Bristol-born author Frederick J Hillberg’s latest historical novel, ‘The Dangerous Journey’, is making waves in the literary world. The story, set in 1840’s Victorian England, follows the true events of a brutal attempted murder on Bristol accountant William Miller Mackreth in the Shropshire town of Ludlow. This landmark case in British legal history shocked society and captured the attention of the entire country.
Hillberg, who is retired, shared his insights into researching and writing his great-great-grandfather’s extraordinary near-death encounter over 150 years ago. “I began working on the project several years ago when investigating our family tree. I knew that William Mackreth was a wealthy businessman in Bristol but it wasn’t until a visit to the Bristol Archives and a reference to the ‘Ludlow Chest’ that the full story began to unfold.”
A trip to Ludlow revealed an unexpected truth: William Mackreth had been at the heart of a famous local tale of mistaken identity, culminating in a vicious attack with a razor blade at the well-known Angel Inn. This became a landmark legal case in British history, capturing the attention of Victorian society. “As I delved deeper, I was amazed at the extent to which my great-great-grandfather’s ordeal had captured the attention of the public. Even Charles Dickens is believed to have mentioned the case in a letter to a friend,” shared Hillberg.
The novel not only recounts the events in Ludlow but also paints a vivid picture of life in Bristol during the era, highlighting Mackreth’s struggle to recover with the help of his fiancée, Jane. Hillberg explores a time when Bristol was governed by ‘Bristol Time’ and ‘Bristol Nails,’ and where an ‘upstairs downstairs’ culture was still prevalent. The novel also delves into the scourge of cholera outbreaks that spared no one during this time.
“It is a remarkable tale, almost stranger than fiction, not only due to the nature of the crime and the sheer number of coincidences but also the fact that my great-great-grandfather survived the attempted murder that left him scarred for life. I am incredibly proud to have been able to bring this piece of family history to light. I think the book will appeal strongly to anyone with an interest in local history, crime and mystery, or a touch of romance,” said Hillberg.
Aside from being a talented author, Hillberg is also an active figure in his local community. His pastimes include gardening, photography, coin & stamp collecting, and reading historical biographies. In 2023, Hillberg published his first children’s book, ‘Brave Cat Millie’.
The paperback version of ‘The Dangerous Journey’ is published by Brown Dog Books and is priced at £9.99 (RRP), available to order from all bookshops from 17th October and online. An eBook version priced at £3.99 will be available via Amazon (Kindle), Kobo devices, and Apple iBooks.
For media enquiries, please contact Jane Shergold at jane@carrawaypublishing.co.uk or 07966 176028 or 01225 580214.
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