Southwark writer debuts their first historical novel penned during the pandemic

A debut historical novel, which charts the slave-trade, piracy, and women’s rights, focuses on two girls from very different backgrounds in the 17th century.

Ann Parker, a French native who lives in Southwark managed to write her first novel while on furlough during the pandemic.

In it, Alix is a middle-class French girl, is due to marry a nobleman.

Vivien is a rebellious poor girl from Delaware. Both have been dealt a bad hand in life.

When unexpected events steer them away from the destiny chosen from them, their paths cross when they are swept away to join the crew of a pirate ship.

Together they discover adventure, love and pain.

Passionate for history and literature, Ann has merged both in A Tale of Mermaids.

Ann said: “I have always wanted to be a writer. In my hard drive, I have dozens of unfinished chapters that I never had the occasion – or motivation – to grow.

“Being furloughed at the beginning of the pandemic allowed me to revisit my archives and gave me the time and space to make the story unfold.

“I was very impressed by a pirate movie as a child and I had a module on privateers in the Spanish Golden Age at university; unsurprisingly, pirates and piracy have been at the back of my mind since.

“When I revisited my archives, I found Vivien and Alix’s stories – the plan for both were drafted, but they had always felt incomplete, so I combined them, and they interacted well together.

“Out of pirates, I have extensively studied the late French 18th century and particularly topics related to slave-trade, slavery and women’s rights.

It was normal to insert those interest, in some ways, in the novel.”

Picture: Pixabay /JuliusH