History was written by the victors. Austin Hernon looks between the accepted facts to bring overlooked people, difficult lives and untold medieval stories back into the light.
History Re-Imagined is built around a simple question: is it true, and if it happened, why?
Austin Hernon explores the motives behind the chronicles and the people who shaped them, then uses research, experience and credible imagination to tell the stories that sit between the surviving facts.
Medieval power, family, war, diplomacy and survival, told through characters whose lives deserve another look.
Historical fiction becomes more compelling when the foundations are strong. History Re-Imagined treats accepted facts as milestones, then investigates the people, motives and circumstances surrounding them.
Explore the philosophy ↗Who wrote the chronicle, who commissioned it and whose perspective survived?
Research contemporary and secondary sources to understand the surviving evidence.
Look for overlooked characters whose lives reveal another side of the period.
Build credible scenes, motives and relationships around what is known, possible and probable.
From the post-war UK and a life that took him through the Sea Cadets, Royal Marines Reserve and a varied working life, Austin eventually found his way into historical fiction.
His route into medieval history began with an interest in the Highland Clearances and a trail of land ownership that led back to 1066. That research opened the door to Robert, the eldest son of William the Conqueror, and the first History Re-Imagined series.
Meet Austin properly ↗
Explore the women at the centre of one of England’s most turbulent medieval periods.
A closer look at a figure who deserves a larger place in the story.
Understand the document, the conflict and the people behind the history.
New stories are already taking shape, continuing the journey through medieval England and its overlooked characters.
A princess who learns that survival, independence and diplomacy can be weapons of their own.
The story of a nine-year-old king inheriting a kingdom in the aftermath of civil war.
From Robert of Normandy to Berengaria of Navarra, explore the expanding History Re-Imagined library.
Bring reader reactions and selected reviews into the heart of the experience, giving new visitors confidence before they choose their next book.
“A fascinating journey into a part of medieval history that deserves to be better known.”
Reader review“The characters feel human, the history feels alive, and the story keeps moving.”
Reader review“An enjoyable way to discover the people hiding between the famous historical events.”
Reader reviewMake every title easy to discover. The redesigned experience places buying options directly beside the stories, so readers can move naturally from curiosity to the book.
Use the existing gallery and historical imagery to make the homepage feel richer, more immersive and more connected to the books.
Whether you have followed medieval history for years or are discovering these characters for the first time, begin with the world that interests you most.
Go deeper into medieval people, places, conflicts and forgotten stories through the History Re-Imagined journal.
Discover two powerful medieval women whose lives reveal another side of the reign of King John.
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Explore the life and influence of a woman whose story has often remained outside the spotlight.
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A reader-friendly introduction to the document, conflict and people behind Magna Carta.
Read more ↗A clear FAQ layer helps readers understand the books, the author and the difference between documented history and historical imagination.
History Re-Imagined is the historical fiction platform and author website of Austin Hernon. It explores overlooked people, forgotten heroes and untold stories, particularly from medieval history, through research-led historical fiction.
Austin Hernon is the author behind History Re-Imagined. His writing combines an interest in historical research with a focus on the people and motivations that can sit between the accepted milestones of history.
History Re-Imagined includes the Robert the Wayward Prince trilogy, the Wars of Magna Carta series and the Queen Berengaria of England trilogy. Additional historical fiction projects are in preparation and coming soon.
Robert the Wayward Prince explores the story of Robert, Duke of Normandy and eldest son of William the Conqueror. The series looks beyond the familiar story of the Norman Conquest to explore Robert's life, relationships, ambitions and conflicts.
Wars of Magna Carta explores the turbulent period surrounding King John, Magna Carta and the civil conflict in medieval England, with particular attention to characters whose stories are less familiar.
Berengaria of Navarra became the queen of Richard the Lionheart. History Re-Imagined explores her life beyond the simplified role often assigned to medieval queens, including the political and personal circumstances surrounding her story.
It is historical fiction grounded in research. Documented facts provide the historical framework, while scenes, dialogue, motivations and connections that cannot be directly established from surviving evidence are explored as credible possibilities within the story.
The History Re-Imagined approach begins by questioning the surviving record, considering who wrote it and why, examining available evidence, and then exploring the possible stories surrounding known historical events and people.
Book pages provide purchase information and links for readers. Amazon is one of the key destinations for discovering and purchasing the books, with individual book links available throughout the site.
The History Re-Imagined Journal and History Explored sections provide articles about medieval people, events and subjects connected to the books and Austin's historical interests.
