Season 10, Episode 8 - Cecil Beckett
In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, host Colin Mustful interviews Cecil Beckett, winner of the 3rd Annual Short Story Contest and author of The Blood of Englishmen. The story delves into the life of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, focusing on the final year of his life during World War I. Cecil shares his inspiration for the story, the unique challenges of early aviation, and the Red Baron's internal struggles following a life-changing head injury.
The conversation explores the craft of writing, including Cecil's minimalist approach to storytelling and his journey from medicine to creative writing. Listeners will also hear about Cecil’s experiences growing up in rural New Zealand, his life in Auckland, and his passion for short fiction.
Tune in for a fascinating discussion on history, storytelling, and the human conflicts behind one of World War I’s most iconic figures.
About the Author
Cecil Beckett was born and raised in rural New Zealand. He enjoys writing short fiction about the past and the present. His short stories placed second in both the 2020 and 2021 Victoria Odyssey House Short Story Competition. He lives in Auckland with his wife and their cat.
About the Anthology
Across continents and centuries, the stories in The Blood of Englishmen illuminate lives lived at the margins of official history—moments of crisis, courage, and quiet transformation that ripple outward through families, communities, and nations. From the aftermath of earthquakes and wars to the intimate revolutions of faith, art, and survival, these award-winning tales bring forgotten voices into sharp, unforgettable focus.
A detective searches for meaning in a city consumed by fire. A mother and son cross the desert, haunted by memory and belief. Pioneers, musicians, aviators, and dreamers confront injustice, loss, and the shifting tides of history. Each story offers a window into a world both familiar and strange, revealing resilience and hope in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Blood of Englishmen is a celebration of storytelling’s power to recover what has been overlooked and to connect us across time and place. This anthology invites readers to encounter history not as a distant past, but as a living presence—urgent, intimate, and enduring.
