french revolution Archives

Harlequin is Dead is Out Now

Congratulations to R. M. Cullen, whose absorbing historical thriller, Harlequin is Dead, is out now!

Harlequin is Dead is the first historical murder investigation in the Richard Brinsley Sheridan Mystery Series: eighteenth-century crime thrillers set in London at a time of Revolution.

1791

Revolution in France is causing refugees to flee to England and London is fast becoming a hotbed of spies, government agents and fanatics.

When renowned Irish playwright, Richard Brinsley Sheriden is led to the skeletal remains of a harlequin in his theatre, he is determined to get justice for his employee.

With the aid of Bow Street Runner, Constable Nicholls, Sheridan starts to investigate.

He soon realises two more performers have disappeared. And the discovery of a decorative cross suggests there is a link with a dangerous secret society, the Huguenot Brotherhood.

But why would French political migrants be targeting the theatre?

Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales has received an anonymous letter accusing him of Treason and Sheridan is tasked with hunting out the sender.

Could both mysteries be linked? Is London heading for the same bloodthirsty scenes as Paris?

Or can Sheridan help stop the insurgents from taking hold in England…?

The Manors of the Wentworth Family Regency Saga by Graham Ley

In this behind-the-scenes blog series, Sapere Books authors offer an intriguing insight into how, where and why they write.

Today, we are delighted to spotlight Graham Ley, author of the Wentworth Family Regency Saga Series.

Brittany, really, has been my place for my writing. There lies inspiration and the prompt to be historical, implicit in the ancient stone and timber that surrounds you, and the glimpses from the road of almost hidden farmhouses and squat barns of sturdy beauty — sometimes deserted but strangely still standing. And that region across the Channel has an uncanny relationship with Devon and its history, embedded in its own cob-and-timber beauties, and those oddly contrasting stone manor houses.

How better to link the two regions than with the story of a family that was both Devonian and Breton, in the mid-1790s when the buildings were still full of life and yet conflict was raging? It was bound to be the case that at some point I would catch, in passing, the misty outline of the Breton manor that would lie at the heart of the story — a home that had been emptied by the Revolution in France, but which would be gradually restored in quite unpredictable ways. That manor came into being in partnership with another that would be in Devon, both of great antiquity but which had, in different ways, been brought up to date. Two homes that might contain threat as well as comforting familiarity, both put together from what I had seen across the two regions.

In the saga, Chittesleigh in Devon and Kergohan in Brittany are manors with orchards and gardens. Both sit in the heart of farmland and woodland, with its capacity to conceal, protect and yet also harbour danger. It was only when I was finishing the fourth and final book of the saga that I stumbled on a truly striking vision of Kergohan, nestling in a valley only a mile or so from where I was staying. Its medieval aspect is pictured here, but it also has a shorter, eighteenth-century façade with a portico. So it seems that you can only sum up when you have finished. In the meantime, a building takes shape from the inspiration and the uncertain lives of its characters: they fill it with aspirations, fears and suspicions, which only their love for each other may come to quieten.

The Historical Inspiration Behind the Wentworth Family Regency Saga by Graham Ley

Graham Ley is the author of the Wentworth Family Regency Saga Series: absorbing historical novels set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. The third instalment, Lady at the Lodge, is out now.

My novels are set in the period just before the rise of the great names of Napoleon and Nelson, and after the stormy days of the French revolution in 1789 and the terror that followed, with the execution of the King and Queen of France and the declaration of a Republic. Great Britain was at war with France from that time, and my first novel started with Britain’s most significant involvement on the continent to date: its support for a force of exiled French landed by the British navy on the Brittany coast at Quiberon.

This small army, clad in red British uniforms and carrying British weapons, formed an uneasy alliance with the remarkable Breton insurrection known as the Chouans, a name that may have come from their mimicry of the call of an owl. Brittany was divided in its loyalties, with the Chouans looking back nostalgically to the monarchy and the Catholic Church, while many in the towns supported the new Republic and its freedoms from the old regime. Like all civil wars, the Chouan revolt was marked by outbursts of great cruelty, with much proceeding in secrecy and poorly armed peasant fighters slipping back into the forests, or raiding unexpectedly in towns.

Since the Middle Ages, the English had been allied with Brittany against the power of France. As one who is half Breton and half English, my hero Justin Wentworth had no need to question his loyalties when going undercover in Brittany to liaise with the rebels on behalf of the British commanders at Quiberon. Justin’s Breton mother Sempronie brought the manor of Kergohan into the family via her marriage to his father, who for his part inherited the manor of Chittesleigh, north of Dartmoor. Underpinning all of the novels is this continuing connection of the Wentworth family with Brittany and with Devon in England, one which involves them in the lives and fates of those who live at Kergohan and Chittesleigh.

Yet for all the historical background against which they play out, I see the novels in personal terms, with ambition, greed, deceit, loyalty, honour and love as major motives in the lives of the characters, whether French Republicans, former slaves from the Caribbean, Breton farmers and villagers or English gentry, soldiers, Quakers or actresses. That is why it may be best to see these as romantic historical novels, since romance need not be confined exclusively to salons, drawing rooms and assemblies — of which there are still many to be found in the shifting scenes that make up these stories.

Lady at the Lodge is Out Now

Congratulations to Graham Ley, whose captivating Regency saga, Lady at the Lodge, is out now!

Lady at the Lodge is the third book in the Wentworth Family Regency Saga Series: historical novels set between England and France during the French Revolution.

England and Brittany, 1796

Rumours of a planned French invasion of Britain have reached the British military leaders, prompting them to prepare their troops and mobilise their spies. Amid the unrest, the Wentworth family — Anglo-French aristocrats — continue to move forward with their lives.

After visiting Brittany — her birthplace — to put right a past wrong, Sempronie has returned to Devonshire. However, she has left an inheritance dispute behind her that could change the lives of the small Breton community that surround her old family estate.

Recovering from her recent illness, Amelia is sampling London society and getting involved with the abolitionist movement. But when a sinister figure from her past reappears on English shores, her safety is once again under threat.

Living peacefully at Chittesleigh Manor in Devonshire, Justin and Arabella are expecting their first child. Though grateful for her good fortune, Arabella is impatient with Justin’s cossetting and misses her old independence. And despite her good sense, her determination to be active seems set to land her in danger…

Sapere Books Sign a New Historical Mystery Series by Rose M Cullen

We are thrilled to announce that we have signed a series of historical mysteries by Rose M Cullen.

In Rose’s words:

“I am absolutely delighted at the prospect of working with Sapere Books on my series. Opening with Harlequin is Dead, the novels are set in London in the 1790s against the turbulent backdrop of the French Revolution across the Channel and feature playwright and politician Richard Brinsley Sheridan as my sometimes-hapless sleuth. As a historian and someone who has worked in the theatre, I have long had a fascination with Sheridan. He was a wonderfully rich and complex character who mixed in worlds both high and low — from the inner circles around the Prince of Wales and Houses of Parliament to the actors and entertainers of his theatre company and those living in the nearby slums. Sheridan had a keen interest in policing and trained in the law before embracing the stage. He was unquestionably brave, having survived a number of duels in his youth, and as a man with boundless curiosity and acuity, he seemed to me well placed to become embroiled in a series of mysteries.

“In Harlequin is Dead, we see him insist that his wife’s illegitimate child be recognised as his own, and he does everything he can to protect her from scandal. I enjoy peppering my fictional world with historical figures, and some of the most extraordinary characters in my novels are based on real people. Sheridan wrote rather wonderful comedies, and so I aim to weave a thread of humour into the books along with the murder and mayhem.

“Joining the Sapere Books family of authors has been a great pleasure. The team offer a supportive environment for my first traditional publications, and fellow authors are on hand with invaluable advice and encouragement.”

Heir to the Manor is Out Now

Congratulations to Graham Ley, whose captivating French Revolution saga, Heir to the Manor, is out now!

Devon and Brittany, 1796

As the conflict in France rages on, the Wentworth family — Anglo-French aristocrats — must find their place in a changing world.

Staying with friends in Cornwall and Plymouth, young Amelia is widening her social circles at soirees and assemblies. Finding herself in the company of several eligible gentlemen, she begins to wonder whether romance is on the horizon.

After fighting in France, Justin has married Amelia’s friend Arabella and the two have settled down at Chittesleigh Manor, his Devonshire estate. However, Arabella still feels responsible for Amelia and vows to find a way to protect her from unscrupulous suitors.

Hailing from Brittany, Sempronie — Amelia and Justin’s mother — feels her birthplace calling her home, despite the dangers of returning. What’s more, there is a long-buried family secret that she must put right before it’s too late…

The Baron Returns is Out Now

Congratulations to Graham Ley, whose gripping historical saga, The Baron Returns, is out now!

The Baron Returns is the first book in The Kergohan Regency Drama Series.

Devon and Brittany, 1795

In the aftermath of the bloody French Revolution, the British government is anxious to prevent revolutionary ideals from crossing the Channel.

As a seasoned army captain with an estate in Brittany, English-French aristocrat Justin Wentworth is sent to France to assist the Chouannerie — a royalist uprising against the new regime.

Back at Chittesleigh Manor, his Devonshire estate, Justin’s mother and sister anxiously await his return, alongside family friend Arabella Wollaston. Harbouring a secret affection for Justin, Arabella listens carefully for clues about his movements.

When she notices suspicious behaviour around Chittesleigh, Arabella suspects that the Wentworth family is being watched and decides to discreetly investigate.

But with plots and treachery seemingly rife throughout the realm, she soon begins to wonder whether she has stumbled across a wider web of subterfuge…

Sapere Books Signs a Regency Drama Series by Graham Ley

We are delighted to announce that we have signed up a new Regency series by Graham Ley.

The Kergohan Regency Drama Series tells the story of the Wentworth family, English-French aristocrats living in Devonshire. The first book in the series, The Baron Returns, follows Justin Wentworth — a young army captain — as he makes the perilous journey to Brittany to assist a royalist uprising during the French Revolution.

The Baron Returns is available to pre-order and will be published in April 2022. The second book in the series will be released later this year.

In Graham’s words:

“I originally decided to write an historical novel in honour of my mother, Alice Chetwynd Ley, whose complete backlist (including a forgotten title, An Eligible Gentleman) has been published by Amy and the team at Sapere.

“After my first book had been accepted for publication, I found that a number of the characters were calling out for their stories to be followed through. So The Baron Returns was soon followed by a second novel, in which Arabella, the forthright heroine who had refused to let suspicions against her beloved Justin rest unchallenged, now stood up for his sister against an unscrupulous admirer.

“Both novels feature a dual and interweaved storyline, with characters in rural Brittany bound up with events in England in the turbulent period of the years just after the French revolution in 1789. And now a third novel is in preparation, which casts the intrigue into Devon and London as well as embracing love and betrayal in Brittany.

“The name of the series, The Kergohan Regency Drama Series, refers to the manor in rural Brittany that is at the centre of much of the story. The cover of The Baron Returns sets the scene magnificently, and I am delighted to have become a Sapere author.”

Click here to pre-order The Baron Returns