Foreshore Books Signs Bestselling Author David Stokes for Landmark Historical Novel ‘Sermon of the Wolf’.

Foreshore Books, the small press imprint of Foreshore Publishing, is delighted to announce the acquisition of Sermon of the Wolf, a poignant, powerful, and masterfully crafted new historical novel by bestselling author David Stokes.

Stokes is widely known for his richly researched and evocative historical fiction. His previous works include Angles or Angels?, set during the Christian conversion of 7th-century England, and the bestselling King Alfred’s Daughter, the acclaimed story of Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians.

His forthcoming novel, Sermon of the Wolf, reimagines the turbulent life of Emma of Normandy—twice queen of England and one of the most influential women of the pre-Conquest era. Spanning five decades of invasion, dynastic struggle, betrayal, and political upheaval, the book immerses readers in the dramatic final years of the Anglo-Saxon world as it edges toward its fall.

Ideal for fans of sweeping medieval drama, book clubs, and readers who love immersive world-building, Sermon of the Wolf blends high political intrigue with intimate human stories. Booksellers can expect a character-driven epic rooted in meticulous research and enriched with themes of loyalty, survival, and shifting power.

Publisher Phil M. Shirley praised the novel, saying: “David combines real historical depth with a wonderfully accessible storytelling style. Sermon of the Wolf stays true to the record, but it’s also full of vivid drama, emotional weight, and a compelling central character. It’s a period readers never seem to tire of—Viking clashes, dynastic rivalries, and the gathering storm before 1066. These are themes that continue to resonate, and David brings them to life brilliantly.”

Author David Stokes added: “We all know the outcome of the Battle of Hastings, but what happened in the half century before 1066 was just as crucial to the Norman Conquest. Sermon of the Wolf tells the dramatic story of the fall of the Anglo-Saxons and the role of Emma of Normandy, twice queen of England, whose life straddles this period.”

Sermon of the Wolf will be published in hardback, trade paperback and eBook in October 2026.

DAVID STOKES studied history at Oriel College, Oxford and is Emeritus Professor in entrepreneurship at Kingston University. He has published widely in the non-fiction field during his career as an academic. The Anglo-Saxons have been a lifelong interest, and he has combined this passion with his research skills to write historical fiction focussing on the early medieval period. He has written a series of novels about the Anglo-Saxons: Angles or Angels? set during the time of the Christian conversion in the 7th century; the best-selling King Alfred’s Daughter, the story of Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians; and Sermon of the Wolf, due to be published in October, 2026.

For more information about the author including free downloads, go to: davidstokesauthor.com