This chapter of the audio guide explores chapter 2 of the novel, Leith, London and St Malo.

This audio guide focuses on the initial period of transition and change for Robert Meldrum as he travels from Leith to London and then from London to St Malo with an unexpected detour to the Isle of Jersey in the Channel Islands. It then explores his journey from St Malo on the west coast of France to Marly on the outskirts of Paris.

This chapter of the audio guide leans towards literary rather than historical detail but the chapter in the novel does explore the following:

The dangers of sea travel in the early modern period.

Stuart London

Early Modern Jersey

Early Modern Taverns and Inns.

For more information about the historical detail behind this chapter see Season 1 of the podcast, especially the episodes on Stuart London and Early Modern France.

Don't forget to sign up to the La Garde Ecossaise Historical Fiction and Early Modern Studies Newsletter here:

La Garde Ecossaise Historical Fiction and Early Modern StudiesTo receive free feature length articles on early modern studies that tie in with the novel series.

This chapter of the audio guide explores Chapter 1 in the novel 'Edinburgh and Leith.'

This chapter draws our attention to:

- Problems of parish life in seventeenth century Britain and Ireland.

-Scottish forms of religious worship in seventeenth century Scotland.

This is the first episode where the audio guide explores specific chapters in the novel.

This episode explores 'To the Reader' pp.2-5.

It details some of the key historical and literary aspects of this chapter including:

1715 Jacobite Rising

Meldrum's reasons for writing La Garde Ecossaise

The proud of history of Scots serving in French military service and the Auld Alliance.

This episode explores the approach and perspective of the novel series. It explains why the novel series is written like a memoir and the important role archives have in the novel series.

This episode of the audio guide explores the origins of the character John Hamiltion who is central to book 1 and 2 of the novel series.

This chapter of the audio guide explores the importance of the Franco-British relationship to the orgins of the novel series.

This episode explores how my ancestry and the wider Clan Gordon inspired significant parts of book 1 of the La Garde Ecossaise Historical Fiction Novels.

This chapter of the audio guide explores how my ancestors French Military Service inspired the novels.

This chapter explores how the author's ancestry shaped the novel. In this particular episode we explore Clan Donald in the Scottish Highlands.

This chapter of the audio guide explains how the author's ancestry shaped the novel. In this particular episode we reflect on the 1641 Irish Rebellion.