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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A Checklist of the Works of Peter Berresford Ellis

PETER TREMAYNE is the fiction writing pseudonym of the Celtic scholar and author Peter Berresford Ellis.

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Peter Berresford Ellis about Sister Fidelma

 He was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, in England, on March 10, 1943. His father was a Cork born journalist who started his career on the Cork Examiner. The Ellis family can be traced in the area from 1288. His mother was from an old Sussex family of Saxon origin able to trace their lineage back through fourteen generations in the same area. Her mother was of a Breton family. With Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Breton uncles and aunts, Peter admits that he had little choice than become interested in Celtic matters. Although Peter took his degrees in Celtic Studies, obtaining a first class honours BA and his master's degree, he decided to follow his father into a career in journalism.

He began his career as a junior reporter on an English south coast weekly, becoming deputy editor of an Irish weekly newspaper and was then editor of a weekly publishing trade journal in London. He first went as a feature writer to Northern Ireland in 1964 which had a profound effect on him. His first book was published in 1968 - Wales - A Nation Again, on the Welsh struggle for political independence. It carried a foreword by Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's first Member of Parliament. In 1975 he became a full-time writer.

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He used his academic background to produce many popular titles in the field of Celtic Studies and is now a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He was given an Irish Post Award in 1988 in recognition of his services to Irish historical studies. In 1987 he had been inaugurated as a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd (as Gwas-an-Geltyon, the "Servant of the Celts"). This was for his work The Cornish Language and its Literature (published in 1974). He and his wife, Dorothy, had lived in Cornwall 1967/8.

He has been International Chairman of the Celtic League 1988-1990; chairman of Scrif-Celt (The Celtic Languages Book Fair in 1985 and in 1986); chairman and vice-president of the London Association for Celtic Education 1989-1995, and now is an Hon. Life Member); From 1988 he is Hon. Life President of the Scottish 1820 Society. He is a member of the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers Society. He is a member of the Society of Authors and was a member of the Crime Writers Society. He resigned from the CWA when members of the committee, without reference to the membership, invited Jeffrey Archer as their guest of hoour at their annual dinner. Archer had just served four years for perjury and perverting the course of justice. Peter felt that this was such a controversial invitation that members of the Society should have been consulted.  In 2002 Peter was made an Hon. Life Member of the Irish Literary Society formed by the Nobel Literary Laureate, W.B. Years in 1891. The ceremony was made at an annual dinner with the current Society's President, Nobel Literary Laureate Seamus Heaney in attendance. In 2004 Peter was accorded a Civic Welcome, Reception and Presentation by  the Mayor of Cashel (Co Tipperary, Ireland), Councillor Tom Wood, with the unanimous agreement of the Cashel Town Council in the Council Chambers. The honour was in tribute for Peter's Sister Fidelma books set in and around Cashel.

At the same time as his interest in the Celts, Peter has always been fascinated by aspects of popular literature and has written full-length biographies on H. Rider Haggard, W.E. Johns, Talbot Mundy as well as critical essays on many more popular fiction authors. His own output in the fictional field, writing in the genre of horror fantasy and heroic fantasy, began in 1977 when the first "Peter Tremayne" book appeared. Between 1983 and 1993 he also wrote eight adventure thrillers under the name "Peter MacAlan."

A prolific writer, Peter has published (as of January, 2006) a total of 87 books, 88 short stories, several pamphlets, and numerous academic papers and an uncountable number of signed articles. Under his own name he has been writing a regular column since 1987 entitled `Anonn Is Anall' (Here and There) for the Irish Democrat, and, since 2000, a regular fortnightly column `Anois agus Arís' (Now and Again) for The Irish Post. His work has appeared in over twenty foreign languages. His books break down into 34 titles under his own name; 8 titles under the pseudonym of Peter MacAlan and 45 titles under his pseudonym of Peter Tremayne.  

He has been invited as a guest lecturer to speak on Celtic matters in Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Canada and the United States.

As Peter Tremayne, before writing the Sister Fidelma mysteries, he achieved a reputation for writing fantasy using Celtic myths and legends as a background. His supernatural fantasy, mainly based on Irish folklore, won him international recognition and his collection of short stories as Aisling and other Irish Tales of Terror (Brandon Books) caused him to be acknowledged as a successor to the Irish masters Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stoker.

No less than six of his short stories have been collected in the "Great Irish Stories" series. For critical examinations of his work see the chapter on Tremayne in Discovering Modern Horror Fiction II ed. Darrell Schweitzer, Starmount House, Washington, 1988 (Starmount Studies in Literary Criticism No 4). also Masters of Fantasy introduced by Brian Lumley, British Fantasy Society Booklet No 6, March, 1984.

A detailed look at his life and work with a check list of publications correct until the date of publication is contained in Book and Magazine Collector, London, March, 1993. (See references in Contemporary Authors from the volumes dated from 1979.)

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A CHECKLIST OF THE WORKS OF PETER BERRESFORD ELLIS

     Listed in chronological order under first world publication (mainly UK but with first US publication where applicable)

  1. Wales - A National Again: The Nationalist Struggle for Freedom. Foreword by Gwynfor Evans MP. Library 33 Ltd., London, 1968.
  2. The Scottish Insurrection of 1820. Co-authored with Seumas Mac a' Ghobhainn. Foreword by High MacDiarmid. Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, 1970.
  3. The Problem of Language Revival: Examples of Language Survivals. Co-authored with Seumas Mac a' Ghobhainn, Club Leabhar Ltd., Inverness, Scotland, 1971.
  4. A History of the Irish Working Class. Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, 1972.
  5. James Connolly: Selected Writings. Edited with an introduction. Pelican Books, Penguin Ltd., London, 1973. (1st US edition from Monthly Review Press (hardcover), New York, 1973.
  6. The Cornish Language and its Literature.  Routledge & Kegan Paul ltd, 1974.
  7. Hell or Connaught: The Cromwellian Colonisation of Ireland 1652-1660. Hamish Hamilton, London, 1975. (1st US edition from St Martin's Press, (hardcover) New York, 1975.
  8. The Boyne Water: The Battle of the Boyne, 1690. Hamish Hamilton, London, 1976 (1st US edition from St Martin's Press (hardcover), New York, 1976.
  9. The Great Fire of London: An Illustrated Account. New English Library, London, 1977.
  10. Caesar's Invasion of Britain. Orbis Publishing, London, 1978. (1st US edition New York University Press (hardcover), 1980.
  11. H. Rider Haggard: A Voice from the Infinite. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London, 1978.
  12. Macbeth: High King of Scotland 1040-57. Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1980. (1st US edition from Barnes & Noble, New York, 1993).
  13. By Jove, Biggles! The Life of Captain W.E. Johns. Co-author Piers Williams, W.H. Allen, London 1981.
  14. The Liberty Tree - A Novel. Michael Joseph, London, 1982.
  15. The Last Adventurer: The Life of Talbot Mundy 1879-1940. Donald M. Grant Publishers Inc, Rhode Island, USA. 1984.
  16. Celtic Inheritance. Frederick Muller Ltd, London, 1985. (1st US edition, Dorset Press (hardcover), New York, 1992).
  17. The Celtic Revolution: A Study in Anti-Imperialism. Y Lolfa Cyf, Ceredigion, Wales, 1985.
  18. The Rising of the Moon: A Novel of the Fenian Invasion of Canada. Methuen, London, 1987. (1st US edition, St Martin's Press, (hardcover) New York, 1987.
  19. A Dictionary of Irish Mythology. Constable, London, 1987. (1st US edition from ABC Clio (hardcover) Santa Barbara, California, 1989).
  20. The Celtic Empire: The First Millennium of Celtic History 1000 BC - AD 51. Constable, London, 1990. (1st US edition from Carolina Academic Press (hardcover) North Carolina, 1991).
  21. A Guide to Early Celtic Remains in Britain. Constable Guides, London, 1991.
  22. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Constable, London, 1992. (1st US edition from ABC Clio, Santa Barbara, California, 1992).
  23. Celt and Saxon: The Struggle for Britain AD 410-937. Constable, London, 1993.
  24. The Celtic Dawn: A History of Pan Celticism. Constable, London, 1993.
  25. The Book of Deer (Constable Library of Celtic Illuminated Manuscripts). Art by Roy Ellsworth and text by Peter Berresford Ellis. Constable, 1994.
  26. The Druids. Constable, London, 1994. (1st US edition from Wm. Eerdmans (hardcover) Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1995).
  27. Celtic Women: Women in Celtic Society and Literature. Constable, London, 1995. (1st US edition from Wm. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996).
  28. Celt and Greek: Celts in the Hellenic World. Constable, London, 1997.
  29. Celt and Roman: The Celts in Italy. Constable, London, 1998. (1st US edition from St Martin's Press (hardcover) New York, 1998).
  30. The Ancient World of the Celts. Constable, London, 1999. (1st US edition from Barnes & Noble, New York, 1999).
  31. The Chronicles of the Celts: New tellings of their myths and legends. Robinson, London, 1999. (1st US edition from Carroll & Graf (hardcover), New York, 1999.
  32. Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland. Constable, London, 1999. (1st US edition, extensively revised and expanded from Palgrave/St Martin's (hardcover), New York, 2002.
  33. Eyewitness to Irish History, John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York, 2004.

     Some of PBE's pamphlets have been previous listed on sites as books. But these pamphlets are:

  1. The Creed of the Celtic Revolution. Introduction By F.A. Ridley, Medusa Press, London, 1969.
  2. The Story of the Cornish Language. Tor Mark Press, Cornwall, 1971.
  3. Revisionism in Irish Historical Writing: The New Anti-Nationalist School of Historians. A Connolly Association Broadhseet, London, 1989. (Text of Peter's 1989 C. Desmond Greaves Memorial Lecture at Conway Hall, London).
  4. The Cornish Saints. Tor Mark Press, Cornwall, 1992.
  5. Orangeism: Myth and Reality. Connolly Association Broadsheet, London, 1997. (Text of Peter's lecture at the Irish Labour History Museum, Dublin, 1995).  

     As well as the Sister Fidelma series, under the pseudonymn "Peter Tremayne" Peter has written many novels and short stories, the majority inspired by Celtic myth and legend.

  1. The Hound of Frankenstein, Ventura Books, London, 1977. (1st US edition included in The Mammoth Book of Frankenstein, Carroll & Graf, New York, 1994).
  2. Dracula Unborn, Corgi/Bailey Bros, London, 1977. (1st US edition, Walker & Co, (hardcover) New York, 1979.
  3. Masters of Terror 1: William Hope Hodgson. Edited and introduced. Corgi Books, London, 1977.
  4. The Vengeance of She. Sphere Books, London, 1978.
  5. The Revenge of Dracula, Bailey Bros, Folkestone, 1978. (1st US edition, Donald M. Grant Inc, Rhode Island (illustrated collectors' edition) 1978; 1st popular edition from Walker & Co (hardcover) New York, 1979.
  6. The Ants, Sphere Books, London, 1979. (1st US edition Signet Books (paperback), New York, 1980).
  7. Irish Masters of Fantasy. Introduced and edited. Wolfhound Press, Dublin, 1979.
  8. The Curse of Loch Ness, Sphere Books, London, 1979.
  9. The Fires of Lan-Kern. Bailey bros, Folkestone. 1980. (1st US edition, St Martin's (hardcover), New York, 1980.
  10. Dracula, My Love. Bailey Bros, Folkestone, 1980. (1st US edition Dell/Emerald paperback, New York, 1983).
  11. Zombie, Sphere Books, London, 1981. (1st US edition from St Martin's Press (paperback) New York, 1987.
  12. The Return of Raffles. Magnum/Methuen Books, London 1981.
  13. The Morgow Rises! Sphere Books, London, 1982.
  14. The Destroyers of Lan-Kern. Methuen, London, 1982.
  15. The Buccaneers of Lan-Kern, Methuen, London, 1983.
  16. Snowbeast! Sphere Books, London, 1983.
  17. Raven of Destiny, Methuen, London, 1984 (1st US edition Signet Books (paperback), New York, 1986.
  18. Kiss of the Cobra, Sphere Books, London, 1984.
  19. Swamp! Sphere Books, London, 1984 (1st US edition from St Martin's Press, (paperback) New York, 1989).
  20. Angelus! Panther Books, London, 1985.
  21. Nicor! Sphere Books, London, 1987.
  22. Trollnight, Sphere Books, London, 1987.
  23. My Lady of Hy Brasil and other Stories, Donald M. Grant Inc, Rhode Island, USA, 1987.
  24. Ravenmoon, Methuen, London, 1988 (1st US edition, Baen Books [paperback]) New York, 1988.
  25. Island of Shadows, Methuen/Mandarin, London, 1991.
  26. Aisling and other Irish Tales of Terror, Brandon Books, Ireland, 1992.

     From 1994 books from Peter Tremayne have been solely the Sister Fidelma mysteries. However two items have been published that are first world editions:

  1. An Gwels Nownek ha hwedhlow erell (The Hungry Grass and other tales) gans Peter Tremayne, Kesva an tavas kernewek, 1996. This is a collection of three short stories in the Cornish language.
  2. Li an ows gans Peter Tremayne, Kesva an Tavas Kernewek, 1997, is a Cornish version of a story "The Oath of the Saxon" which Peter published in English in 1992.

     For avid collectors of Peter's work it should be noted that as of February 1, 2002, as well as the 22 Sister Fidelma short stories Peter has published a further 47 short stories as Peter Tremayne; 1 short story as Peter MacAlan and 1 story as PBE. He has also published eight thriller novels as Peter MacAlan. These are:

  1. The Judas Battalion, W.H. Allen, London, 1983
  2. Airship, W.H. Allen, London, 1984
  3. The Confession, W.H. Allen, London, 1985
  4. Kitchener's Gold, W.H. Allen, London, 1986
  5. The Valkyrie Directive, W.H. Allen, London, 1987
  6. The Doomsday Decree, W.H. Allen, London, 1988
  7. Fireball, Severn House, London, 1991
  8. The Windsor Protocol, Severn House, London, 1993

     Overall, Peter's works have appeared in nearly a score of European languages as well as Japanese.

     His signed articles are almost too numerous to count and include several academic papers in the field of Celtic culture and history. His degrees are, of course, in Celtic Studies and he is a Fellow of the Royal History Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries; an Honorary Life Member of the London Association for Celtic Education, in which he served as both chairman and vice-president; Honorary Life President of the 1820 Society (Scotland). He was chairman of Scríf-Celt (Celtic Languages Book Fair) in 1985 and again in 1986; International chairman of The Celtic League (1988-1990) and has served on the committee of such groups as The Irish Brigades Association (New York), The Irish Literary Society etc. In 1987 he reserved an Irish Post Award for his contribution to Irish Historical Studies.

Peter started to write the Sister Fidelma mysteries as short stories in 1993 merely to illustrate how the Brehon laws worked and how a woman could be an advocate of the law system in 7th Century Ireland. The stories were so well received that Headline offered him an initial three-book contract to write novels featuring Sister Fidelma. These have proved extraordinarily popular and several critics have hailed Sister Fidelma as the natural successor to Brother Cadfael.

This is a compliment that Peter disarmingly rejects, pointing out that Fidelma and Cadfael are poles apart. Fidelma lives in a period 800 years before Cadfael and operates in a cultural and law system that is totally alien to the Cadfael settings. However, he does point out that he owes a surprising debt to Cadfael - the origin of the Peter Tremayne pseudonym.

Writing in Past Poisons: An Ellis Peters Memorial Anthology of Historical Crime (ed. by Maxim Jakubowski, Headline, 1998) Peter informs us that Ellis Peters, the creator of Brother Cadfael in 1977, was the pseudonym of Edith Pargetter, famous for her Welsh historical novels. Asked to review the first Cadfael novel A Morbid Taste for Bones in the Catholic Herald (London), in August, 1977, he thought that he could not write the review under his own name in case readers might think Ellis Peters was merely a reversal of Peter Berresford Ellis. He then created Peter Tremayne, using the name of a favourite spot in Cornwall, and a name which he developed into his fiction writing pseudonym.

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