Ben Bergonzi
@benbergonzi.bsky.social
Writer and reviewer, Reviews Editor for Historical Novels Review. First published novel, A Cruel Corpse, now available from Holand Press.
It feels like this river should be frozen solid, but no. The Chess Valley as landscaped by Capability Brown; an estate somewhat beyond the reach of the characters in A Cruel Corpse, but whose landscapes have inspired its author
#EighteenthCentury
#HistoricalFiction
tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
#EighteenthCentury
#HistoricalFiction
tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
November 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It feels like this river should be frozen solid, but no. The Chess Valley as landscaped by Capability Brown; an estate somewhat beyond the reach of the characters in A Cruel Corpse, but whose landscapes have inspired its author
#EighteenthCentury
#HistoricalFiction
tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
#EighteenthCentury
#HistoricalFiction
tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
Excited to find that A Cruel Corpse has an Editor's Choice review (written by someone I don't know at all) in the Historical Novels Review. It ends with the words 'Highly Recommended'. See for yourself at tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Excited to find that A Cruel Corpse has an Editor's Choice review (written by someone I don't know at all) in the Historical Novels Review. It ends with the words 'Highly Recommended'. See for yourself at tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
Some of the eighteenth century splendours of Yorkshire - the Georgian Theatre at Richmond, Captain Cook looking out over Whitby bay, and the dome of Castle Howard. All writerly inspiration for the follow up to A Cruel Corpse tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
October 29, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Some of the eighteenth century splendours of Yorkshire - the Georgian Theatre at Richmond, Captain Cook looking out over Whitby bay, and the dome of Castle Howard. All writerly inspiration for the follow up to A Cruel Corpse tinyurl.com/BenBergonziA...
Windmills are very evocative. Advanced technology in their day, now quaint. But the internal machinery is dangerous, as discovered by Hayden Gray, heroine of #ACruelCorpse
#Windmills
#Windmills
September 16, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Windmills are very evocative. Advanced technology in their day, now quaint. But the internal machinery is dangerous, as discovered by Hayden Gray, heroine of #ACruelCorpse
#Windmills
#Windmills
The Chiltern Society's excellent quarterly magazine features an article by me about the three classic pubs in West Wycombe, one of the National Trust villages.
#Gravitydispense
#Eighteenthcentury
#Unspoiltbyprogress
#Gravitydispense
#Eighteenthcentury
#Unspoiltbyprogress
September 4, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The Chiltern Society's excellent quarterly magazine features an article by me about the three classic pubs in West Wycombe, one of the National Trust villages.
#Gravitydispense
#Eighteenthcentury
#Unspoiltbyprogress
#Gravitydispense
#Eighteenthcentury
#Unspoiltbyprogress
'There was a window showing a distant view of the Westmoreland mountains; as she walked down the room, their blue-grey curves rippled through the flaws in the glass. It seemed a long walk.'
(from Chapter 41 of my book A Cruel Corpse) tinyurlcom/BenBergonziA...
#acruelcorpse
#historicalfiction
(from Chapter 41 of my book A Cruel Corpse) tinyurlcom/BenBergonziA...
#acruelcorpse
#historicalfiction
August 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM
'There was a window showing a distant view of the Westmoreland mountains; as she walked down the room, their blue-grey curves rippled through the flaws in the glass. It seemed a long walk.'
(from Chapter 41 of my book A Cruel Corpse) tinyurlcom/BenBergonziA...
#acruelcorpse
#historicalfiction
(from Chapter 41 of my book A Cruel Corpse) tinyurlcom/BenBergonziA...
#acruelcorpse
#historicalfiction
'They took him into the Keep and laid him to rest on a bier in the old chapel. Inside the massive stone walls it was silent, and the round arches rose above in the gloom, peaceful in their symmetry. Hayden sat with him for a while.'
From Chapter 28
#ACruelCorpse
#WritingCommunity
From Chapter 28
#ACruelCorpse
#WritingCommunity
August 19, 2025 at 11:25 AM
'They took him into the Keep and laid him to rest on a bier in the old chapel. Inside the massive stone walls it was silent, and the round arches rose above in the gloom, peaceful in their symmetry. Hayden sat with him for a while.'
From Chapter 28
#ACruelCorpse
#WritingCommunity
From Chapter 28
#ACruelCorpse
#WritingCommunity
'Hayden, dressed as a maid, was making her way along the battlement gangway, a long wooden platform built onto the inside of the old wall.
At the end of the gangway was a closed oak door with iron studs, with a big keyhole. There was no handle.'
From Chapter 23
#ACruelCorpse
At the end of the gangway was a closed oak door with iron studs, with a big keyhole. There was no handle.'
From Chapter 23
#ACruelCorpse
August 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
'Hayden, dressed as a maid, was making her way along the battlement gangway, a long wooden platform built onto the inside of the old wall.
At the end of the gangway was a closed oak door with iron studs, with a big keyhole. There was no handle.'
From Chapter 23
#ACruelCorpse
At the end of the gangway was a closed oak door with iron studs, with a big keyhole. There was no handle.'
From Chapter 23
#ACruelCorpse
Very honoured to receive a 5* review of A Cruel Corpse from Katherine Mezzacappa, author of The Maiden of Florence, in which she writes 'An intriguing and absorbing historical novel, one of the most original I have read in a while.'
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
July 29, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Very honoured to receive a 5* review of A Cruel Corpse from Katherine Mezzacappa, author of The Maiden of Florence, in which she writes 'An intriguing and absorbing historical novel, one of the most original I have read in a while.'
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
Some of the films set in the 17th and 18th centuries that I had mind, more or less consciously, while writing my novel A Cruel Corpse. My regular postings of extracts will finish now.If you have enjoyed them, you will know where to find more...
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
July 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Some of the films set in the 17th and 18th centuries that I had mind, more or less consciously, while writing my novel A Cruel Corpse. My regular postings of extracts will finish now.If you have enjoyed them, you will know where to find more...
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
'The soldiers had been ordered to watch, but Jasper could not bear to look at this slow death. He lowered his eyes and stared at the the curving walls. There were little gun ports, and he occupied his mind wondering what weight of gun might be behind them.'
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCitadel
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCitadel
July 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
'The soldiers had been ordered to watch, but Jasper could not bear to look at this slow death. He lowered his eyes and stared at the the curving walls. There were little gun ports, and he occupied his mind wondering what weight of gun might be behind them.'
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCitadel
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCitadel
'Jasper was on the coach’s box, the reins to the pair of horses in his hands. 'A sensitive touch on a leather strap is something I can usually manage pretty well.' He smiled as he looked ahead, above the four bobbing points of the horses’ ears.'
From Chapter 37
#ACruelCorpse
From Chapter 37
#ACruelCorpse
July 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
'Jasper was on the coach’s box, the reins to the pair of horses in his hands. 'A sensitive touch on a leather strap is something I can usually manage pretty well.' He smiled as he looked ahead, above the four bobbing points of the horses’ ears.'
From Chapter 37
#ACruelCorpse
From Chapter 37
#ACruelCorpse
'‘Was he, by Christ?' said the captain. 'And how would you even know that?’ By now they had stopped walking, and stood together, unseen in a blind archway in the curtain wall.
‘It’s like this,' said Hayden...'
(from Chapter 36)
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCastle
‘It’s like this,' said Hayden...'
(from Chapter 36)
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCastle
July 25, 2025 at 10:46 AM
'‘Was he, by Christ?' said the captain. 'And how would you even know that?’ By now they had stopped walking, and stood together, unseen in a blind archway in the curtain wall.
‘It’s like this,' said Hayden...'
(from Chapter 36)
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCastle
‘It’s like this,' said Hayden...'
(from Chapter 36)
#ACruelCorpse
#CarlisleCastle
'An hour later, the sun well set now, she was by the window in the barrack hall on the highest storey of the Keep, resting her eyes on the familiar view, across the town’s rooftops, past the lofty cathedral tower, to the distant mountains of Westmoreland.'
(From Chapter 3)
#ACruelCorpse
(From Chapter 3)
#ACruelCorpse
July 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
'An hour later, the sun well set now, she was by the window in the barrack hall on the highest storey of the Keep, resting her eyes on the familiar view, across the town’s rooftops, past the lofty cathedral tower, to the distant mountains of Westmoreland.'
(From Chapter 3)
#ACruelCorpse
(From Chapter 3)
#ACruelCorpse
'Mrs Gilchrist took them around a series of rooms, well plastered and panelled, lit by fine leaded windows, but all nearly empty. She said what each one would be used for, once they had furniture and funds – a dining room, a school room, a work room.'
From Chapter 37.
#ACruelCorpse
From Chapter 37.
#ACruelCorpse
July 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
'Mrs Gilchrist took them around a series of rooms, well plastered and panelled, lit by fine leaded windows, but all nearly empty. She said what each one would be used for, once they had furniture and funds – a dining room, a school room, a work room.'
From Chapter 37.
#ACruelCorpse
From Chapter 37.
#ACruelCorpse
'‘The machinery in these windmills can do a lot of harm to a lady’s looks.’'
From Chapter 38.
#ACruelCorpse
#Windmillmachinery
#WritingCommunity
From Chapter 38.
#ACruelCorpse
#Windmillmachinery
#WritingCommunity
July 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
'‘The machinery in these windmills can do a lot of harm to a lady’s looks.’'
From Chapter 38.
#ACruelCorpse
#Windmillmachinery
#WritingCommunity
From Chapter 38.
#ACruelCorpse
#Windmillmachinery
#WritingCommunity
'There was a ghastly scream, a male scream, from one of the upper windows. They looked up and saw a figure, silhouetted against the flames filling the room behind him.'
(From Chapter 31)
#ACruelCorpse
#HistoricalFiction
#WritingCommunity
(From Chapter 31)
#ACruelCorpse
#HistoricalFiction
#WritingCommunity
July 20, 2025 at 11:43 AM
'There was a ghastly scream, a male scream, from one of the upper windows. They looked up and saw a figure, silhouetted against the flames filling the room behind him.'
(From Chapter 31)
#ACruelCorpse
#HistoricalFiction
#WritingCommunity
(From Chapter 31)
#ACruelCorpse
#HistoricalFiction
#WritingCommunity
A suitable quiet spot,’ said Hayden pointing into a narrow alleyway under an arch.
‘Aye,’ said Edmund doubtfully, ‘if we are proceeding with this little prank.’
From Chapter 31.
#ACruelCorpse
#Carlislebynight
#WritingCommunity
#HistoricalFiction
‘Aye,’ said Edmund doubtfully, ‘if we are proceeding with this little prank.’
From Chapter 31.
#ACruelCorpse
#Carlislebynight
#WritingCommunity
#HistoricalFiction
July 19, 2025 at 10:32 AM
A suitable quiet spot,’ said Hayden pointing into a narrow alleyway under an arch.
‘Aye,’ said Edmund doubtfully, ‘if we are proceeding with this little prank.’
From Chapter 31.
#ACruelCorpse
#Carlislebynight
#WritingCommunity
#HistoricalFiction
‘Aye,’ said Edmund doubtfully, ‘if we are proceeding with this little prank.’
From Chapter 31.
#ACruelCorpse
#Carlislebynight
#WritingCommunity
#HistoricalFiction
'She was on guard duty in the Market Place. A market ‘cross’, in fact a column topped by a strange sculpture of a large-rumped lion holding a book, formed the focus of this open space. Every market day two soldiers had to stand here observing the people.'
Chapter 14
#ACruelCorpse
Chapter 14
#ACruelCorpse
July 18, 2025 at 11:31 AM
'She was on guard duty in the Market Place. A market ‘cross’, in fact a column topped by a strange sculpture of a large-rumped lion holding a book, formed the focus of this open space. Every market day two soldiers had to stand here observing the people.'
Chapter 14
#ACruelCorpse
Chapter 14
#ACruelCorpse
The soldiers reached their destination and formed up facing the twin towers of the Citadel. On top of one of the towers a gaunt wooden frame was silhouetted against the sky. It was a fine crisp autumn day. What a fine day to see your last of this poor old world.
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
July 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The soldiers reached their destination and formed up facing the twin towers of the Citadel. On top of one of the towers a gaunt wooden frame was silhouetted against the sky. It was a fine crisp autumn day. What a fine day to see your last of this poor old world.
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
'Here he was, the son of a Midlands gentry family, giving up his life on a quiet estate where there was still just enough land for a decent shoot, and where usually the outside world left them well alone with their family of retainers and their private chapel.' (from Chapter 4).
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
July 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
'Here he was, the son of a Midlands gentry family, giving up his life on a quiet estate where there was still just enough land for a decent shoot, and where usually the outside world left them well alone with their family of retainers and their private chapel.' (from Chapter 4).
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
There were closely-packed tables and benches where lawyers and clerks sat over piles of books and papers. Above all the judge presided, his nose jutting out from between the curtains of wig, his eyes darting this way and that, keen as any peregrine peering out from its eyrie.
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
July 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
There were closely-packed tables and benches where lawyers and clerks sat over piles of books and papers. Above all the judge presided, his nose jutting out from between the curtains of wig, his eyes darting this way and that, keen as any peregrine peering out from its eyrie.
#ACruelCorpse
#ACruelCorpse
'As the Latin words washed over him, Edmund felt his mind sinking back into a comfortable groove. But it was also a source of pride – martyrs had died for this Mass.'
From Chapter 13 - a scene in a concealed Catholic chapel, like the pictured one in Harvington Hall
#ACruelCorpse
From Chapter 13 - a scene in a concealed Catholic chapel, like the pictured one in Harvington Hall
#ACruelCorpse
July 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
'As the Latin words washed over him, Edmund felt his mind sinking back into a comfortable groove. But it was also a source of pride – martyrs had died for this Mass.'
From Chapter 13 - a scene in a concealed Catholic chapel, like the pictured one in Harvington Hall
#ACruelCorpse
From Chapter 13 - a scene in a concealed Catholic chapel, like the pictured one in Harvington Hall
#ACruelCorpse
'The weavers were intent on their work, speedily sending the shuttles to and fro as they pulled the frames in and out… Typical women’s work: the kind of work Hayden had scrupulously avoided for twenty-five years.' From Chapter 7.
#ACruelCorpse
#Handweaving
#Eighteenthcentury
#ACruelCorpse
#Handweaving
#Eighteenthcentury
July 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
'The weavers were intent on their work, speedily sending the shuttles to and fro as they pulled the frames in and out… Typical women’s work: the kind of work Hayden had scrupulously avoided for twenty-five years.' From Chapter 7.
#ACruelCorpse
#Handweaving
#Eighteenthcentury
#ACruelCorpse
#Handweaving
#Eighteenthcentury
'So here I am,' said Colonel Guise, 'in this state of nudus, for the sake of a classical setting. Do you think it’s worth it, private?’
‘Sir. You are very like a Senator, sir,’ said Hayden, eyes to the front.
From Chapter 10 of A Cruel Corpse
#ACruelCorpse
#ColonelJohnGuise
‘Sir. You are very like a Senator, sir,’ said Hayden, eyes to the front.
From Chapter 10 of A Cruel Corpse
#ACruelCorpse
#ColonelJohnGuise
July 12, 2025 at 8:50 AM
'So here I am,' said Colonel Guise, 'in this state of nudus, for the sake of a classical setting. Do you think it’s worth it, private?’
‘Sir. You are very like a Senator, sir,’ said Hayden, eyes to the front.
From Chapter 10 of A Cruel Corpse
#ACruelCorpse
#ColonelJohnGuise
‘Sir. You are very like a Senator, sir,’ said Hayden, eyes to the front.
From Chapter 10 of A Cruel Corpse
#ACruelCorpse
#ColonelJohnGuise