Paul Dowswell

Paul Dowswell

Paul Dowswell… is a brilliant historical fiction novelist
The Daily Telegraph

Paul writes award-winning historical fiction for young adults. His novels are sold throughout the English speaking world and have been published in an additional ten languages. Paul is also a prolific writer of non-fiction for children with over seventy titles to his name.

He is a regular visitor to schools, literary festivals and conferences all around the UK and Europe, and has also travelled to Australia and South Africa to talk about his books and teach creative writing. He is a Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University and has recently worked for the Royal Literary Fund at Leicester De Montfort and Sheffield University.

Contact
paul@pauldowswell.co.uk

Read More about About

Aüslander

Ausländer ranks among the very best of wartime historical fiction.

Financial Times

Eleven Eleven

Paul Dowswell’s utterly gripping, award-winning novel follows three young
combatants in the last hours of the war, when survival could only be seconds
away.

The Guardian, Best Great War novels for children and teens.

Sektion 20

Sektion 20 is far and beyond one of the best accounts of post-War Eastern-Bloc Germany I have ever read.

Book Angel Booktopia

Latest News

Reviews for ‘Aliens

My new adult non-fiction book Aliens has been picking up reviews. Here’s one from The Observer, another from the legal advice and comment website Free Movement, and a snippet from the Association of Jewish Refugees newsletter:

Fascinating material casts light on some of the less familiar stories of those who settled in Britain during and after the second world war… The Observer August 2023

This well written and highly readable book… shares ‘the chequered history of Britain’s Wartime Refugees’. It interweaves personal testimonies with historical sources to paint a vivid picture of what life was really like for some of our refugees. Association of Jewish Refugees October 2023

Paul Dowswell’s new book, Aliens: A Chequered History of Britain’s Wartime Refugees, does an excellent job of recounting in a balanced way some aspects of British history that many would rather forget. Aliens is both fascinating and accessible. Free Movement blog November 2023

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/14/aliens-the-chequered-history-of-britains-wartime-refugees-by-paul-dowswell-review

https://freemovement.org.uk/book-review-aliens-the-chequered-history-of-britains-wartime-refugees-by-paul-dowswell/

Historical Fiction

Here’s an interview I did in Italy this year, about why I write historical fiction. You can follow this link to You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtTZp6mV7QE

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Big Book News!

My book ‘Aliens’ marks a new departure for me. It’s an adult non-fiction about refugees in Britain during the Second World War. It’s out on August 22 and is published by Biteback.
https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/aliens

May in Italy

Wonderful week in Italy with Equilibri and Hamelin between May 9th and 16th giving talks in schools and libraries. Also very excited to discover my Italian book Destini Incrociati, (Feltrinelli), which does not have a British publisher, came second out of 36 books nominated for the Hamelin Associazione Culturale Book prize. A big thank you to Gabriela Zucchini at Equilibri, and Nicola Galli Laforest at Hamelin, for inviting me over.

Trip to Italy

Really looking forward to my trip to lovely Italy over 9th to 16th May, where I’ll be visiting schools and book awards in Carpi, Piacenza, Bologna, and Venice. I’ll be mainly talking about my two recent books ‘Bomber’ (publ. Equilibri) and ‘Destini Incrociati’ (Feltrinelli) and my other Italian books too. I’m very lucky to have my friends Jaya Giuditta de Concini and Barbara Servidori along to translate for me.

Mare di Libri June 17-19, 2022

Excited to be invited to the Mare di Libri book festival in Rimini this summer. My event is at 3.00 on the Saturday. I’ll be talking about my Feltrinelli novel ‘Destini Incrociati’ among other books.

Mare di Libri

Destini Incrociati

I am really pleased to say that my new novel ‘Destini Incrociati’ has been published in Italy this week by Feltrinelli. (‘Out of Nowhere’ is the English title.) It’s about four lives linked together by the V2 rocket, at the tail end of the Second World War.

Paul Dowswell - Destini incrociati (2022) - EurekaDDL

Historical Association book award 2021

The Great Revolt By Paul Dowswell

Delighted to say my Bloomsbury Education book ‘The Great Revolt’, about the Peasants’ Revolt, has been shortlisted in the 10-13 category for the 2021 Historical Association Young Quills Book Award. I have an illustrated talk all raring to go, so please contact me via this site if you would like me to visit your school. Here’s a link to the Historical Association page and reviews by readers:

https://www.history.org.uk/secondary/module/8774/young-quills-reviews-2021/10581/the-great-revolt

New book talk

As I am dipping my toes back into school visits, I’m sharing this ipad video clip of me talking about my latest historical fiction novel – ‘The Great Revolt’ (Bloomsbury Education). I have an illustrated talk to go with the book, so do get in touch if you would like me to visit your school.

Summer 2021

School visits are starting again! My October bookings include Wolverhampton Girls’ High School and Tettenhall College. Please see the page ‘School Visits’ here. You can contact me on paul@pauldowswell.co.uk if you would like me to visit your school.

Out of Nowhere

My new novel ‘Out of Nowhere’ has been bought by my Dutch publisher Kokboekencentrum, where it is known as Tweestrijd (Conflicted), and my Italian publisher Feltrinelli. Here are some reviews:

The story is captivating, adventurous and thrilling… Until the last pages you can cut the tension with a knife. Hetboekenrijk

For boys and girls 12+, who love exciting adventure stories about WWII. Christelijkinderboeken

With Tweestrijd , Paul Dowswell has once again created a very exciting Young Adult novel. Four characters each have their own storyline. They don’t know about each other, but every decision or action they take has consequences for others. This coherent storyline is really well put together, woven into an excellent plot. Paul Dowswell has a very pleasant and visual writing style… (and) writes with a lot of knowledge. This book is also recommended for adults. It often grabs you by the throat and does something to you. Perfecteburen

I think Paul is one of the best writers of historical fiction for young people… The pacing of the book as it cuts between locations and personalities is superb. The main characters are living, breathing, flawed human beings whose fate I cared about. There’s a lot packed into the book and Paul’s research must have been copious but it never flattens the storytelling. It’s a mystery to me why this book hasn’t found a British publisher and I’d like to think that out there somewhere is one who will change that. Jane Sandell, Pictures and Conversation

The Great Revolt

Reviews from the Blogs:

The Great Revolt has everything a historical novel needs… The author captures the past with an engaging narrative and gives us an exquisite and enthralling story. The reader is swept up in the characters, places and story. A fantastic read for older children and adults alike. Anna Tomlinson An Awfully Big Adventure

As a teacher I am always on the hunt for books that will excite and engage my class. I did thoroughly enjoy this book and raced through it in 2 days. I would highly recommend it for those who like action and history as well as strong protagonists! Lauren The Bookish Fairy

This would be a great recommendation for any young reader interested in history and would be a brilliant starting point for anyone studying the period of history in question. Christina Reid Chikaru Reads

The Great Revolt made my reenactor and history buff heart all happy inside. I’d say if you are into history, into sweeping tales and wonderfully interesting books this is one for you. Moon Kestrel Moon Dreams

New YA Novel

My new YA novel ‘Out of Nowhere’ is due to be published by Kokboekencentrum in the Netherlands in October. The Dutch title is ‘Tweestrijd’ – which means ‘Conflicted’. They’ve just sent me the cover, and I love it!

New book for August

New Bloomsbury novel out in August – this one set during the Peasants Revolt of 1381. They want to call it ‘The Great Revolt’. I’d like to call it ‘Rebels’. Watch this space…

SCHOOL VISITS FOR MARCH

Popping round the country this March with school visits to Reading, Southend on Sea, Abingdon, Kent, East Sussex and Shropshire, for book talks and writing workshops. Please see the ‘School visits’ page of this website if you would like me to visit your school.

Talking to Italian kids on a recent visit to Cavriago, with my magnificent
interpreter Giuditta de Concini..