27 ratings | 2 reviews | avg rating:3.96

Michael Ward’s Followers (23)

Michael’s Bookshelves

to-read (52)
currently-reading (4)
read (29)

Michael’s Friends (53)

Cryssa

479 books | 88 friends

Elizabeth S

629 books | 88 friends

PattyMacDotComma

3,765 books | 727 friends

Cathy

2,155 books | 1,228 friends

Clemens Schoonderwoert

1,353 books | 758 friends

Anna Faversham

182 books | 341 friends

Samantha Morris

247 books | 55 friends

Sebastian

3,321 books | 36 friends

More friends…

Michael Ward

Goodreads Author

Born

Liverpool, The United Kingdom

Influences

C.J.Sansom HilaryMantel ...more

Member Since

August 2019

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Michael Ward questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

Just finished 'Rags of Time' and thoroughly enjoyed it. Reading a great deal of both fiction and non-fiction relating to the 17th century and 'Rags of Time' has certainly impressed me. What are your plans for future writing ? Would you consider an interview for my blog https://aburntship.blogspot.com/ ? Wishing you success.

Michael Ward Hi Mike - So glad you enjoyed 'Rags of Time'. My future plans are focused on writing the sequel, which I'm currently working on. Happy to be interview…moreHi Mike - So glad you enjoyed 'Rags of Time'. My future plans are focused on writing the sequel, which I'm currently working on. Happy to be interviewed for your blog. To set it up, just send me a Goodreads message.
Thanks. Mike(less)

flag

2 likes · like
1 comment

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Michael Ward 'Rags of Time' is my debut novel. I chose historical fiction because I enjoy it myself as a reader.

From the outset I wanted to write about a period l…more'Rags of Time' is my debut novel. I chose historical fiction because I enjoy it myself as a reader.

From the outset I wanted to write about a period less well covered than others like Tudor and Roman. I researched the Stuart era and discovered an extraordinary 40 year section which witnessed civil war, regicide, the Commonwealth of England and royal restoration. During this time there was also a number of dramatic set pieces to feature: the Fire of London and the Great Plague of 1665/6.

It soon became clear that these 40 years not only marked a period of great political and religious change, but also significant advances in science and the birth of Britain's pre-eminence as a maritime and trading nation.

I realised this must have been an extraordinary time to live through, especially in London, the epicentre of this ferment of new thinking. And so the idea for 'Rags' and successive books was born - a series that will allow the reader to walk side by side with my hero merchant Thomas Tallant throughout his life, experiencing with him such a formative and dramatic period in British history.

From the outset, I have tried to interweave the themes of religious, political, scientific and mercantile change around the central murder plot and it was really pleasing to see that this had been noticed and appreciated in my first goodreads review. Big relief!

I am now working on Book 2.

(less)

flag

2 likes · like
4 comments

See all 3 answers from Michael Ward…

Combine Editions
Michael Ward’s books

Average rating: 4.12 · 1,529 ratings · 133 reviews · 5 distinct works • Similar authors

	Rags of Time (Thomas Tallant, #1) 4.04 avg rating — 832 ratings — published 2019 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Wrecking Storm (Thomas Tallant, #2) 4.18 avg rating — 410 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Drums of War (Thomas Tallant, #3) 4.34 avg rating — 220 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Royal Blood: A HWA Short Story Collection by Judith Arnopp (Goodreads Author), David Field (Goodreads Author), Elizabeth Freemantle 4.04 avg rating — 48 ratings — published 2020	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	London Falling: A Thomas Tallant Omnibus 4.21 avg rating — 19 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Michael Ward…

1 post
Michael Ward's Blog

Giveaway news

There's currently a giveaway offer of free paperback copies of 'Rags of Time' to UK members, until December 11th.

See:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 29, 2019 02:11

Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Ward is currently reading

The Woman in the Shadows

by Carol McGrath (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Apr 18, 2020 03:39AM

Michael Ward is currently reading

The Leveller Revolution: Radical Political Organisation in England, 1640–1650

by John Rees

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 01, 2019 02:31AM

Michael Ward is currently reading

The White King: Charles I, Traitor, Murderer, Martyr

by Leanda de Lisle (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 01, 2019 02:30AM

rss
Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Ward rated a book liked it The Rags of Time (D.C. Smith #6) by Peter Grainger	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 01, 2025 11:28AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rags of Time by Peter Grainger. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rags of Time by Peter Grainger <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Ward rated a book it was amazing The Siege of Loyalty House: A Civil War Story by Jessie Childs (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 18, 2025 10:57AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Siege of Loyalty House by Jessie Childs. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Siege of Loyalty House by Jessie Childs <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Ward liked a quote “They are voices from the past and their actions have echoed into our world and, unknown to them, they preserved our future.” Anna Faversham
Jan 16, 2025 10:18AM · like · more quotes by Anna Faversham · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Beware the Midnight Train by Anna Faversham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Beware the Midnight Train by Anna Faversham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Michael's books…

Michael’s Quotes

“I'm a real self-educated kind of guy. I read voraciously. Every book I ever bought, I have. I can't throw it away. It's physically impossible to leave my hand! Some of them are in warehouses. I've got a library that I keep the ones I really really like. I look around my library some nights and I do these terrible things to myself--I count up the books and think, how long I might have to live and think, 'F@#%k, I can't read two-thirds of these books.' It overwhelms me with sadness."
--David Bowie, quoted in the Daily Beast in a 2002 interview with Bob Guccione, Jr.”
― David Bowie

tags: book-lovers-quotes

209 likes

“They are voices from the past and their actions have echoed into our world and, unknown to them, they preserved our future.”
― Anna Faversham, Beware the Midnight Train

tags: reflection-on-life

20 likes