Paul Jariabek's Historical Fiction Blog

A curated collection of historical fiction essays, explorations of characters, and reflections times past.

Welcome to my Historical Fiction Blog—a space to lose themselves in stories of the past.

Here you’ll find historical fiction essays and posts exploring periods in history, worlds that existed, characters that lived in them, and behind-the-scenes reflections.

Dig into the archives!

Portrait of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, Tudor poet and soldier, a warrior-poet of Henry VIII's court central to historical fiction story.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey: The Last Knight of a Dead Age

Explore the character sketch of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, a Tudor knight in Henry VIII's last war and a historical fiction short story.

An Old-World Aristocrat in the Tudor Age Born around 1516, Henry Howard entered the world with expectations as towering as his bloodline was ancient—his family's pedigree traced his lineage back to the Conquest. Some of England’s finest humanist scholars polished the future earl’s …...

Portrait of Gregory Trelawney, a Tudor character sketch in historical fiction set during the Siege of Montreuil

A Tudor Character Sketch: Gregory Trelawney

Explore the character sketch of Gregory Trelawney, a Tudor character caught in Henry VIII's last war, where loyalty, mortality, and honor collide.

The twenty-three-year-old Gregory Trelawney is the main character in my yet-unnamed short story set against the backdrop of the 1544 Siege of Montreuil—the last great campaign of Henry VIII, and part of the Italian Wars. As an older and wiser Captain of the Tiger, he also appears in my …...

Portrait of a Young Francis Drake, protagonist of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna by Paul Jariabek

Learn More about the Historical Fiction Novel Sic Parvis Magna

Discover Sic Parvis Magna, a historical fiction novel of Francis Drake's youth for fans of Horatio Hornblower and Jack Audrey.

Who and What's real in the Historical Fiction Novel Sic Parvis Magna

Who and What's real in the Historical Fiction Novel Sic Parvis Magna

Explore the real historical figures behind Sic Parvis Magna. Discover what's fact, what's fiction, and how truth fuels great historical fiction.

Cover of historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna in a book and an e-reader

The Opening Scenes of the Historical Fiction Novel Sic Parvis Magna

Read Chapter 1 of Sic Parvis Magna, a gripping historical fiction debut where young Francis Drake flees rebellion, betrayal, and fire on the path to legend.

Cover of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Best Historical Fiction Books: Anna Karenina

Experience Tolstoy's Anna Karenina—a tragic tale of forbidden love and social constraint in Imperial Russia, widely considered one of the greatest novels ever written.

Cover of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Best Historical Fiction Books: War and Peace

Discover Tolstoy's War and Peace—an epic tale of love, war, and Russian society during the Napoleonic era that remains one of literature's greatest achievements.

Portrait of Lev (Leo) Tolstoy in 1848. Image credit: by Pavel Biryukov - https://archive.org/details/leotolstoyhislif00biriiala, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11656719

Tolstoy's War: The Chill of Napoleon's False Shadow

Discover why Leo Tolstoy remains essential reading for historical fiction fans—his epic vision, moral insight, and war stories still shape the genre today.

Cover of the historical fiction novel Nova Albion Adventure by Paul Jariabek

Historical Fiction Novel Nova Albion Adventure By Paul Jariabek

Discover the secret voyage of Francis Drake—mutiny, Spanish spies, and a deadly hunt for the Northern Passage in a high‑stakes clash of empires.

Modified portrait of Sir Brian Tuke, originally painted by Holbein, with memento mori theme for Tudor England historical fiction post about Francis Drake and Sic Parvis Magna.

Memento Mori: Death, Fear, and Power in Tudor England and Francis Drake's Voyages

Death haunted Tudor England. Explore how memento mori, Francis Drake's dangerous voyages, and religious fear shape the conflict in my historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna.

Cover of the historical fiction novel First Blood by Paul Jariabek

Historical Fiction Novel First Blood By Paul Jariabek

A thrilling historical fiction novel of Francis Drake's daring raids and the vengeful persosnal war against the Spanish crown.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—Escape from Tavistock

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Francis and his family are attacked by a mob.

Engraving of the Drakes at a family dinner, discussing the latest developments at Tavistock. Part of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—Family Dinner

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. In this scene, Francis discovers news worse than he imagined.

Historical map of Plymouth in 1540, showing Tudor-era harbor defenses, ships, and church towers—an evocative glimpse into the setting of great historical fiction adventures.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—First Impressions of Plymouth

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Plymouth offers Francis first glimpses of a large town.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—Francis Sees Hawkins's Affairs

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Francis gets a first-hand view of Hawkins's power.

Imagined portrait of the young Francis Drake, protagonist of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—Going On Delivery

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Going on Delivery opens the book and kicks off the story.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—Good News

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Francis rejoins his parents in a new life at Kent.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—History of Hawkins

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Francis gets a lesson of being a maritime merchant.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—Life at Plymouth

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Francis Drake aclimates in Plymouth.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—Sailing in Plymouth Sound

Read the opening chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. Discover what establishes Drake's life long direction.

Imagined ingraving of a friend of the young Francis Drake,on a rural English farm, accusing Drake of being a heretic. Part of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna.

Sic Parvis Magna Sample Chapter—The Heretic

Read the openingirst chapter of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna for free. A life-long friend chooses the side of the enemy.

The Last Song - Historical Flash Fiction

The Last Song - Historical Flash Fiction

In this historical flash fiction piece, a low-born musician Mark Smeaton strums a treasonous melody in the court of Henry VIII...

A youthful Francis Drake before a darkening sea and English galleons—evoking his early adventures and the central theme of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna.

Who Was Francis Drake? Exploring the Legend Behind the Historical Fiction Novel Sic Parvis Magna

Historical Fiction spotlight on Francis Drake: explore his daring voyages, privateering, and complex legacy that inspire the novel Sic Parvis Magna

Portrait of Historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna villain pirate captain Guichenot.

Historical Fiction Villain Sketch of Pirate Captain Guy Alfonse Guichenot

Uncover the untold story of Captain Guichenot, a ruthless 16th-century villain cut from the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna.

Portrait of the historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna villain James Reynard, contemplating in his cabin.

Historical Fiction Villain Sketch of James Reynard

Historical Fiction fans: meet James Reynard, a bitter orphan turned killer in Tudor England. Discover his dark past before the novel Sic Parvis Magna

Historical illustration of Sir Francis Drake, Tudor privateer and explorer, with his coat of arms and the Sic Parvis Magna motto — a symbol of greatness from small beginnings — inspiring historical fiction about Francis Drake's naval adventures.

The Meaning of Sic Parvis Magna

Sic Parvis Magna means "greatness from small beginnings." Explore its origin, Francis Drake's rise, and how it inspires my historical fiction series.