Historical Fiction Well

In the heart of Rome, danger lurks around every corner as whispers of a new religion spread through the streets. For two orphaned sisters, Tryphosa and Tryphena, life is precarious—they are unmarried, without protection, and deeply devoted to their faith in the mysterious new teachings of Jesus. With the tell-tale symbol of the fish hidden discreetly behind their ears, they live in constant fear of discovery.

After two rollicking adventures through Western literature, resourceful literary detective Thursday Next definitely needs some downtime. And what better place for a respite than in the hidden depths of the Well of Lost Plots, where all unpublished books reside? But peace and quiet remain elusive for Thursday, who soon discovers that the Well is a veritable linguistic free-for-all, where grammasites run rampant, plot devices are hawked on the black market, and lousy books—like the one she has taken up residence in—are scrapped for salvage.

It’s 1914. The Great War grips the world - and from the Western Front a strange story emerges...a story of St. George and a brigade of angels descending from heaven to fight beside the beleaguered British troops. But can there be any truth to it?

King Bridei is a man with a mission. His wish to unite his kingdom seems almost within his grasp but there are forces working to undo his dream. He sends Faolan, his most trusted advisor (who is also a master assassin and spymaster) out into the world to ferret out the truth of who is friend and who is foe. Along the way Faolan will uncover many truths. Some may hold the key to Bridei's future. But more important, they may unlock the secrets that Faolan has held deep within his soul for decades. And offer him the chance of redemption.

Experience the thrilling adventures of a young man seeking justice for himself and his family in 15th-century England. With his father unfairly outlawed by King Henry IV, Myles Falworth faces enormous odds before he can become a knight and champion his family's cause against powerful foes. With the help of loyal friends, Myles demonstrates courage and persistence as he confronts his opponents one-by-one, winning self-understanding and love along the way.

In this audiobook, written and narrated by Jim Weiss, you'll experience the life and times of one of history's most brilliant women, Queen Elizabeth I, and share the swashbuckling, true adventures of Sir Francis Drake: pirate, world explorer, and ultimately, national hero. From daring sea voyages to glittering throne rooms to the dreaded Tower of London, you will experience the pageantry of olde England with two of history's most fascinating characters: Elizabeth I, brilliant and daring ruler, and Sir Francis Drake, pirate, world explorer, and ultimately, national hero.

Beric, a dashing young British chieftain, must fight for liberty from the forests of his homeland, where he defies the legendary Roman legions, to the Roman Colosseum, where he must employ gladiatorial skills to defend a persecuted Christian girl. G.A. Henty provides fascinating details of life in a Roman villa, in the imperial palace, and in the villages of the tribal Britons; and accurately shows the strengths that allowed the Romans to conquer their empire and the weaknesses that would end it. Set in A.D. 62.

G.A. Henty weaves a rousing, yet poignant, adventure of the revolt of Palestine against the power of Rome, and the birth of Christianity. Follow John, a courageous young Jew, as he fights in the siege of Jerusalem, survives slavery in Alexandria and the dispersal of the Jews, wins the favor of the Emperor Titus, and returns triumphantly to Galilee.

During the Thirty Year War (1618-1648), our fictitious Scottish hero and his real Scottish commanders join the triumphant Protestant champion, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, "the lion of the north." On the Catholic side, we meet the king's equally skilled foes, brutal General Tilly and vain, brilliant Prince Wallenstein. Filled with shifting battles, deadly plots, daring escapes, and loyalties put to the test, this is one of G.A. Henty's most popular books, and guaranteed to keep the entire family on the edge of their seats.

G.A. Henty's classic work, The Young Carthaginian, tells the story of this struggle and the attempt of Hannibal to conquer Rome, despite the formidable geographical barriers and the corrupt leadership in Carthage, which time-and-again undermined all his efforts. Malchus, the young hero, a cousin of Hannibal, becomes involved in political intrigue and joins Hannibal in Spain, sharing for a time in his adventures. Later, he suffers imprisonment and slavery and then escapes to Gaul, where he finally settles. This story is set around 220 B.C.

In The Cat of Bubastes, G. A. Henty gives his listeners a fascinating picture of one of the greatest of the ancient peoples at the height of their civilization. Chebron, son of the Egyptian high priest Ameres, and Amuba, a Rebu slave in Ameres' household, are companions. Their lives are changed irrevocably when Chebron accidentally kills his sister's cat, an animal sacred to the Egyptians -- an offence punishable by death.

Wulf of Steyning, a young Saxon then in the service of Earl Harold, accompanies him on his fateful trip to Normandy, takes part in the Welsh wars, the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and the Battle of Hastings. Growing to manhood in such tumultuous times, Wulf's fidelity and honor earn him the respect of all he serves.

A classic story brought to life through Jim Weiss's thrilling, thoughtfully and gently abridged narration. As the French Revolution begins, a young Englishman, Harry Sandwith, is hired by a French nobleman to be a companion to his sons. At first seen by the aristocrat's family as beneath their class, Harry soon proves himself by saving the lives of the girls in the family. Then, as the Revolution explodes into violence, Harry must summon all his courage to save his French friends from the vengeful mobs.

G.A. Henty offers the thrilling story of Francis Hammond, the son of an English merchant working in Venice. Francis must overcome threats to the lives and freedom of his Venetian friends and himself, and keep his wits and sword arm strong during sea battles against pirates and opposing navy fleets. With the balance of European power and vast riches at stake, this is a story of adventure and intrigue, dastardly villains and profound tests of loyalty, honor, courage, and intelligence set among the winding canals of Venice and on the surging waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Set in 1380 A.D.

Odin’s mind is lost in the mists of time, unable to make sense of cryptic visions. He remains certain of one thing alone: a final battle is coming. One that, should he lose it, all humanity will die. Ragnarok. To win this battle, Odin must harness his prescient knowledge, but the only way to do so is to drink from the lost Well of Mimir. The Well lies beyond the perilous stretches of Jotunheim.

When a druid resurrects her murdered king, she steals the soul of Hugh Cavendish, an English teacher, and takes him back to the land of the dead . . . or is it the land of the living? Hugh finds his killer sitting on his throne and invaders at his shore. He must raise an army and retake his throne or lose his kingdom to a power unseen in a thousand years, an immortal who will put an end to the cycle of living and dying forever. But he soon realizes he wasn't the only one who crossed the well between worlds. Someone has followed him here, and they are set on taking him back.

Bronwen Macleod is a modern American who needs no one, especially a man. Longing to connect with the land her grandparents called home and desperate to find the castle in her dreams, she is hurled into the past and straight into the arms of a 15th-century Scottish Highlander. In a race against time to save a young man's life and her own, Bronwen's faith in God is put to the test. But God is faithful, and soon she learns she can rely on her heavenly Father for everything including a love that transcends time itself.

Two extraordinary women in 1865 establish a trading post in a southern jungle that grows to be a safe haven for cast-off women and the dispossessed. When a murderous forger sets up shop and the mayor on the right-side-of-the-tracks becomes intent on their destruction, the village fights for survival in its own special way. Told in evocative magical realism, Jaguar Paloma and the Caketown Bar is a tale of wronged women who stand up to be counted.

Trusting in God used to come easy to rancher Deric Christy, but when lightening strikes, his faith is shattered. He falls prey to the voice of the enemy and finds himself the only suspect in a murder investigation. Dependent on a God fearing female physician, he soon realizes he can no longer run from the demons of his past. Times are tough for Dr. Faith Valentine. When she is asked to treat a stranger in town, her compassion will not let her refuse, but jealousy abounds, and there is a murderer who wants to keep a secret.

Discovering a book written about her ancestors who fought in the Civil War, Rae Wilkins reads about Rachel, a Yankee left behind in the South when her husband enlists in the Union Army. Struggling to understand her place in God’s kingdom, Rachel’s faith and loyalty are put to the test when she follows her husband to the battlefield. Caught between the sins of the past and the hope of the future, Rae and Rachel must draw their own battle lines and learn the true meaning of forgiveness.