The Tasks of Chronavon is a trilogy of stories featuring two twelve year olds, Alfred and Alice. While the book is aimed at young people of the same age as the main characters of the story, I think it will appeal to any of a much wider age range who have an interest in English history. The book will be of special interest to those familiar with the Cathedrals of Hereford and Worcester, and the Tower of London, where parts of the stories are set. It also has an underlying Christian theme with subtle examples which illustrate the power of prayer. The idea for writing the book came from a friend who said they really enjoyed stories which involved travelling back into earlier historic contexts. A problem with such stories usually arises from the fact that any such time traveller would be likely to change the course of history. A unique feature of this book is that two young time travellers are set tasks which are required to be fulfilled to prevent a change in the course of history.

 

Alfred and Alice are taken back through time by an Angel called Chronavon who appears in the guise of a mediaeval monk to the young people as they work in the vestry of their local church.

Their tasks are to thwart the designs of an evil time traveller who is attempting to change the course of history by preventing the accession to the throne of monarchs who had very successful reigns and significantly contributed to the development of the nation. The three stories in the trilogy centre round Edward I, Elizabeth I and Charles I I during the dangerous days before they had actually acceded to the throne. Of course the story is a work of fiction, and travelling back through time is supernatural. However, when they are back into the historic contexts to which they have been sent, Alfred and Alice do not have access to magic to fulfil their tasks but have to rely on their own resourcefulness and common sense. Alfred and Alice are excellent role models who have a strong Christian faith and who make use of the power of prayer. However, they realise that in most of the difficult situations they encounter, they themselves must be the agents through which their prayers are answered. Thus, the answers they receive to their prayers, while very helpful in securing their objective, do not involve anything happening which could be regarded as other than completely normal.

 

The stories are set in real history and the majority of the characters encountered are real historic personages. The book should therefore have an educational value to those interested in history as it reads as if two young people, with whom young readers could readily identify, are actually influencing events which really did take place.  Short sections are included in the stories, printed in italics, which may be skipped without detracting from the main narrative. The italicised sections are included to provide additional historical background for readers who are interested in the wider historic context in which the stories are set.