May, 2025 – Historical fiction lovers and adventure seekers alike will be drawn into the vividly imagined world of A Twice Burning Candle At Full Pelt, the latest novel by seasoned storyteller Titch Laudrigan. Set in 19th-century Shanghai during one of the bloodiest uprisings in world history—the Taiping Rebellion—this novel charts the daring journey of American adventurer Frederick Townsend Ward, whose boldness and unrelenting spirit helped shift the course of Chinese history.
Between 1860 and 1862, as Imperial China teetered on the brink of collapse, Ward entered the fray not as a statesman or diplomat, but as a mercenary with an uncanny ability to lead. Told from the first-person perspective of a junior officer in Ward’s ragtag forces, Laudrigan’s narrative immerses readers in the chaos, color, and complexity of unconventional warfare. From narrow escapes to whiskey-fueled camaraderie, the book captures not only the historical scope of the conflict but also the raw human energy driving it.
A retired Navy journalist and former construction business owner, Laudrigan has long been captivated by history’s hidden figures. A self-described “military brat” with a love of books and distant lands, he brings both grit and nuance to his storytelling. Known for previous works such as From Mago’s Cellar and Hiraeth, he now offers perhaps his most visceral and immersive work yet.
Early praise for the novel highlights its authenticity and rich character work. One editorial review described it as “a swashbuckling yarn… not for the faint of heart… The narrator’s voice is of the times, dry and florid, placing the reader deep into a forgotten world where valor, recklessness, and sheer force of will reign supreme.”
Blending history, action, and introspection, A Twice Burning Candle At Full Pelt will resonate with readers who long for well-researched fiction that does not shy away from the brutal beauty of the past. It’s a story of men pushed to their limits—and of one man, in particular, who burned brightly in the shadows of empire.
