Uncover the Living History Hidden Behind a Timeless Melody
Scarborough Fair: A Historical Novel Inspired by the Traditional Folk Song
Book One of the Heartsong Anthology by Keith Laughton
Step onto the atmospheric, windswept shores of 17th-century Yorkshire in this character-driven work of historical fiction inspired by the traditional folk song “Scarborough Fair.”
Tom and Elspeth’s story is one of love, sacrifice, conscience, and quiet resilience, unfolding amid the turbulent world of Restoration-era Yorkshire. From the bustling streets of Scarborough to the lonely coast of Filey, their lives become entwined with the impossible vows preserved in an ancient ballad.
“Keep the knot tied true.”
Now Available on Amazon
The Story Behind the Song
Traditional folk songs preserve echoes of lives, places, struggles, and loves from generations past. But the original stories behind many of them have been lost to time.
The Heartsong Anthology imagines the forgotten human stories that could possibly lie behind these enduring melodies. Each standalone historical novel begins with a traditional song and asks a simple question: What story might have given it a heart?
In Scarborough Fair, that question leads to the windswept coast of 17th-century Yorkshire, where Tom Craggs and Elspeth Hawthorne find their lives entwined with the impossible vows preserved in an ancient ballad. In Oh Shenandoah, Book Two arriving Spring 2027, the journey continues into the untamed American frontier, where another enduring melody becomes the doorway to a story of love, survival, and devotion.
This is living history—carefully researched historical fiction woven around traditional melodies, exploring enduring themes of conscience, sacrifice, love, and the quiet resilience of the human spirit.
Want to Read Scarborough Fair?
Interested in discovering the story behind the song? Review copies of Scarborough Fair are available through Booksprout for readers who would like to read the novel and share their honest opinion afterward.
About Keith Laughton & Market Cross Publishing
During his formative years, Keith Laughton developed a love for immersive historical fiction and the worlds of the past. That early fascination grew into a lifelong interest in heritage, cultural lore, and historical research. Today, he writes character-driven historical fiction that explores the quiet resilience of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.
Market Cross Publishing was founded in 2026 on a simple, timeless principle: a book’s word should be worth something. Named for the traditional market crosses that stood at the heart of historic communities, Market Cross publishes high-quality, concept-driven historical fiction shaped by history, conscience, and enduring human values. Its books are written for readers who appreciate clean, thoughtful storytelling and for public, private, and homeschool educators who value fiction that can open a window into the past.
