Welcome to the about Charles Cordell page. I am the author of God’s Vindictive Wrath and the Divided Kingdom Series of English Civil War historical fiction. This page includes a little about me, this website, my partners in publishing and the Service Charities I support. I hope it 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 and diplomat on the ground in the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, the Sahel 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.
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 in some way. If it fits, I can offer to give lectures, Talks and Battlefield Walks. Details for getting in touch are on the Contact page.
Readers’ Club, #DividedKingdomBooks, News & Events
If you want to know more about me, my writing and what I am up to, please do join the Readers’ Club, or follow Charles Cordell Author and/or #DividedKingdomBooks on social media at:
If you want to see a list of upcoming events, please check out the Facebook Page at: CharlesCordellBooks. Alternatively, visit the News & Events page on this website to see what has been happening. In the meantime, here are some of the things I have been doing recently:
- Ye Battle of Aylesbury
Great day talking about ‘Ye Battle of Aylesbury 1642’ - Sleeping Rough for Homeless Veterans
Sleeping rough for the homeless veterans on our streets. - Historical Novel Society – Review
Huge thanks to the HNS for their review of God’s Vindictive Wrath
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:
'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
'There are not enough tales like this set in the 17th Century.'
Michael Arnold, author of the Civil War Chronicles and Highwayman series
'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
'A fast-paced read that brilliantly captures the fear, confusion and luck of battle for the soldier.'
General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE
'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
'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
'Charles Cordell, a former soldier, writes with a bravura confidence.'
Antonia Senior, The Times
'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 FRHistS FSA FLSW FBA
'It was also the one that made me care most about the characters.'
Professor Ronald Hutton 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
'Quite outstanding - historical fiction at its very best.'
General Stuart Skeates CB CBE
'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
'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
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.
About the Divided Kingdom Books
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.
I am now writing the second book in the series. It will be published later in 2023. 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.
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.
When you read these 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.
About this Website
I hope you will enjoy the content on this website as much as the Divided Kingdom 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 Little Ice Age and The General Crisis to 17th Century Military Theory, as well as the battles of Edgehill, Aylesbury and Brentford in 1642. If you want to know a little more about the characters and why they fight, you will find them at Characters.
For those of you interested in the process of writing, I hope you will find the advice, links and thoughts on my Writers’ Page useful. If you don’t find what you are looking for, tell me.
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.
About Publishing – My Thanks
Sometimes, writing can feel a very lonely pursuit. Becoming a published author has been a long and bumpy journey ‘from Forces to Fiction’. There have been many that have helped along the way. Some knowingly and some unknowingly. I offer them all my sincere thanks. Any mistakes in the writing 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.
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 Books. 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 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, Booktopia and Book Depository for making the Divided Kingdom books so widely available.
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.
I am eternally grateful 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 Service Charities. I will split this donation between Royal British Legion Industries, the Army Benevolent Fund and Blind Veterans UK.
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.
