Author Interview: Michael Stolle

 

Today, I’m chatting with Michael Stolle about his historical novel The Duke and the Spirits of the Past. Set against the intrigue and shifting loyalties of seventeenth-century France, the novel explores ambition, betrayal, revenge, and the darker side of human nature through the troubled figure of Henri de Beauvoir. Join us as Michael discusses his fascination with the age of Cardinal Richelieu, the challenges of creating morally complex characters, and how he brings the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the seventeenth century vividly to life.

But first, let's check out 
The Duke and the Spirits of the Past

Publication Date: June 1st, 2026

Publisher: independently published

Pages: 427

Genre: Historical Fiction

A gripping historical novel full of intrigue, dark secrets, and deadly struggles for power!

France in the 17th century – an age of conflict, love, and honour, where any means are justified in the pursuit of power. 

Henri de Beauvoir is a man who will stop at nothing — even making a pact with the devil — to achieve his sinister ambitions. As the ruthless cousin of the Marquis de Beauvoir and Duke of Hertford, he spins a perilous web of deception, intrigue, and betrayal to bring about his cousin’s downfall.

A secret enemy from the past threatens to destroy the Marquis.

Danger lurks in the shadows — always ready to strike.

An unexpected love may change everything.

When the fate of the Marquis hangs in the balance, a deadly game of cat and mouse unfolds — one where every move could prove fatal. Can Henri carry out his dark plans, or will the secrets buried in his past become his downfall?

The Duke and the Spirits of the Past is set in seventeenth-century France, a period rich in political intrigue and shifting loyalties. What first inspired you to tell a story set during this fascinating era?

Years ago, I read a biography about Cardinal Duke Richelieu, and I was fascinated by his rare combination of intellectual prowess, diplomatic skills and unwavering dedication to France combined with his iron determination to do - whatever it took – to reach his goals. This inspired me to study this period in depth and discover how fascinating it truly was.

Henri de Beauvoir is described as a man willing to make a pact with the devil to achieve his ambitions. What drew you to creating such a dark and morally complex character?

This is in fact the last book of a series describing the conflict of two heirs to the de Beauvoir legacy – the eternal conflict between good and evil. Henri incorporates the dark side of mankind and yet, he remains human, with his burning ambition, hatred and unfilled desires. His pact with the devil fascinated and challenged me as writer: how to describe and create this split personality without falling into the trap of writing ‘fantasy trash’. 

The novel explores themes of power, betrayal, and revenge. Why do you think these themes continue to resonate so strongly with modern readers?

I guess that’s easy to answer, it’s a theme that has been accompanying mankind probably since the first fights broke out which cave was the better one and who should become chief of the tribe hunting down the mammoths. In my mind it’s the fight between good and evil that will probably never end and I think watching the daily news confirms my view.

Henri's past appears to play a crucial role in shaping both his actions and his fate. How important is the idea that we can never truly escape our past?

The human mind is very complex, only a few people have the power to leave traumatic events behind and set their minds free from past burdens – or past happiness they lost. In Henri’s case he never ever wanted to leave the past behind, in fact a glorified dream of the past that never existed. In truth he has the character is a gambler, it’s the excitement of risk and the feeling of triumph and annihilation of enemies that drives him.

The relationship between Henri and the Marquis de Beauvoir lies at the heart of the story. What interested you most about exploring conflict within a family rather than between strangers?

I’d like to answer something intellectual and deep, but it came as a spontaneous idea, rather as a plan. When I continued writing my book, I discovered the benefit of this set-up as it is ideal to keep the suspense and highlight the abyss between good and evil.

You have sold more than 100,000 copies of your books and have spent years bringing history to life for readers. What is it about historical fiction that continues to inspire you as a writer?

Let me brag a bit first, it’s 250.000 copies by now as I started also publishing in French and Spanish. I was able to check and correct the French translation myself as I’m fluent in French (which helps a lot for the writing of my books and checking the accuracy of the historic context). Once I started to feel comfortable in this genre, I simply continued to write. But I’m telling you a secret: as my wife complained that I should write something contemporary, I also published four cosy crime stories under the pen name Martha Fischer.

The novel combines historical detail with elements of suspense and psychological conflict. How do you balance historical authenticity with the demands of a fast-paced narrative?

This was never a challenge for me. When I start writing a book, I check the historic context, and details, and then… I travel there in my mind, I live there, I can hear, smell and see the people, the horses, the food, smoke of the canons, the lingering smell of perfume. Then it all simply happens and I write down what I see and feel. Simple 😉

Your author bio mentions that history has taught you that the essence of humanity remains unchanged across the centuries. How does that belief influence the way you develop your characters?

I’ve read tons of historic novels in my life. Some excellent, some soon forgotten, some bad (to my taste). There’s always a challenge on how to approach history. Will you stay close to how people spoke and behaved – that’s not always a good match if you want to entertain your readers – or are you using ‘modern’ behaviour and language, but that’s problematic as our way of thinking, our sets of values are mostly very different to those in the past. I try to use a compromise, the people at that time saw themselves as being ‘modern’ and educated and clearly they also loved banter and fun. But I try to respect the mindset of the 17th century, the first doubts about religion and the role of the monarch, the inventions and discoveries that in fact destroyed the view on a world that had been cemented for centuries.

Every historical novelist has a favourite part of the research process. What discoveries about seventeenth-century France most surprised or fascinated you while writing this novel?

My novels make the reader travel all over England and the continent, even to the colonies. When I continued developing my plots, I discovered how ‘small’ and  international the world was in fact at that time already - in the big and in the port cities and on the level of aristocracy and politics. Modern science confirms that we’re all in fact somehow related by common foreign ancestors and I realised how true this is.

For readers opening The Duke and the Spirits of the Past for the first time, what do you hope they will take away from this tale of ambition, love, dark secrets, and redemption?

I truly hope they’ll enjoy it. I don’t want to educate readers, I want them to read my books and feel that they had a great time reading it. If it makes some readers realise how precious love, freedom and friendship is, so much, so better.

A huge thank you to Michael Stolle for taking the time to chat with me today and for giving us such a fascinating insight into The Duke and the Spirits of the Past. It’s been wonderful learning more about Henri de Beauvoir, Michael’s passion for seventeenth-century history, and his approach to blending historical authenticity with suspense and psychological conflict. I hope you’ve enjoyed the interview as much as I have, and that you’re tempted to step into this world of ambition, dark secrets, family rivalries, and intrigue for yourself.

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Michael Stolle

Michael Stolle, award-winning and best-selling author, was born and educated in Europe. His enduring passion for history has deeply enriched his understanding of the human experience. Through his exploration, he has arrived at a powerful insight: the core essence of humanity is timeless, remaining as relevant today as it was in the 17th century.

Stolle started his writing journey in 2012, and since then, he has enthralled readers worldwide, selling over 250,000 copies of his books. His compelling narratives offer an immersive experience that breathes life into the richness of history, inviting readers to engage with the past in an intimate and vivid way.

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