1066 Turned Upside Down
A collection of alternative history short stories to celebrate the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings

Publisher  :  Matador
ISBN  :  978-1-838131-883
e-ISBN  :  978-1-785897-283
ASIN  :  B01I1V7G42

~ Writers

The contributors are:

Anna Belfrage Author of The Graham Saga, Historical Novel Society Indie Award Winner 2015
Joanna Courtney Author of the Queens of the Conquest series
Richard Dee Fantasy author of Ribbonworld
Helen Hollick Author of multiple historical and pirate novels, including Harold the King
G K Holloway Author of 1066: What Fates Impose
Carol McGrath Author of The Daughters of Hastings trilogy
Alison Morton Author of the Roma Nova thrillers
Eliza Redgold Author of Naked, a novel of Lady Godiva
Annie Whitehead Author and history graduate who writes novels set in Mercia and Saxon England

With a foreword by writer and actor C C Humphreys

~ Synopsis


1066 is the most known year in English history, and the most intriguing. It represents a key turning point; a year in which everything was up for grabs, a year in which England's historical story could have gone any number of ways - a year of 'what ifs'…

What if King Edward's great-nephew, Edgar, had been thought old enough to rule, and chosen as king? What if the Northern Earls has defeated the Norwegian, Harald Hardrada and King Harold's own brother, Tostig, at Gate Fulford - or what if Harald Hardrada had won the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire? What if Harold had defeated the Normans at sea? What if Svein of Denmark had invaded or a European political power had intervened? What if William had died when he was unhorsed at Hastings or had been defeated at London Bridge in November? What if the Bayeux Tapestry carries a hidden, secret meaning about the truth of 1066 - or a time machine could alter the past?

So much could have been different and now, at last, we can explore some of those 'what ifs' in this exciting collection of 'virtual history' short stories, written by known and loved writers of the period - and a few from
outside of it.

The collection includes historical notes of what really did happen alongside the fictional re-interpretations, as well as authors' notes on what fascinates them about 1066 and why they chose to 'change' what they did.

Each story will also have a couple of suggestions for 'discussion' points for schools, writer's groups - or just your own curiosity!

~ Extract

January 1066

§


On January 5th, after an illness - most likely one or more strokes - that had gripped him throughout the Christmas period, King Edward of England died. On his deathbed he was reported to have commended Harold of Wessex to the throne and certainly the Witan (high council) elected Harold to the role. He was crowned King the next day, January 6th, immediately after Edward's funeral.

England was content to be ruled by the man who had been named for the last few years as 'sub-regulus' (underking) and who had long controlled England's military defence.

But in Normandy Duke William reacted with fury as he believed he had been promised England way back in 1051.

Meanwhile over in Norway, Harald Hardrada, who had a tenuous claim from an old promise, started considering his options.

A tumultuous year was beginning for England…

1066 Turned Upside Down

A collaboration of alternative history short stories to celebrate the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
Publisher  :  Matador
ISBN  :  978-1-838131-883
e-ISBN  :  978-1-785897-283
ASIN  :  B01I1V7G42
Contributors
« Prev
~ Writers

The contributors are:

Anna Belfrage Author of The Graham Saga, Historical Novel Society Indie Award Winner 2015
Joanna Courtney Author of the Queens of the Conquest series
Richard Dee Fantasy author of Ribbonworld
Helen Hollick Author of multiple historical and pirate novels, including Harold the King
G K Holloway Author of 1066: What Fates Impose
Carol McGrath Author of The Daughters of Hastings trilogy
Alison Morton Author of the Roma Nova thrillers
Eliza Redgold Author of Naked, a novel of Lady Godiva
Annie Whitehead Author and history graduate who writes novels set in Mercia and Saxon England


With a foreword by writer and actor C C Humphreys

Synopsis
~ Synopsis


1066 is the most known year in English history, and the most intriguing. It represents a key turning point; a year in which everything was up for grabs, a year in which England's historical story could have gone any number of ways - a year of 'what ifs'…

What if King Edward's great-nephew, Edgar, had been thought old enough to rule, and chosen as king? What if the Northern Earls has defeated the Norwegian, Harald Hardrada and King Harold's own brother, Tostig, at Gate Fulford - or what if Harald Hardrada had won the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire? What if Harold had defeated the Normans at sea? What if Svein of Denmark had invaded or a European political power had intervened? What if William had died when he was unhorsed at Hastings or had been defeated at London Bridge in November? What if the Bayeux Tapestry carries a hidden, secret meaning about the truth of 1066 - or a time machine could alter the past?

So much could have been different and now, at last, we can explore some of those 'what ifs' in this exciting collection of 'virtual history' short stories, written by known and loved writers of the period - and a few from outside of it.

The collection includes historical notes of what really did happen alongside the fictional re-interpretations, as well as authors' notes on what fascinates them about 1066 and why they chose to 'change' what they did.

Each story will also have a couple of suggestions for 'discussion' points for schools, writer's groups - or just your own curiosity!
Extract
Next »
~ Extract

January 1066

ยง



On January 5th, after an illness - most likely one or more strokes - that had gripped him throughout the Christmas period, King Edward of England died. On his deathbed he was reported to have commended Harold of Wessex to the throne and certainly the Witan (high council) elected Harold to the role. He was crowned King the next day, January 6th, immediately after Edward's funeral.

England was content to be ruled by the man who had been named for the last few years as 'sub-regulus' (underking) and who had long controlled England's military defence.

But in Normandy Duke William reacted with fury as he believed he had been promised England way back in 1051.

Meanwhile over in Norway, Harald Hardrada, who had a tenuous claim from an old promise, started considering his options.

A tumultuous year was beginning for England…