Why a Booktrail?
1642: Based on true events during the English Civil War.
A Cruel Fate
What you need to know before your trail
Martin Watts, a bookseller, is captured by Royalists. Jane Afton’s brother Nat is taken too. They suffer inhumane treatment as prisoners-of-war. In Oxford Castle jailor William Smith tortures, beats, starves and deprives his helpless victims. Can Jane rescue her sick brother before he dies of neglect? Will Martin dare to escape? Based on real events in the English Civil War, Lindsey Davis retells the grim tale of Captain Smith’s abuse of power in Oxford prison – where many died in misery though a lucky few survived.
Travel Guide
Who burns books? What men are so wicked?
John Hammond’s bookshop in Marlborough
Of course in history, a lot of books were burned as a sign of control over the population. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak which is due to be released as a movie deals with the Germans burning books during the war. In A cruel Fate, John Hammond’s bookshop in Marlborough is raided and soldiers shout that this town is to be taken over for King Charles. People are captured and forced to walk to Oxford – to the castle.
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle looms over them. It is six hundred years old and stands beside a low man-made mound. The keep is showing its age and a large crack runs down it, but the place hums with the noise of solders and prisoners, and is still formidable. The bookseller who has been captured by Royalists is one of those taken to Oxford prison. He and the other men suffer inhumane treatment as prisoners-of-war. In Oxford Castle, jailor William Smith tortures, beats, starves and deprives his helpless victims.
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