Stand by the Colours

Written by Nicholas Carter

Narrated by Paul Mclaughlin

Loyalty is tested to its limits in this thrilling English Civil War adventure.

In the opening days of 1644, there seems to be little hope for Parliament’s soldiers. To William Sparrow and his men, the woods of Dorset are a snow-covered sanctuary – even on Christmas Day – from the horrors of Penmethock and pursuit by the King’s men. Hugo Telling has finally returned home, ready to introduce his ‘wife’, Bella Morrison, to his family. But the Telling family is now as affected by the war as any in England; Hugo’s brother has volunteered – but on Parliament’s side...

When Hugo and Bella make their way back to Prince Rupert’s stronghold in Oxford, they must consider their justifications for Hugo’s absence. Surprisingly Bella is ordered to the Queen’s service, and now it is up to her to save Hugo – if, for the first time, she can put another‘s needs above her own. And all the while the Scots, the hardiest fighters of all, are making their way through the North of England, bringing new dangers and new fear to the torment that is the civil war.

The fifth instalment of The Shadow on the Crown series, Stand by the Colours, is a triumph, perfect for Conn Iggulden and David Gilman's fans.

Shadow on the Crown author Nicholas Carter is based in the West Country and has been working on his English Civil War series – on and off – for more than 30 years. A writer and journalist since leaving school, Nicholas says joining the Sealed Knot gave him priceless insights into the period – and says many of the events and characters in the books are inspired by his experiences re-enacting battles from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall. 

In addition to his English Civil war series Nicholas has written two novels based on the Italian Wars and also penned a brace of steampunk fantasy novels. He is working on volume seven of the Shadow on the Crown – Forlorn Hope – plotting the New Model Army's siege of Bristol.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SAGA Egmont
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9788726869712

Nicholas Carter

General Sir Nicholas Carter KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen commissioned into The Royal Green Jackets in 1978. At Regimental Duty he has served in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia, and Kosovo and commanded 2nd Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets, from 1998 to 2000. He attended Army Staff College, the Higher Command and Staff Course and the Royal College of Defence Studies. He was Military Assistant to the Assistant Chief of the General Staff, Colonel Army Personnel Strategy, spent a year at HQ Land Command writing the Collective Training Study, and was Director of Army Resources and Plans. He also served as Director of Plans within the US-led Combined Joint Task Force 180 in Afghanistan and spent three months in the Cross Government Iraq Planning Unit prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. General Carter commanded 20th Armoured Brigade in Iraq in 2004 and 6th Division in Afghanistan in 2009/10. He was then the Director General Land Warfare before becoming the Army 2020 Team Leader. He served as DCOM ISAF from October 2012 to August 2013, became Commander Land Forces in November 2013, and was appointed Chief of the General Staff in September 2014.