A RUDHEATH-BORN novelist and historian now has his fictional sights firmly trained on Stalinist Russia.
Chris Robinson, who was born and raised in Rudheath, writes both fiction and non-fiction, but his latest project is most certainly in the former camp.
The Renegade, published on Saturday, August 9, aims to give readers a different perspective on World War Two but adopting the perspective of a Russian officer at the Battle of Stalingrad.
The story is set in 1943 at the closing stages of the battle between Nazi Germany and the forces of then-Stalinist Russia.
The rebellious Major Nikolai Solov is tasked with a new assignment to open up a second front with the involvement of British commandos.
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Chris says Major Solov’s experiences challenge both his loyalties and his motives, leading him to face various dilemmas and make some very unenviable decisions.
The Renegade is now available to buy on Amazon.
The 69-year-old added: “I hope this book will shed a new light for some people, helping them to see things a bit differently.
“I wanted to educated people and make them think as well as entertain them.
“What inspired me initially for this book was war films, where there are many stiff-upper-lipped British heroes and tough, hard-edged John Wayne-style American heroes.
“But I thought, hang on a minute: Russia lost millions of people in the war, so there must have been a few heroes there.
“I wanted to do something featuring a Russian hero because, surely, they’re not all bad.
“Horrific things have happened in the past in Russia, and even in today’s world, but amongst all that mayhem, there are still some good people around.”
Chris’ previous books include The Road to Recovery, a novel about drug addiction based on the life of a close friend of his, and Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay, a history of the anti-poll tax campaign which began in the late 1980s, centring on his own experience campaigning in Northwich.
Once a pupil at Rudheath Primary School, Chris now lives in Merseyside, and wrote his first novel when he was just 11 years old.
He added: “I have always been interested in history since I very young. It is just as important to me as politics.
“I wrote my first novel at age 11, and it was appalling, but writing is something I have always loved.”
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