About Charles Cordell – historical fiction author
‘Charles Cordell, a former soldier, writes with bravura confidence.’ The Times
Charles Cordell – Army to historical fiction author
Charles Cordell is the author of English Civil War historical fiction series Divided Kingdom. A former career soldier serving in the British Army, he has seen conflict on the ground in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa – witnessing humanity at its best, its worst and its near most desperate. He is now a full-time author.
Charles Cordell’s writing draws on his time spent in the fraying margins of civilisation. It is also informed by a deep study of The General Crisis of the 17th Century, and its many parallels today. Added to this mix is a long-held passion for history and a brief period as an archaeologist.
If you want to know a little more about Charles Cordell, why not check out his Author Blog. This blog includes personal posts about his journey from Army to Author, as well as his Author Life & Writing today. You can find and follow these posts at News & Blogs.
If you want to know about the books Charles Cordell enjoys reading, his curated book lists can be found at Bookshop.org. You can also find and follow him on social media at:
Books by Charles Cordell – Civil War historical fiction
The Divided Kingdom books take a fresh approach. They are not based on a single hero. They do not take sides. Their voices – ordinary men and women – face each other in the chaos of Britain in civil war. They are both relatable and sharply relevant today.
Hardship, inequality, injustice – issues that echo again today – scar each character. Each faces the brutal reality and human emotions of war – the bloodiest in British history. A war fought in its towns, villages and fields. A war that forged the United Kingdom.
The stories are as historically accurate and authentic as possible. They are also brutally real. They do not hide or trivialise the realities of war. The stories are told from a number of perspectives. Some of them represent the extreme views of their time. Together, they present the story and humanity in all its traits.
Book blurbs and links to each book are provided at Books. This includes links to the novels, short stories and a FREE eBook. Full details, reviews and read samples can be found on each of the book pages. Please do check them out and try a read sample.
If you want to receive news of upcoming books, offers and editorial reviews, you can find the latest updates and follow the story at Divided Kingdom News. Alternatively, check out the reader reviews and ratings, and follow Charles Cordell on Goodreads and Amazon, or social media at #DividedKingdomBooks.
17th Century History – historical notes, maps & blog posts
The Divided Kingdom books are as historically accurate as possible. There are so many extraordinary true stories from the English Civil War. They just need to be told. There is no need to invent fictional dragons!
For those who want to know more about the history behind these stories, this website includes historical notes to accompany each book. These can be found at English Civil War Notes & Maps.
These pages include articles on the background to the English Civil War, including The General Crisis of the 17thCentury, the English Revolution and Pike & Shot Warfare. They also include detailed research notes of Civil War battles, including the Battle of Edgehill, Roundway Down and the Storming of Bristol.
If you are interested in what life was like in the 17th Century, this website includes a series of posts on Early Modern Britain. These include the monthly 17th Century Almanac blog of life, lore and ritual in Britain, Europe and the Americas. They are the backstory to the Divided Kingdom books.
Charles Cordell Events – author talks & battlefield walks
Charles Cordell enjoys giving talks and battlefield walks. These include Author Talks and book signings as well as English Civil War local history talks and Battlefield Walks. They can also include more formal lectures and speeches on The General Crisis and causes of conflict in the 17th Century.
If you want to join him at one of these talks or walks, please check out the calendar at Charles Cordell Events. Come along, join the crowd and let Charles Cordell sign your copies of the Divided Kingdom books.
If you would like Charles Cordell to support you with a talk, lecture or battlefield walk, please do get in touch. You can do this by posting a message via the Contact Charles Cordell page. Alternatively, you can email the author direct as a member of the Divided Kingdom Readers’ Club.
Finally, Charles Cordell is a fan of Living History and historical re-enactment. Both play an important role in bringing history alive and in making it accessible. His historical fiction writing aims to complement these forms of Historical Interpretation. Look out for him at an event near you or follow the action at Living History & Historical Re-enactment.
Writing Historical Fiction & Book Publishing – author thanks
Charles Cordell’s journey from soldier to published author was not quick or easy. It has been an extraordinary, sometimes bumpy ride. He offers his thanks to all that have helped him get there.
“Sometimes, writing can be a lonely pursuit. 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 you will be repaid in full. If you enjoy reading one of my books, please do post a review. They make a very big difference to a relatively new author.
If you are interested in the process of writing historical fiction, you can read and follow my blog posts on Book Publishing. These include posts about Author Life & Writing as well as insights and advice on Writing & Publishing Historical Fiction. They offer an author’s perspective on an often opaque literary business.
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 thanks go to the publisher, Myrmidon, for taking that risk.
My thanks also go out to Myrmidon’s partners: Blacksheep Design for their covers, 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. This includes the many Waterstones, Blackwells, Foyles, Toppings and WHSmith outlets, as well as the host of smaller independent bookshops with Bookshop.org. Finally, my thanks go out to those who work at Amazon and Booktopia for making the Divided Kingdom books available so widely – to an international audience.”
Veterans & Service Charities – giving back
“I am a veteran who was 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, including homelessness. It is an enduring Misery of War.
As an author, I pledge to give 2% of my royalties from book sales to support veterans in need. My chosen charity is Royal British Legion Industries. You can also help their work to house, re-train and employ homeless veterans by donating directly via his JustGiving page. Please give whatever you can. Even the price of a cup of tea can help a struggling veteran get home.
If you would like to know a little more about the Armed Forces charities I support and my fundraising, you can follow my blog posts at Veteran & Volunteer. These include Sleeping Rough for Homeless Veterans. This is my way of giving back to ‘Tommy Atkins’. It was my honour to have stood with Tommy for a short while.”
About this Website – accessible & secure
Finally, for those with a technical interest, this website is hosted by Fasthosts on secure UK servers powered by renewable energy. The font is 16 point, for accessibility, set to dark mode to help reduce glare and save a little energy. We hope you like it. If you don’t find what you need, please get in contact.
See More – social media & the Divided Kingdom Readers’ Club
Alternatively, check out Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube for more posts. These include notes from Charles Cordell’s historical research, Living History and English Civil War fiction. They also include upcoming events and opportunities to meet. Or, follow on social media at #DividedKingdomBooks or #EnglishCivilWarFiction on:
If you want even more, join us in the Divided Kingdom Readers’ Club. You will receive FREE exclusive access to unpublished short stories, email and more. Click the link to sign up and join the Clubmen.
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