The site of the Chernov/Novosil’tsev duel in September 1825. At the recent Anglian Bookfair at the Sudbury Arts Centre, I sat on a panel with two other writers of historical fiction. We decided to read passages that showed off the fruits of our research. I read an extract from my first book, Small Acts of […]
The Imperial Life Guards Regiment during the uprising of December 14th 1825 Senate Square. (19th Century). Vasily Timm (1820 -1895).The Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. ‘The historical value of revolutions depends upon three conditions: upon what they destroy, upon what they create and upon the legend that they leave behind…The Decembrists have not destroyed anything or […]
Prisoners are being used to replenish Russia’s depleted forces in Ukraine. A week or so ago prison wagons were seen approaching the border, and on Twitter a film showed prisoners being promised freedom if they fought at the front for six months. This is nothing new. In World War Two, prisoners from the Gulag were […]