civil War that I have read, this was the one that described most perfectly the use of the different arms, and the experience of the face of battle.'
Professor Ronald Hutton CBE FRHistS FSA FLSW FBA
'Stirring. You can almost hear the roar of cannon and the thunder of hooves.'
Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author, The Forgotten Legion, Hannibal, Spartacus and The Lionheart series
'Once the fighting starts, this chorus of voices recreates, with visceral intensity, the confusion and intensity of a large-scale pitched battle.'
Antonia Senior, The Times
This story takes a fresh approach. It is not based on a single hero. It does not take sides. Its voices – ordinary men and women – face each other in the chaos of Britain in civil war. It is both relatable and sharply relevant in reflecting many of the fundamental issues we face today.
Hardship, inequality, injustice – issues that echo today – scar each character. Each faces the brutal reality and human emotions of war – the bloodiest in British history – a war fought in our towns, villages and fields, a war that forged the United Kingdom and its political divide today.
The writing in God’s Vindictive Wrath has been described by literary agents and editors as ‘excellent’, ‘strong and vivid’, ‘impressively rendered’, with descriptive prose of ‘exceptional quality’. It has also received many wonderful reviews and endorsements from readers, literary critics (including in The Times), historians and soldiers. Please do check them out on the God’s Vindictive Wrath book page.
About the Divided Kingdom Books
I am now writing Book #3 in the Divided Kingdom series. Book #2 – The Keys of Hell and Death – is in editing with the publisher. It will be out on 4 June 2024. In the meantime, I have written a short story – Desecration – which sits between the two novels. It is FREE to download from this website.
I very much hope you appreciate and enjoy these books. However, they will not be for all readers. They are historically authentic. But they are also brutally real. I do not believe in hiding the realities of war. They are not to be trivialised. Readers tell me that the stories and issues in these books feel very relevant today.
These books are also slightly different. There is no single hero. I would argue that there are no real heroes in these books. The stories are told by ‘ordinary’ men and women facing each other in civil war. If you want to know a little more about the characters and why they fight, you will find them at Characters.
When you read any of the Divided Kingdom books, please read more than one chapter. The story is told from a number of perspectives. None of them are heroes. None of them are complete villains. Some of them represent the extreme views of their time. Together they present the story and humanity in all its traits.
If you are unsure if these books are for you, please try the First Chapters for FREE or download the eBook at: FREE eBook. Only buy the book if you are ready.
About the English Civil War – Historical Notes & Posts
I hope you will enjoy the content on this website as much as the books. Those interested in the historical background of the English Civil War will find a range of articles at Notes and Maps. These cover a range of topics from The General Crisis of the 17th Century and the Great Rebellion to Pike and Shot Warfare, as well as notes on Civil War battles such as Edgehill, Aylesbury and Brentford in 1642.
This website also includes a range of posts on Early Modern life and the British Civil Wars. These include snippets from my historical research, as well as Living History and re-enactment events. Please do check out these posts at Early Modern History and Charles Cordell News.
Talks & Walks, News & Events and Readers’ Club
I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can in person. Please do look out for an opportunity to say hello, let me sign your book and tell me what you think. Alternatively, tell me what you are doing and how I can support you. If it fits, I can offer to give lectures, Talks and Battlefield Walks. Details for getting in touch are on the Contact page.
If you want to know more about Charles Cordell, my writing and what I am up to, please do join the Divided Kingdom Readers’ Club. Clubmen get free access to exclusive content and a monthly email from me.
Do check out the News & Events posts on this website to see what has been happening. For a list of upcoming events, please also visit the Facebook Page at: CharlesCordellBooks. In the meantime, here is some of what I have been doing recently:
- The 17th Century Almanac for April
17th Century Almanac for April The 17th Century almanac for April – the ‘Sweet Month’… Read more: The 17th Century Almanac for April - Divided Kingdom Book #2 – The Keys of Hell and DeathThe Keys of Hell and Death – book 2 – is in editing with the publisher.
- The 17th Century Almanac for March17th Century Almanac for March The 17th Century almanac for March – the month of… Read more: The 17th Century Almanac for March
About Writing – My Thanks & Ask
Sometimes, writing can feel a very lonely pursuit. Becoming a published author has been a long and bumpy journey from ‘Army to Author’. There have been many that have helped along the way. Some knowingly and some unknowingly. I offer them all my sincere thanks. Any mistakes are mine alone.
But firstly, to you the reader – thank you for your time and trust. There would be no books without you. I hope I will repay your trust in full. If you enjoy reading one of my books, please do post a review. It makes a very big difference to a new author. The chances of continuing to be published are slim without positive reviews.
About Book Publishing – My Thanks & Advice
Ultimately, the author is only one part of the story of publishing a book. It requires an extraordinary range of professionals to bring together art, craft and business acumen in a finished book on a reader’s shelf. It is a sector fraught with risk. My sincere thanks go to the publisher, Myrmidon. But I also wish to pay tribute to their partners: Blacksheep Design for their cover, the typesetters at Falcon, the printers at CPI, the sales team at Inpress Books and the distributers, Gardners, BookSource and Ingrams.
I also want to thank all the wonderful bookshops that have found space on their shelves and tables. This includes the many Waterstones, Blackwells, Foyles, Toppings and WHSmith outlets, as well as a host of smaller independent bookshops, most of them with Bookshop.org. Finally, I must also thank Amazon and Booktopia for making the Divided Kingdom books so widely available – to an international audience.
For those interested in the process of writing and book publishing, I hope you will find the advice, links and insights on Writing and Publishing Historical Fiction useful. This is an author’s perspective on the often opaque literary business. It is my perspective, gleaned from my personal journey. If you don’t find what you are looking for, tell me.
Veterans and Service Charities – My Pledge
I am a veteran who is lucky enough to have come home. I have my scars. But they are nothing compared to others. So many veterans and their families are still struggling with physical disability, mental health and disadvantage. In UK, more than 6,000 veterans are homeless, on our streets, today. It is an enduring Misery of War.
My eternal thanks goes to the Service Charities that have been there to watch my back and, if necessary, try to pick up the pieces. If you buy one of my books, I pledge to give 2% of my royalties received as an author to support veterans. The charity I am supporting is Royal British Legion Industries. If you would like to help, please donate via JustGiving.
It is my way of giving back to ‘Tommy Atkins’. He remains an inspiration in an increasingly fractured world. I am honoured to have stood beside him for a time.
About this Website
Finally, for those with a technical interest, this website is a WordPress Astra site. The font is 16 point, for accessibility, set to dark mode to help reduce glare and save a little energy. It is hosted by Fasthosts on secure UK servers powered by renewable energy.