Stone Soup is the international literary magazine and website publishing writing and art by young people under the age of 14. Founded in 1973, we have published more creative work by children than any other publisher, selecting the very best from thousands of submissions every year. This volume of Historical Fiction is part of a series of books in which we bring together some of our young writers' finest work on particular themes.

The 35 stories and poem in this volume were written by authors between the ages of 10 and 13, selected for publication in Stone Soup magazine. Since its beginning in 1973, Stone Soup has published art, poetry and short fiction springing from the imaginations of young writers and artists. For all of us, adult and child, one of the keys to a love of history is story.

In this collection of historical fiction we range widely through historical periods and across continents. Past events are humanized and brought to life through the strength of storytelling, from the eruption of Vesuvius in Pompeii, to the voyage of the Titanic; from the building of the pyramids to battles of all periods-Hannibal and the Gauls, the Revolutionary wars, World War 2-and internment. Our young authors skilfully weave together fact and fiction to bring the events of the past alive, and relate them to their own lives and experiences. In the process we learn not only learn a little about historical events: in the weaving of the tales we also recognise the humanity and emotions of these people, separated from us only by dates and places. Turn these pages and step back in time with us.