Genre: historical

Cahena: A Dream of the Past

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Cahena: A Dream of the Past
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The brave and beautiful warrior queen known as the Cahena was believed to be a sorceress and prophetess. Her glorious reign over the Berbers in the seventh century was marked by passionate romance, stirring battles, and bold mystical deeds. The Cahena had the sensuality of Cleopatra, the wisdom of Catherine the Great, and the courage of Joan of Arc.

The Cahena led an army forty thousand strong, wielding javelins and scimitars, in a valiant struggle against the Mohammedan invaders who were fresh from their conquest of Carthage. At her side rode Wulf, the Saxon soldier. Wulf came to know the warrior queen like no one else before or after—for he was the one man who dared to love her.

Rich in historical detail and dramatic action, this is a story to rival the great war epics of all time. DMR Books is proud to bring Manly Wade Wellman’s final novel back into print after nearly thirty-five years.

The Long Ships (New York Review Books Classics)

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A beloved Viking saga and masterpiece of historical fiction, The Long Ships is a high spirited adventure that stretches from Scandinavia to Spain, England, Ireland, and beyond. 

Frans Gunnar Bengtsson’s The Long Ships resurrects the fantastic world of the tenth century AD when the Vikings roamed and rampaged from the northern fastnesses of Scandinavia down to the Mediterranean. Bengtsson’s hero, Red Orm—canny, courageous, and above all lucky—is only a boy when he is abducted from his Danish home by the Vikings and made to take this place at the oars of their dragon-prowed ships. Orm is then captured by the Moors in Spain, where he is initiated into the pleasures of the senses and fights for the Caliph of Cordova.

Escaping from captivity, Orm washes up in Ireland, where he marvels at those epicene creatures, the Christian monks, and from which he then moves on to play an ever more important part in the intrigues of the various Scandinavian kings and clans and dependencies. Eventually, Orm contributes to the Viking defeat of the army of the king of England and returns home an off-the-cuff Christian and a very rich man, though back on his native turf new trials and tribulations will test his cunning and determination.

Packed with pitched battles and blood feuds and told throughout with wit and high spirits, Bengtsson’s book is a splendid adventure that features one of the most unexpectedly winning heroes in modern fiction.

Styrbiorn the Strong

Styrbiorn the Strong
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E. R. Eddison’s classic saga novel now in paperback—includes for the first time Eddison’s remarkable letter of introduction and his unabridged closing note

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Egil’s Saga

Egil’s Saga
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Egil’s Saga is the 10th-century Nordic equivalent of The Iliad and The Odyssey. Translated from the Icelandic with
an introduction, notes and an essay, this is the first time Eddison’s version of this epic heroic saga has been made available as a digital book.

The saga of Egil, son of Grim the Bald, tells the exciting tale of a medieval warrior-poet and his many Viking adventures. Challenged by his ugly appearance and haunted by rumours that his grandfather was a werewolf, Egil devotes himself to Odin, god of kings, warriors and poets, and determines to avenge his father’s exile from Norway. With action ranging across Iceland and Scandinavia down to Scotland and England, Egil’s thrilling encounters include kings, sorcerers, berserkers and outlaws, as the story follows his transformation from youthful savagery to mature wisdom.

Sometimes considered the greatest of the Icelandic sagas, Egil’s Saga is the 10th-century Nordic equivalent of The Iliad and The Odyssey. Eddison’s acclaimed translation, published in 1930, has been long unavailable, and demonstrates the author’s amazing capacity for evocative and erudite language. It reflects the swift dramatic terseness and vivid character-drawing which made the saga style in prose narrative such an enduring model for modern historical and fantasy literature, and his meticulous translation includes elaborate notes and annotations.

Spears of Destiny: A Story of The First Capture of Constantinople

Spears of Destiny: A Story of The First Capture of Constantinople
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In “Spears of Destiny: A Story of the First Capture of Constantinople by Smith,” follow the intrepid adventurer William Smith as he embarks on a perilous quest to find the legendary “Spears of Destiny.” Guided by ancient maps and prophecies, Smith and his loyal companions venture through treacherous lands, facing mythical creatures and formidable foes, until they reach the majestic city of Constantinople.

Inside the opulent Hagia Sophia, Smith must overcome traps and adversaries to lay his hands on the shimmering Spears of Destiny. As word of the audacious heist spreads, the fate of Constantinople hangs in the balance.

Witness the captivating blend of history and myth in this riveting historical fiction that immerses readers in a world of political intrigue, mythical wonders, and heart-stopping action, ultimately revealing the first capture of Constantinople through the eyes of a fearless and charismatic protagonist.

The Treasure of the Bucoleon

The Treasure of the Bucoleon
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“The Treasure of the Bucoleon” is an exhilarating historical adventure novel by Arthur D. Howden Smith. Set in the vibrant city of Constantinople during the Byzantine Empire, the story follows the journey of Captain Robert St. John as he embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the legendary treasure of the Bucoleon Palace.

As St. John delves into the secrets of the past, he encounters treacherous allies, formidable enemies, and a captivating love interest. With vivid descriptions of the bustling streets, opulent palaces, and treacherous alleys of Constantinople, Smith transports readers to a bygone era filled with intrigue, betrayal, and hidden riches.

“The Treasure of the Bucoleon” combines elements of history, mystery, and romance, painting a vivid picture of life in the Byzantine Empire. Smith’s masterful storytelling and meticulous attention to historical detail make this novel a thrilling and immersive read that will captivate fans of adventure and historical fiction.

The Audacious Adventures of Miles McConaughy

The Audacious Adventures of Miles McConaughy
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Capt. Miles is an outstanding character even among the many notable characters featured in nautical yarns. His hatred for the English is only to be matched by his detestation of the Irish and his devotion to the British Empire. But when his ship the William and Mary is sunk by a U-boat, this anti-English, anti-Irish Irishman who hails from Belfast is willing to bury contention with his neighbors in order to get back at the Hun. a thrilling World War I story!

Swain’s Vengeance (The Saga of Swain the Viking)

Swain's Vengeance (The Saga of Swain the Viking)
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“All who admit friendship for Frakork and Olvir are likewise my enemies. Let me hear of such and they shall feel the edge of my sword and the burning of lighted brands such as those with which Olvir fired my father’s skalli at Dungalsbae and drove both him and Valthiof, my brother, forth to die upon the spears of a hundred men.”

Swain Olaf’s son is a man who will let nothing stand in the way of his goals. And no goal is more important to him than avenging his father and brother, who were done to death by the despicable Olvir Rosta and his grandmother, the witch-woman Frakork. If that means Swain must depose a Jarl to achieve vengeance, then so be it!

As acclaimed author Howard Andrew Jones writes in the introduction, “Arthur D. Howden Smith based Swain on material found in the later portions of the Orkneyinga saga. If you think that means Smith was recounting dry history, you’re in for a rude surprise. These tales are based on the recollections of a warrior culture, and Swain’s stories are rich with deeds of daring and cleverness and are absolutely drenched in warfare and violence, from the very first pages.”

Matamoros: Civil War Adventure, Romance and Espionage in an Old West Border Town

Matamoros: Civil War Adventure, Romance and Espionage in an Old West Border Town
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By 1862 the Union had blockaded all Confederate ports. Just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas, Matamoros was the only harbor where the South could ship its cotton to Europe, and smuggle in arms for the rebellion. So it was a haven for Yankee and Rebel spies and diplomats, gunrunners and cotton smugglers, runaway slaves, bandits, Texas Rangers, and rogues of every stripe.

But Matamoros was also full of French Foreign Legionnaires—because that same year, Napoleon III had invaded Mexico, to install Archduke Maximilian of Austria as Emperor.

Set against the backdrop of two wars, this is the story of Clay—an expatriate Southern gentleman running a gambling hall—and Allie, his ex-con artist partner, bringing her cotton train to market—in a star- crossed affair that may or may not survive their conflicted allegiances amidst the tides of battle.

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I Am a Barbarian by Edgar Rice Burroughs

I Am a Barbarian by Edgar Rice Burroughs
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written in 1941 but was not published until after the author’s death

The story is pitched as a free translation of the memoirs of Britannicus, serving for 25 years as the slave of Caligula, emperor of Rome from AD 37 to 41 who is historically known for being insane. It treats a number of different supposed facets of Caligula’s life, including his popular early acts as emperor and his descent into madness.