The Purple Thread

My first novel, inspired by a letter sent by Saint Boniface to the Abbess of Wimborne Abbey asking for two men, by name Begiloc and Man to be sent on a mission to Thuringia.
​The letter implies that they were former slaves but could still be disposed of as the Church thought fit. This intrigued me and got me thinking. So The Purple Thread was born. I changed Man's name to Meryn and followed their adventures from Wimborne to Frankia, Thuringia and down the Pilgrim's trail over the Alps to Rome and back. The adventures of two eighth-century Britons can be found in these pages.

WHEN A BOOK BECOMES A TRILOGY WITHOUT  MEANING TO.

Wyrd of the Wolf was my second Anglo-Saxon novel and little did I suppose as I wrote it, that it would grow organically into a trilogy. I am happy to announce in September 2023, six years later, that this week, Book 3 The Wyvern's End (scroll down)has been published. At the end of Wyrd, I left the recently-widowed Cynethryth expecting her firsborn child as she returned from Rome. what happened to her and her son is the story in the sequel In the Name of the Mother. Aethelheard has to be protected from rival factions in Wssex, but slowly his valour and loyalty are rewarded by the aged King Ine, until as we see in Book 3, The Wyvern's End, he overcomes his rivals and reigns in peace. His mother, Cynethryth, now Abbess of Wimborne, has her sworn enemy Wynflaed to overcome, no easy triumph, this.

Wyrd of the Wolf

My second novel, inspired by the end of paganism in England. The Isle of Wight is considered its last bastion in England and I wanted to write about that and in doing so created a special female character, Cynethryth.

​Readers wanted to know about her later life so I was pleased to write a sequel on request: In the Name of the Mother.

In the Name of the Mother

BOOK 2 of The WYRD TRILOGY

Sequel to Wyrd of the Wolf.
It is 689 AD, and Cynethryth is returning from Rome, carrying her dead husband's child. 
She soon gives birth to a son, Aethelheard, whose parentage alone places him in danger. His mother has a tough choice to make and travels to Dorset, where the king is a cousin of her late husband.
After the king adopts the boy, he grows up in the dangerous company of rebellious princes, all who wish to overthrow the mighty Ine, king of Wessex.
How will mother and son face the physical and spiritual battles that await them?

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Book 3 THE WYVERN'S END

It is AD 726 and King Ine of Wessex, tired of rebellion and internal strife, makes a pilgrimage to Rome. In an announcement, he decides to leave his kingdom to someone younger and thus, the door open to contending rival factions.

Among the young men with a strong claim to the throne is Aethelheard, Caedwalla's son: a brave warrior and brilliant strategist. To secure the throne he has to overcome other aethelings encouraged by the wayward nun, Wynflaed, engaged in a personal campaign of revenge with Aethelheard’s mother Cynethryth, Abbess of Wimborne.

The third novel in John Broughton's 'Wyrd Of The Wolf' series, The Wyvern's End is an epic tale of faith, ambition, and treachery, where the fates of kingdoms hinge not only on battles, but on the unseen maneuvers of those who walk the shadowy halls of power.

Saints and Sinners

Set in seventh century England, tribes and so-called kings vie for power and blood flows throughout the land. Aethelred - ruler of Mercia - is being pressed from all sides, and his wife Osthryth dies under unknown circumstances. Osthryth’s ring falls into the hands of warrior noble Aethelbald, who is accused of her murder and forced to leave Mercia by his conniving cousin Coeolred, who has eyes on the throne. When Aethelred abdicates and the weakling Cenred assumes power, Coelred sees a path to become the king.With a court rife with would-be successors, can Aethelbald survive and become Bretwaldas - the ‘Britain-ruler’ - and sweep aside the underkings to unite the land?

Mixed Blessings

Sequel to Saints and Sinners.
Æthelbald, King of Mierce, is a man of ambition. Having created much-needed stability within his domain, he now aspires to take the surrounding kingdoms to expand and fortify his own. Stealthy and cunning, Æthelbald manipulates other men of power to achieve his goals.
The quest for power is not King Æthelbald’s only passion in life. Despite not wishing to marry, he has an unabating lust for women and takes advantage of his position to ‘raid’ nunneries to satisfy his desires. But Æthelbald also wishes to be seen as a fair and merciful king, and many poor, common folk benefit from his generous deeds and favourable resolutions. As Æthelbald’s reign grows and strengthens, so too does the authority of the church, whose leverage over monarchical matters becomes increasingly overbearing. The church does not approve of King Æthelbald’s exploits with innocent women and seeks to bring him into line with the threat of eternal damnation.

Perfecta Saxonia

ULF'S TALE III - King Alfred never achieved his dream of uniting the disparate Anglo-Saxon kingdoms into one Perfecta Saxonia.
The man destined to fulfill Alfred's dream is his grandson, Athelstan, as the spark of unity begins in the Saxon kingdom of Wessex. Abandoned by his father and raised by his uncle, young Athelstan faces numerous adversities on his way to becoming a mighty warrior and diplomat.
But can he overcome the odds to transform England from an insignificant island off the Western European mainland, into the leading centre of tenth-century diplomacy and learning?
Discover the story of one of the most important English kings, who put in place the foundations of modern-day England.

Ulf's Tale

In the beginning of the bloody 11th century, young Ulf is taken hostage by King Aethelred.
While treachery and plotting threaten uneasy alliances, and ambitious rivals attempt to seize power for themselves, Ulf learns to enjoy his new life of luxury and opportunity.
When his life is threatened, Ulf sets on a quest to bring peace to the Baltic states. But can he overcome divided loyalties and religious clashes, and make the choice between power and morality?

Sward And Sword

Amidst the bloodshed of 11th century combat and conquest, Saxon Godwine elevates himself from landless youth to trusted confidante of the most powerful man in England.
A kingmaker, Godwine’s fealty propels six monarchs to occupy the English throne in his lifetime. But the pursuit of power is not without peril, and his skillful diplomacy and battle prowess are constantly tested by the schemes of distant, formidable enemies.
His allegiance to the monarchy pledged by sward and sword, Godwine seeks to maintain his influence as the Normans attempt to thwart him. Beset on all sides by bold and bitter adversaries, who will prevail?

The Rebel Scribes

Christ Church Priory, Canterbury, 990 AD. Orphaned by vikings, Folcwin and his elder brother Aelfwynn have become excellent scribes.
Their lives, enlivened by sibling rivalry, are upset by a competition to illuminate a commissioned psalter. After Folcwin is selected the victor, his brother is accused of murdering another competitor, and he escapes. While Aelfwynn begins a patriotic battle against Viking raiders, Folcwin’s fame as a scribe increases.
Even with their imbalanced fortunes, the paths of the two brothers are bound to cross with powerful kings and strong leaders, including King Aethelred, Thorkell the Tall and Edmund Ironside. But can they overcome the Viking menace?

John The Old Saxon

​John the Old Saxon - Gold medal award 2022.

In his darkest hour, hiding in the depths of the Somerset marshes in 878 AD, King Alfred devises a scheme to save his kingdom from the Vikings threatening to overwhelm the country.
His spectacular success, beginning with the triumphant battle of Ethandun, involves creating a sense of nation among his subjects. To help with this, Alfred gathers a small band of brilliant foreign scholars in his court, chief among them John the Old Saxon.
Follow this epic tale set in medieval England and see how King Alfred laid the foundations for a united country, and the tenth-century Anglo-Saxon Renaissance.

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BOXED COLLECTIONS:

THE CROSSED HILT

GARNET & GOLD

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Ireland, 902 AD. Two powerful Irish clans unite to expel the Norse from Dublin. In the fray, Jarl Òttar saves the life of the Norse fighter, Ragnall ua Imair, son of his lord and scion. The Viking diaspora takes the leaders far from Dublin.

Their destinies intertwined, Òttar and Ragnall navigate through dangerous 10th century life from Europe all the way to the Middle East. But their real ambition still lies in the north, in the family thrones of Jorvik and Dublin.

John Broughton's 'Expulsion' is a historically accurate, riveting adventure set in medieval times, where riches and power are within the reach of the resourceful, and death is always just one step away.

Bookstore Editions

• The Purple Thread
• Wyrd Of The Wolf
  
• Perfecta Saxonia
• Ulf's Tale
• Sward & Sword
• The Rebel Scribes

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Additional bookstore editions for The Purple Thread have been completed, and can be found with the following ISBN's from major book retailers:
 
9781034216759 (6x9 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)
9781034233237 (5x8 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)

​Main bookstore editions for Wyrd Of The Wolf (Wyrd Of The Wolf Book 1) have been completed, and can be found with the following ISBN's from major book retailers:
 
9781034216834 (6x9 Hardcover)
9781034227250 (6x9 Softcover)
9781034444671 (5x8 Hardcover)
9781715817732 (5x8 Softcover)

Additional bookstore editions for Perfecta Saxonia have been completed, and can be found with the following ISBN's from major book retailers:

9781034216636 (6x9 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)
9781034226901 (5x8 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)
9781034198956 (6x9 Large Print Hardcover)
9781034198994 (6x9 Large Print Softcover)

​Additional bookstore editions for Ulf's Tale have been completed, and can be found with the following ISBN's from major book retailers:
 
9781034216797 (6x9 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)
9781034233206 (5x8 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)
9781715875039 (6x9 Large Print Hardcover)
9781715875053 (6x9 Large Print Softcover)

​Additional bookstore editions for Sward And Sword have been completed, and can be found with the following ISBN's from major book retailers:
 
9781034216704 (6x9 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)
9781034233268 (5x8 Dust Jacket Premium Hardcover)
9781034444848 (6x9 Large Print Hardcover)
9781715848903 (6x9 Large Print Softcover) 

Additional bookstore editions for The Rebel Scribes have been completed, and can be found with the following ISBN's from major book retailers:
​
9784867474549
(5.5x8.5 Hardcover)
 
9784867474556
(5.5x8.5 Paperback)
 
9784867474563
(4.37x7 Mass Market Paperback)
 
9784867474570   
(6.14x9.21 Large Print Hardcover)
 
9784867474587
(6.14x9.21 Large Print Paperback)