{"title":"Michael Hingston","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the captivating world of \u003cem\u003eMichael Hingston\u003c\/em\u003e, a talented author renowned for his unique forays into the realms of history and narrative exploration. One of his standout works, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Kingdom of Redonda\u003c\/strong\u003e, offers an intriguing glimpse into a forgotten micronation with a story that stretches far beyond pure history, weaving in elements of myth and wonder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHingston’s meticulously researched writing style not only educates but also entertains, making historical narratives accessible and engaging for all readers. His books provide a fascinating dive into lesser-known aspects of the past, capturing your imagination and transporting you to eccentric and exciting historical settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a history buff or a newcomer to the genre seeking something refreshingly different, Michael Hingston's works are sure to enthral and inform, shedding light on the extraordinary stories that populate our world's history.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-kingdom-of-redonda-by-michael-hingston-9781771964159","title":"The Kingdom of Redonda","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShortlisted for the 2023 Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn his fifteenth birthday, in the summer of 1880, future science-fiction writer M.P. Shiel sailed with his father and the local bishop from their home in the Caribbean out to the nearby island of Redonda—where, with pomp and circumstance, he was declared the island's king. A few years later, when Shiel set sail for a new life in London, his father gave him some advice: Try not to be strange. It was almost as if the elder Shiel knew what was coming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTry Not to Be Strange: The Curious History of the Kingdom of Redonda\u003c\/em\u003e tells, for the first time, the complete history of Redonda's transformation from an uninhabited, guano-encrusted island into a fantastical and international kingdom of writers. With a cast of characters including forgotten sci-fi novelists, alcoholic poets, vegetarian publishers, Nobel Prize frontrunners, and the bartenders who kept them all lubricated while angling for the throne themselves, Michael Hingston details the friendships, feuds, and fantasies that fuelled the creation of one of the oddest and most enduring micronations ever dreamt into being.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePart literary history, part travelogue, part quest narrative, this cautionary tale about what happens when bibliomania escapes the shelves and stacks is as charming as it is peculiar—and blurs the line between reality and fantasy so thoroughly that it may never be entirely restored.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46850315714796,"sku":"9781771964159","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/24685373482818.jpg?v=1759081008"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/michael-hingston.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}