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Divided Kingdom #1.1
Desecration: Winchester 1642
DESECRATION is an English Civil War historical fiction short story set at the Storming of Winchester and the desecration of Europe's greatest cathedral.
"Everyone who has an interest in the history of Winchester, the Civil War in Hampshire and the 17th Century needs to read this." - Warwick Louth, English Civil War historian and author of The Arte Militaire
Just eighteen men stand with Captain John Smith facing an army, on a windswept plain outside the city of Winchester, in the winter of 1642. A final, hopeless rear-guard. A forlorn hope. Charged three times, they must stand firm, together, one last time.
DESECRATION is the story of a desperate ride, a city stormed, a final stand in an ancient castle unready for siege. It is also a tale of iconoclastic destruction, of radical Puritan vengeance unleashed upon Europe’s greatest cathedral. A fury that saw the sacred bones of England’s Saxon kings and bishops cast upon the chancel floor, used to smash its medieval stained glass, scattered and burned.
Ralph and Francis Reeve come face to face as the bitter wind, cleansing fire and humiliation sweep through Winchester’s streets, cathedral close and sacred aisles. Now brother must kill brother.
‘As you were!’ Smith held them in check. ‘On my order. Keep close. Together.’ He looked at them. Looked again at the enemy about them. ‘Now! Ride for the gate!’
Praise for the Divided Kingdom series:
“Charles Cordell, a former soldier, writes with bravura confidence.” - The Times
"Stirring. A great read! You can almost hear the roar of cannon and the thunder of hooves." - Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author, The Forgotten Legion, Hannibal and Lionheart
"Heart-pounding action, heart-breaking loss as a nation tears itself apart. You can smell the sweat of fear.… Not to be missed." - David Gilman, award-winning author of the Master of War series, The Last Horseman and The Englishman
"Fast-paced and authentic. With characters that are colourful and believable. There are not enough tales like this." - Michael Arnold, author of the Civil War Chronicles and Highwayman series
"An exciting minute-by-minute story of the English Civil War… from the soldier’s point of view… the historical accuracy is fantastic… the storyline and writing style tremendously exciting." - Historical Novels Review
More books in the Divided Kingdom series
GOD'S VINDICTIVE WRATH – from the Battle of Edgehill to the barricades at Brentford, via Oxford and the Battle of Aylesbury, autumn 1642.
THE KEYS OF HELL AND DEATH – from the Battle of Lansdown Hill to the Storming of Bristol, via the Siege of Devizes and Roundway Down, summer 1643.
Each book in the Divided Kingdom series can be read as a standalone story, or in series.
"Everyone who has an interest in the history of Winchester, the Civil War in Hampshire and the 17th Century needs to read this." - Warwick Louth, English Civil War historian and author of The Arte Militaire
Just eighteen men stand with Captain John Smith facing an army, on a windswept plain outside the city of Winchester, in the winter of 1642. A final, hopeless rear-guard. A forlorn hope. Charged three times, they must stand firm, together, one last time.
DESECRATION is the story of a desperate ride, a city stormed, a final stand in an ancient castle unready for siege. It is also a tale of iconoclastic destruction, of radical Puritan vengeance unleashed upon Europe’s greatest cathedral. A fury that saw the sacred bones of England’s Saxon kings and bishops cast upon the chancel floor, used to smash its medieval stained glass, scattered and burned.
Ralph and Francis Reeve come face to face as the bitter wind, cleansing fire and humiliation sweep through Winchester’s streets, cathedral close and sacred aisles. Now brother must kill brother.
‘As you were!’ Smith held them in check. ‘On my order. Keep close. Together.’ He looked at them. Looked again at the enemy about them. ‘Now! Ride for the gate!’
Praise for the Divided Kingdom series:
“Charles Cordell, a former soldier, writes with bravura confidence.” - The Times
"Stirring. A great read! You can almost hear the roar of cannon and the thunder of hooves." - Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author, The Forgotten Legion, Hannibal and Lionheart
"Heart-pounding action, heart-breaking loss as a nation tears itself apart. You can smell the sweat of fear.… Not to be missed." - David Gilman, award-winning author of the Master of War series, The Last Horseman and The Englishman
"Fast-paced and authentic. With characters that are colourful and believable. There are not enough tales like this." - Michael Arnold, author of the Civil War Chronicles and Highwayman series
"An exciting minute-by-minute story of the English Civil War… from the soldier’s point of view… the historical accuracy is fantastic… the storyline and writing style tremendously exciting." - Historical Novels Review
More books in the Divided Kingdom series
GOD'S VINDICTIVE WRATH – from the Battle of Edgehill to the barricades at Brentford, via Oxford and the Battle of Aylesbury, autumn 1642.
THE KEYS OF HELL AND DEATH – from the Battle of Lansdown Hill to the Storming of Bristol, via the Siege of Devizes and Roundway Down, summer 1643.
Each book in the Divided Kingdom series can be read as a standalone story, or in series.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2024
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Charles Cordell
3 books46 followersCharles Cordell is the author of English Civil War historical fiction series Divided Kingdom - "writes with bravura confidence" -
The Times
A former soldier on the ground in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa, his writing draws on time spent in the fraying margins of civilisation, as well as a deep study of The General Crisis of the 17th Century and its parallels today.
"Stirring. A great read! You can almost hear the roar of cannon and the thunder of hooves." - Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author, The Forgotten Legion and Lionheart
"Heart-pounding action, heart-breaking loss as a nation tears itself apart. You can smell the sweat of fear.… Not to be missed." - David Gilman, award-winning author of the Master of War series, The Last Horseman and The Englishman
"Fast-paced and authentic. With characters that are colourful and believable. There are not enough tales like this." - Michael Arnold, author of the Civil War Chronicles, Highwayman and The Savage Isle series
"An exciting minute-by-minute story of the English Civil War… from the soldier’s point of view… the historical accuracy is fantastic… the storyline and writing style tremendously exciting." - Historical Novels Review
If you want to know more about the author and the #DividedKingdomBooks, please do visit the website at: www.charlescordell.com, or check out the social media posts at:
Twitter: Twitter.com/@CharlesCordell
Instagram: Instagram.com/CharlesCordellAuthor
Facebook: Facebook.com/CharlesCordellBooks
YouTube: YouTube.com/@charlescordell
Amazon: Amazon.com/author/charlescordell
A former soldier on the ground in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa, his writing draws on time spent in the fraying margins of civilisation, as well as a deep study of The General Crisis of the 17th Century and its parallels today.
"Stirring. A great read! You can almost hear the roar of cannon and the thunder of hooves." - Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author, The Forgotten Legion and Lionheart
"Heart-pounding action, heart-breaking loss as a nation tears itself apart. You can smell the sweat of fear.… Not to be missed." - David Gilman, award-winning author of the Master of War series, The Last Horseman and The Englishman
"Fast-paced and authentic. With characters that are colourful and believable. There are not enough tales like this." - Michael Arnold, author of the Civil War Chronicles, Highwayman and The Savage Isle series
"An exciting minute-by-minute story of the English Civil War… from the soldier’s point of view… the historical accuracy is fantastic… the storyline and writing style tremendously exciting." - Historical Novels Review
If you want to know more about the author and the #DividedKingdomBooks, please do visit the website at: www.charlescordell.com, or check out the social media posts at:
Twitter: Twitter.com/@CharlesCordell
Instagram: Instagram.com/CharlesCordellAuthor
Facebook: Facebook.com/CharlesCordellBooks
YouTube: YouTube.com/@charlescordell
Amazon: Amazon.com/author/charlescordell
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2025
Excellent.
Desecration, is a very short story in Charles Cordells superb series about the E C W. It's about the seige of Winchester and Desecration of the towns cathedral, it's a interesting read and comes highly recommended , now on to book three.
Desecration, is a very short story in Charles Cordells superb series about the E C W. It's about the seige of Winchester and Desecration of the towns cathedral, it's a interesting read and comes highly recommended , now on to book three.
June 17, 2024
I enjoyed this short read. I love learning about the history and happenings in places I have visited and loved. The terrible history of Britain divided and a Civil War is just fascinating and brought to life with the characters and story telling.
Just made me more desperate for the next book "The keys of hell and death"
I've ordered my copy =)
Just made me more desperate for the next book "The keys of hell and death"
I've ordered my copy =)
July 16, 2025
A superb short story connecting books one and two of the Divided Kingdom trilogy. Charles Cordell continues his unique style of fact-based, story telling, overlaying the personal lives of individuals known to have lived at that time. The description is authentic, the events so vividly portrayed, helping bring to life a too-quickly forgotten period in British history. Outstanding.
July 25, 2024
Just read Desecration whilst waiting at Milton Keynes bus station. Everyone who has an interest in the History of Winchester, the Civil War In Hampshire and the 17th Century needs to read this. Talking as a once Winchester local, Cordell has the landscape of the 17th Century town down to a tee, the battle narrative spot on. Well done. 5* (if I could give a sixth I would :)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews