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Review: ‘Women in the Great War’, by Stephen Wynn and Tanya Wynn

 

Women in the Great War

Published by: Pen and Sword Military

Publication date: 5th June 2017

I.S.B.N.: 9781473834149

Price: £12.99

 

Blurb

The First World War was fought on two fronts. In a military sense it was fought on the battlefields throughout Europe, the Gallipoli peninsular and other such theatres of war, but on the Home Front it was the arduous efforts of women that kept the country running.

Before the war women in the workplace were employed in such jobs as domestic service, clerical work, shop assistants, teachers or as barmaids. These jobs were nearly all undertaken by single women, as once they were married their job swiftly became that a of a wife, mother and home maker. The outbreak of the war changed all of that. Suddenly, women were catapulted into a whole new sphere of work that had previously been the sole domain of men. Women began to work in munitions factories, as nurses in military hospitals, bus drivers, mechanics, taxi drivers, as well as running homes and looking after children, all whilst worrying about their men folk who were away fighting a war in some foreign clime, not knowing if they were ever going to see them again.

 

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Review: ‘Six for the Tolpuddle Martyrs’, by Alan Gallop

Six For The Tolpuddle Martyrs Published by: Pen & Sword  History 
Published: 5th June 2017
ISBN: 9781526712509
Price: £14.99

Blurb

In 1834 six farm labourers from the Dorset hamlet of Tolpuddle fell foul of draconian Victorian laws prohibiting ‘assembly’. Today the names of George Loveless and his brother James, Thomas Standfield and his son John, James Brine and James Hammett, who made up the Tolpuddle Martyrs, stand high on the roll of British men who have been victimised for their beliefs but stood steadfast in the face of persecution. They refused to be persuaded to betray their principles either by the promise of release or by transportation to Australia. The Tolpuddle men fought to win their freedom sustained by their passionate conviction that their sacrifices would not be in vain. Their experience and example have proved to be an inspiration for future generations and they remain icons of pioneering trade unionism.

The Author has thoroughly researched their story and the result is a fascinating and revealing re-examination of this legendary saga. Their triumph over legal persecution and abuses of power over 180 years ago is told afresh in this comprehensive and attractively illustrated book which delves deeper into their story than ever before.

More details here

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Coming in July

Well, for a start I’m moving sometime in the next two weeks, but other than that I have a busy month for book reviewing and blog tours her at Rosie Writes…

First up, on 4th July there will be a review of Broken Branches by M. Jonathan Lee, from a new publisher called Hideaway Falls. I found them on Twitter, and it should be an interesting read, from the blurb. I got sent some nice bookmarks too.

On 8th and 10th July, we hear from James Sandlin and I review his new book, Outbreak Mutiny. I am reading it now, I’m enjoying it and can’t wait to tell you all about the book. This is a blog tour organised by Books & The Bear.

On 20th July, I will be taking part in the blog tour for Discoucia by Nicholas Lovelock, which will include an extract and author spotlight posts. This is a blog tour organised by Rachel Gilbey of Authoright, on behalf of Clink Street Publishing. I’m waiting for the material for the extract and author spotlight posts, but Rachel is the best and I’m sure I’ll have them before too long. In August I’m taking part in the Clink Street Summer Blogival, where I’ll have two historical novels for you.

On 22nd July there will be an extract from An Almond for a Parrot, by Wray Delaney, a novel I reviewed earlier this month. The publisher, HQ, an imprint of Harper Collins, has organised this book tour. I enjoyed the book and can’t wait to share an extract with you.

In personal book news, Hidden Fire will be featured on Writing Magazine’s Facebook page on 21st July around or before noon. I am quite happy about this.

‘Fire Betrayed’ update

Fire Betrayed is out with my beta readers now. 

I stayed up until gone one this morning because I got on a roll and got the second edit finished, and added a couple of extra scenes that before had only been summarised in the first draft. It was a case of show don’t tell and I thought it added to the novel to write them out rather than summarised.

Initial feedback is ‘good so far’. I’m waiting for more detailed feedback and constructive criticism from my beta readers.

And now I’m going to have all the naps because I am so tired. My dogs don’t like the sound of rain and wind. All night, and today, there has been rain and wind, so I didn’t get much sleep once I’d finished the editing.

Once I’m human again, I’m going to get on with the second draft of Charley’s War.

‘Tales From Erce’ novella updates

As you know, I’m writing a series of novellas to go with the FIRE Series, called ‘Tales from Erce’. The first draft of Bridas’ Justice is complete and I’m on the second draft of Charley’s War. I’ll be sitting down this evening to work on editing Fire Betrayed and hopefully more of the second draft of Charley’s War.

I have started Letters from Umar. Unfortunately, I need to finish writing Fire Storm before I can go much further with Letters from Umar because I need to work out the time line. And where everyone is. I need my maps, charts and timelines for books three and four.

 

 

Book Launch Day!

Today’s the day! Hidden Fire is now available as a Kindle ebook and a paperback book from Amazon. From mid-September the ebook should be available in other formats and from other distributors too, with the help of Smashwords.

The launch at the library was good. I arrived early and the library assistant helped me get set up. My cousin Dominic is a photographer and he’s taken some photos of today’s event. His photography has won competitions, and he sometimes helps make films too. Check out his Facebook page DJC Photography.

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I took ten books with me to the library, some had already been spoken for, like the three the library ordered, and the ones for my mum and grandmother. Of the five left, I actually sold three of them to people who weren’t friends and family. A cousin and a friend from my allotment days bought the other two.

I’m very happy that it went so well and that the books are now available in the library for borrowers. I checked my sales, there were the 5 pre-orders that have been there since I announced the cook was on pre-order, and an unexpected sale from the US. Thanks to whoever that was, I hope you enjoy it.

Today is also my 34th birthday, I am having a wonderful day. It is the first time in weeks that I haven’t felt awful. I’m tired and peopled out, so the next few days will involve nothing much more than napping and reading.

 

Ahh! Copies of my book have arrived!

A box of books turned No automatic alt text available.up this afternoon. My books, ten of them. A lot sooner than I expected. I’ve sold four already, so the rest are for the book launch. I’m considering ordering more, but I haven’t got enough money yet.

It’s rather exciting and i like the feel of the books. I’ll probably be making some changes for the next book, smaller text probably.

In other news, I’m working on the short story that goes with this novel. It might become a novella at the rate I’m going 😀

Beowulf and the Monsters

I’ve been thinking about the ‘monsters’ in Beowulf recently. I don’t think they’re all that monstrous, if anything they’re probably justified in their actions if you look at events from their point of view.

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Review: ‘Lunatics, Imbeciles and Idiots’, by Katheryn Burtinshaw and Dr John Burt

Published by: Pen & SwordLunatics, Imbeciles and Idiots

Publication Date: 3rd April 2017

I.S.B.N.: 9781473879034

Price: £15.99

Click cover for link to publishers page.

As ever, I was sent this book in return for an honest review. Thanks to Alex and Pen & Sword for sending me the book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blurb

In the first half of the nineteenth-century treatment of the mentally ill in Britain and Ireland underwent radical change. No longer manacled, chained and treated like wild animals, patient care was defined in law and medical understanding, and treatment of insanity developed.

Focussing on selected cases, this new study enables the reader to understand how progressively advancing attitudes and expectations affected decisions, leading to better legislation and medical practice throughout the century. Specific mental health conditions are discussed in detail and the treatments patients received are analysed in an expert way. A clear view of why institutional asylums were established, their ethos for the treatment of patients, and how they were run as palaces rather than prisons giving moral therapy to those affected becomes apparent. The changing ways in which patients were treated, and altered societal views to the incarceration of the mentally ill, are explored. The book is thoroughly illustrated and contains images of patients and asylum staff never previously published, as well as first-hand accounts of life in a nineteenth-century asylum from a patients perspective.

Written for genealogists as well as historians, this book contains clear information concerning access to asylum records and other relevant primary sources and how to interpret their contents in a meaningful way.

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