James Holland Books In Order

Publication Order of Duty Calls Books

Publication Order of Sergeant Jack Tanner Books

Publication Order of The War in the West Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Ladybird Expert Books

James Holland

James Holland is an English popular author, historian, and broadcaster from the United Kingdom, and he spends most of his time writing and talking about the Second World War. He has written both novels and nonfiction history books that focus on that same period, and he has also presented documentaries for radio and television. Beyond his writing, Holland helps run the annual Chalke Valley History Festival as a co founder and co chair, and he co hosts a podcast called We Have Ways Of Making You Talk with Al Murray.

What makes Holland’s work stand out is the way he builds characters and main figures inside his stories, making them feel like real people rather than just names on a page. He has a natural ability to shape compelling plots that keep readers interested without ever feeling forced or overly complicated, and that quality turns what could be dry history into something genuinely fun to read. His narratives move along at a good pace, and he knows how to balance facts with storytelling so that neither part drags down the other.

On 20 August 2025, the Russian government placed sanctions on Holland as a direct response to UK sanctions placed on Russian companies and individuals connected to the war in Ukraine. That action was not about his writing or his books but about political measures between governments. Even so, the news became part of his public profile alongside his long career as a historian and broadcaster.

Holland shows no signs of slowing down or stepping away from his work. He continues to write, broadcast, and co host his podcast with the same energy as before. New books and projects are likely already in motion behind the scenes. Readers can expect more stories and history from him for a long time to come.

Early and Personal Life

Born in 1970, and growing up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, James Holland was surrounded by a family that clearly valued books and ideas. His older brother, Tom Holland, also became a writer and historian, which suggests that reading and storytelling were a normal part of daily life at home. As a young boy, he attended Chafyn Grove School in Salisbury, where a love for history likely began to take root in a natural way.

He later moved on to King’s School in Bruton, followed by St Chad’s College at Durham University, where he earned a BA degree in history back in 1992. Those school and university years gave him plenty of time to read widely and figure out which parts of the past excited him the most. He did not jump straight into fame as an author, but instead let his knowledge build slowly through study and curiosity.

Over time, Holland found his own voice by sticking to the subjects he truly cared about, especially the Second World War. He grew as an author by writing regularly, learning from each book, and staying open to new ways of telling stories. Any popular writer can take a similar path, starting with genuine interest, putting in the years of reading and practice, and trusting that a clear personal voice will eventually show up on the page.

Writing Career

Holland has built a writing career that includes both made up stories and true history books, with almost all of them tied to the Second World War. He has not limited himself to just one type of writing, moving between novels and nonfiction with ease over the years. His work as a presenter for radio and television has also grown alongside his books, though his main focus remains putting words on the page.

He continues to write even now, with no sign that he plans to stop anytime soon. Holland also helps run the Chalke History Festival, the largest all history festival in the UK, as a co founder and programme director. And when he is not writing or organizing events, he co hosts the We Have Ways Of Making You Talk podcast with Al Murray, showing that his writing career is just one part of a much larger, ongoing body of work.

Blood of Honour

James Holland published the historical novel ‘Blood of Honour’ on July 5, 2010. The book came out through Bantam Press as the third entry in his ‘Sergeant Jack Tanner’ series. It is a Second World War story written by Holland.

The story itself takes place on the island of Crete in May 1941. Tanner has already angered a local Cretan leader named Alopex, who now wants him dead, and a difficult new officer has also just arrived. When German forces invade, Tanner and his unit, the 2nd Battalion Yorks Rangers, fight hard in close combat against paratroopers near Hiraklion. After a short lived success and another retreat, Tanner ends up swimming for shore with enemy bombers overhead, leaving Alopex as his only possible hope for help.

Readers will find this book hard to put down once the fighting starts on Crete. The story moves quickly and keeps a person guessing about who will survive next. Anyone who likes war stories with real tension will likely enjoy this one. It is a solid choice for a quiet weekend of reading.

The War in the West

James Holland published the nonfiction military history book ‘The War in the West’ on May 4, 2017. The book came out through Bantam Press as the second volume in a series that shares its name. It is a factual work written by Holland.

In the second book of his World War Two series, James Holland covers the major turning points from 1941 to 1943. These include Germany’s attack on Russia, America joining the war, the bombing raids over Germany, the North Africa fighting, and the Battle of the Atlantic. He mixes well known history with personal stories from letters and diaries, and also looks at factories, farms, and supply lines behind the fighting.

Many will appreciate how this book mixes big battles with real people’s letters and diaries. The story of the war years 1941 to 1943 feels clear and never boring. Anyone curious about World War Two will find something new on every page. It is a solid choice for learning history without feeling like a textbook.