This Rough Ocean

By: Ann Swinfen

Narrated by: Philip Battley

It is December, 1648, and England faces one of the greatest crises in its history. Bands of renegade soldiers and broken men roam the countryside, looting, burning, and raping. In Parliament, former allies are torn apart after six years of bloody conflict. Will there be peace instead of war, or a military takeover of the country?

John Swynfen, a rising young MP and one of the leaders of the moderate party, is working for peace, but only if safeguards can be established to protect Parliament and control the powers of the king. Ranged against him and his friends are Oliver Cromwell and his son-in-law Henry Ireton, intent on seizing power by the sword and destroying not only the monarchy but the elected government. Within a few weeks, London is occupied by Cromwell's army, parliamentary government is in ruins, the king is executed. And John Swynfen is a prisoner.

Anne Swynfen travels home from Westminster to Staffordshire with her young children through a desperate winter. There, uncertain whether she will ever see her husband again, she takes charge of the large estate, where starvation looms due to bad harvests, and violent danger threatens from outlaws and the armies of both sides. While she struggles against prejudice to do a man's job, John is shot, beaten, shackled, humiliated, and tortured. Tempted by golden promises if he recants, threatened with death if he does not, he tries to cling to his sanity and his beliefs. When he finally escapes, he begins a terrible journey home across war-torn England to find his wife.

This is a story about keeping faith - many kinds of faith - in the face of terror, anguish, and despair.

©2015 Ann Swinfen (P)2018 Ann Swinfen

Never Fails to Impress

You have to love this author. Unbeleivable research, nail biting suspense. Just Keep pumping them out!

This Rough Ocean by Ann Swinfen

I loved this book, narrator, and story. Ann Swinfen is a beautiful writer.
Reminded me of Swinfen's Medieval Oxford Mysteries series.
Read everything she has written.

An incredible tale in every way

It is hard to fully express the respect and admiration I have for the author of this story. I am deeply saddened that we will have no more works by her. Not only does she reveal this little understood period of history but she also made sure that her characters learn and grow in wisdom and compassion. Thank you Ann Swinfen.

Interesting post civil war history of real people

Title is really misleading as nothing happening on a can of waves but oceans on peoples lives and England where there was great social unrest. Well read and characterised but a bit slow in parts.

The overcoming power of love

This book was fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time worrying for the poor Swinfens. I enjoyed hearing about both the husband’s and the wife’s difficult journeys. They were both compelling characters and I enjoyed both points of view equally.