Historical Fiction Europe

On April 30, 1945, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker as the Red Army closed in on Berlin. Within four days the Soviets had recovered his body. But the truth about what the Russian secret services found was hidden from history, when, three months later, Stalin officially declared to Truman and Churchill that Hitler was still alive and had escaped abroad. Reckless rumors about what really happened to Hitler began to spread like wildfire and, even today, they have not been put to rest. Until now.

In ancient Finland, young Vierra begins her passage to adulthood. It's a time when Viking warriors prowl the land, and riches are in reach of the powerful. The medieval north of myth is a dangerous place, and powers both natural and supernatural are ready to take away everything she holds dear. Vierra sets to overcome the odds with iron will and sharp wit, but fate has more in store for the young woman.

April, 1947. In a run-down farmhouse on a remote Scottish island, George Orwell begins his last and greatest work: Nineteen Eighty-Four. Forty-three years old and suffering from the tuberculosis that within three winters will take his life, Orwell comes to see the book as his legacy - the culmination of a career spent fighting to preserve freedoms. Completing the book is an urgent challenge, a race against death. This “highly compelling, deeply researched" (The National Review) novel was shortlisted for the 2018 Indie Book Award for Best Debut Fiction.

The three tales in this audiobook are adapted from stories told by the peasants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are drawn from some books I found in shops when I visited the former USSR in 1988 as part of a citizen diplomacy group. I was intrigued by these folktales, since my paternal grandmother lived for some time in Odessa in the Ukraine. Also, I found these stories share a common theme - the poor peasant is able to succeed despite obstacles against an unfair ruler.

Thomas of London, the rebellious Archbishop of Canterbury, has made peace with Henry II, after six long years in exile.  Henry and Thomas are both prepared to put past differences aside, but there is little trust left between the two former close friends and allies. A single ill-judged word or action could spark a conflict between the two men - and church and state. When news that Thomas has excommunicated royal supporters soon reaches the King, it is the last straw. With no hope of a lasting peace between the King and Archbishop, there can be only one, bloody conclusion. 

Mar di Toscana, dicembre 1646. Una galea militare francese salpa da Livorno e sterza le onde verso il porto di Tolone. A bordo, i più celebri cantanti italiani, convocati a Parigi dal cardinal Mazzarino. Tra loro c'è il ventenne Atto Melani, scortato dal fedele segretario, che cerca di dissuaderlo dall'unica passione vietata ai castrati: amare le donne. Sulla nave viaggia anche uno strano gruppetto di eruditi, uniti da un miraggio comune. Un misterioso monaco li ha messi sulle tracce di un tesoro: i manoscritti di capolavori perduti dell'antica Roma, che tutti cercano da secoli.

Wenn der eigene Sohn zur Geisel wird... Irland, im 9. Jahrhundert. Ohne Segel und Ruder sind Thorgrim und seine Wikinger mit ihren Langbooten an der südirischen Küste gestrandet. Um ihre Schiffe wieder flottmachen und heimkehren zu können, sind sie auf die Hilfe der Iren angewiesen. Die aber wissen die missliche Lage der Wikinger auszunutzen: Während Thorgrim genötigt wird, die Abtei von Ferns bei der Verteidigung zu unterstützen, ist sein Sohn Harald Starkarm in die Geiselhaft des Gegners geraten und wird von ihm zum Angriff auf die Mönche gezwungen.

Torkel og Ulf er endelig blevet gamle nok til at komme med de voksne mænd i vikingelandsbyen ud at sejle. Turen går til Hedeby, og drengene er spændte, men det går ikke helt som planlagt. For i Hedeby bliver Torkel taget til fange og ført til Skåne, hvor han bliver solgt som træl til en velhavende gårdejer. Under den årlige sommerfest på gården, lykkes det for Torkel og en af gæsternes trælle, pigen Kari, at flygte. Nu går det over stok og sten langs kyst og gennem tæt skov.

Begiloc, a young freedman from Wimborne, is a man of action. But his world turns upside down when the young Briton and his best friend Meryn are ordered away to protect English missionaries in Germany. For a man accustomed to brutality, Begiloc has a soft spot for the purple-tinged mountains, waterfalls, lakes, animals, trees and flowers - beginning to muse whether they, rather than man, do not better embody the essence of God.

In this fiction, a former University classmate, now colonel of the SS, meets Edith Stein in Auschwitz to persuade her to contribute to the doctrinal development of a new religion that would be functional to the Nazi regime. The story presents the development of the conflict between two world views that are absolutely irreconcilable.

Holmes is summoned to Geneva by the legendary “Sisi”, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, to “rake through the coals of Mayerling” and learn the true fate of Crown Prince Rudolf, her dead son.

The year 1942 marked the turning point of World War II. The Americans destroyed the Japanese Battle Fleet in the decisive engagements of Midway and the Coral Sea. General Montgomery defeated General Rommel at El Alamein. But for President Roosevelt, 1942 was the darkest hour of the war. He knew the Germans were developing the atomic bomb. Our victories would be meaningless if the Nazis perfected the “A” bomb first. There was only one man who could find out the biggest Nazi secret of the war: Lanny Budd.

Amparados por la oscuridad de la noche, una campesina checa y un soldado británico huyen de los nazis que los persiguen. Su amor es imposible, pero lucharán contra el destino para estar juntos. Izabela conoció a Bill cuando este llegó a trabajar a la granja de su padre como prisionero de guerra de los alemanes. Con el paso de los días, lo que inició como atracción se convierte en un amor tan fuerte que deciden casarse en secreto y huir; sin embargo, la fortuna no los acompaña por mucho tiempo y terminan en las manos del enemigo.

What does it take to be a cross-cultural messenger of the Gospel? This audiobook explores two extraordinary lives that God has used to impact France: Bob Evans, soldier, WWII chaplain, missionary, and founder of Greater Europe Mission, and Jazz Jones, modern-day missionary facing the challenges and trials of ministry in post-modern Europe, including terrorism and religious strife. What was true about the spiritual climate of Europe 75 years ago? What is true today? And what is always true?

Three Brides, all alike in tragedy, from death's embrace make bold return. One driven quite mad, One sorrowfully sad, and One set aside and spurned. Imbued with weird powers, these transplanted flowers into a new world bloom. With virtue and charm they come fully armed to bring evil unmerciful doom! If you thirst for adventure, this book is a quencher. Let doubtful hearts abide, suspend disbelief for the heroic mischief of the beautiful Broken Brides. If you crave mystery in a fanciful history, then turn to the very first minute!