- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: New English Library Ltd; New edition edition (21 May 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340689188
- ISBN-13: 978-0340689189
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.2 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 1.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,025,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
'This pacy novel is an ingenious contribution to the burgeoning genre of "what if?" history.' -- Mail on Sunday on STARS AND STRIPES 'Plausible as well as highly entertaining. Harrison does a masterful job of demonstrating how this became the first modern war, and changed forever the way nations conducted their affairs.' -- Science Fiction Chronicle on STARS AND STRIPES 'Verve and pace carry it through.' -- Time Out on STARS AND STRIPES 'The tight writing and grasp of the period's technology is impressive.' -- Yorkshire Post on STARS AND STRIPES
Time Out on STARS AND STRIPES
‘Verve and pace carry it through.'
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First Sentence
The USS San Jacinto rocked gently in the calm seas of the South Atlantic; blue water below, blue sky above. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
The USS San Jacinto rocked gently in the calm seas of the South Atlantic; blue water below, blue sky above. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the worst alternate history book I have ever read. Historically there are real liberties taken and takes points too far. Why would Britain want to reconquor America when it's main imperialism was economic not military? However, what really bugged me though were the characters. The British characters were all shown as idiots; sailors who couldn't sail, soldiers who were little better than butchers, Palmerston's main feature was his gout whilst Victoria was shown as an hysteric. Within a few chapters it became obvious the book was just an hoorah for the good ole US (and CS) of A.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a fan of Harry Harrison and "alternative" history I found this book a great disappointment. There is very little tension or excitement with predictable victory following predictable triumph. The outcome never seems in doubt. The Evil British are portrayed as being unbelievably inept and stupid monsters whilst the Good Americans are all cunning and capable. How the British Empire was ever built amazes me ! Worst still the Americans are always lucky with the right forces turning up at just the right time, again and again. Harry Turtledove's "Guns of the South" and "How few remain" are much more believable and exciting with neither side having to be vilified. I really wanted to enjoy this book but ended up finishing it as a chore. Undoubtedly the period has been well researched but Harry Harris's strong claims that this is how it really would have happened failed to convince me. If you are looking for an exciting read I would not recommend this book.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed everything else I have read from Harry Harrison, and am fascinated by alternative history, so I expected to like this book. I
didn't.
This is the first book in the "Stars and Stripes" trilogy which comprises
Stars and Stripes forever
Stars and Stripes in Peril
Stars and Stripes Triumphant
The starting premise - Britain blundering into war with the North in the American civil war - is horrifyingly plausible, which is not surprising as this very nearly happened. The first part of the book, up to that stage, is well done.
However, the author then abandons any attempt at either a realistic attempt to work through what might have happened, or to look sympathically at how the situation might have developed from the viewpoint of all sides. Instead, looking for a way to turn both the USA and CSA into heroes - including people who in real life were racist supporters of slavery - he casts the Brits as utterly incompetent and evil cretins who both sides can unite against. I was going to call it the Mel Gibson school of alternative history, except that this book almost makes "Braveheart" and "The Patriot" look pro-British by comparison.
Although it isn't a positive for me to read a book in which my country is shown in a bad light, this doesn't usually make it impossible for me to enjoy a work of fiction. Heaven only knows Britain has had its share of reverses and like every other country in the world has been responsible for some stupid or wicked mistakes.
However, the increasingly implausible sequence of one idiocy after another through which this book has the British blundering into war against both parties in the American civil war is over the top. The idea that a Commander in Chief of any civilised nation could simultaneously be moronic enough to commit the acts attributed to the Duke of Cambridge in this book, and clever enough to prevent his own government finding out what he had done and sacking him, is ludicrous beyond belief.
Harry Harrison is almost the last writer on earth I would have expected to prostitute his enormous talents by churning out such chauvinistic rubbish. One-sided nationalism is not usually his style at all, and his other work is usually far less sycophantic towards his fellow americans in general and supporters of slavery in particular. Harrison has written another book about a set of events which might have changed the course of the US Civil War/War between the States - "Rebel in Time" - which is far superior to this.
The market for this book is people who like America, hate the British, and are not too bothered about historical plausibility. So it may sell some copies in the USA, and probably a few in Ireland (though as I'm married to an Irish catholic girl I think I'm qualified to say that not everyone in Ireland falls into these categories.) In the rest of the world most of those who don't like the Brits don't like the USA either, and they would be even less sympathetic to the Confederates.
For anyone who is looking for a good account of how the American Civil war might have gone wrong, try Harry Turtledove's "The Guns of the South," or "How Few Remain" and the "Great War," "American Empire," and "Settling Accounts" series which follow it. Or indeed Harry Harrison's "Rebel in Time".
didn't.
This is the first book in the "Stars and Stripes" trilogy which comprises
Stars and Stripes forever
Stars and Stripes in Peril
Stars and Stripes Triumphant
The starting premise - Britain blundering into war with the North in the American civil war - is horrifyingly plausible, which is not surprising as this very nearly happened. The first part of the book, up to that stage, is well done.
However, the author then abandons any attempt at either a realistic attempt to work through what might have happened, or to look sympathically at how the situation might have developed from the viewpoint of all sides. Instead, looking for a way to turn both the USA and CSA into heroes - including people who in real life were racist supporters of slavery - he casts the Brits as utterly incompetent and evil cretins who both sides can unite against. I was going to call it the Mel Gibson school of alternative history, except that this book almost makes "Braveheart" and "The Patriot" look pro-British by comparison.
Although it isn't a positive for me to read a book in which my country is shown in a bad light, this doesn't usually make it impossible for me to enjoy a work of fiction. Heaven only knows Britain has had its share of reverses and like every other country in the world has been responsible for some stupid or wicked mistakes.
However, the increasingly implausible sequence of one idiocy after another through which this book has the British blundering into war against both parties in the American civil war is over the top. The idea that a Commander in Chief of any civilised nation could simultaneously be moronic enough to commit the acts attributed to the Duke of Cambridge in this book, and clever enough to prevent his own government finding out what he had done and sacking him, is ludicrous beyond belief.
Harry Harrison is almost the last writer on earth I would have expected to prostitute his enormous talents by churning out such chauvinistic rubbish. One-sided nationalism is not usually his style at all, and his other work is usually far less sycophantic towards his fellow americans in general and supporters of slavery in particular. Harrison has written another book about a set of events which might have changed the course of the US Civil War/War between the States - "Rebel in Time" - which is far superior to this.
The market for this book is people who like America, hate the British, and are not too bothered about historical plausibility. So it may sell some copies in the USA, and probably a few in Ireland (though as I'm married to an Irish catholic girl I think I'm qualified to say that not everyone in Ireland falls into these categories.) In the rest of the world most of those who don't like the Brits don't like the USA either, and they would be even less sympathetic to the Confederates.
For anyone who is looking for a good account of how the American Civil war might have gone wrong, try Harry Turtledove's "The Guns of the South," or "How Few Remain" and the "Great War," "American Empire," and "Settling Accounts" series which follow it. Or indeed Harry Harrison's "Rebel in Time".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Easily the worst alt-history I've ever read
As a long time reader of Harry Harrison's work, I was stunned by how appalling this book was. Ridiculous characterisation (by all means castigate the British officer class for... Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2009 by D. P. Evans
Surprisingly plausible--especially in terms of Anglo-American 'naval...
An entertaining read, tongue-in-cheek in places; the fact that it seems to have thoroughly upset so many British readers suggests it's hit a mark... Read more
Published on 4 July 2007 by Historian
Brilliant!
An excellent finish.
Harry Harrison brings the trilogy to an enjoyable close. Some may slate this book for not being precisely accurate. Read more
Harry Harrison brings the trilogy to an enjoyable close. Some may slate this book for not being precisely accurate. Read more
Published on 20 July 2006 by D. O. BRIEN
This book could ruin your entire day
Since I like Harrison's other work and have been hooked into the alternative history thing by Harry Turtledove, I thought I would give this a try.
I wish I hadn't. Read more
I wish I hadn't. Read more
Published on 7 April 2006
Oh dear, this is bad
I thought that i would just have a go at listing the historical problems i have with this"alternative"history, and a few literary questions.
1.The Trent Incident. Read more
1.The Trent Incident. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2004 by Mr. M. J. Casson
Just take this simple test...
The best examples of the "alternate history" genre use a small, feasible change to send history down another route. Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2004 by M. J. Bourne
Forever a Disappointment
If you are looking for a viable, believable and enjoyable book on a possible alternative history, this book is not it. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2003 by Martin Stephen Pike
Not one of Harry Harrison's better books
I enjoyed everything else I had read from Harry Harrison, and am fascinated by alternative history, so I expected to like this book. I didn't. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2003
Alternate History means 'Alternate'
First up let me admit that this is NOT an impartial review, as Harry Harrison is someone I know, and I'm part of the team behind the HH website... Read more
Published on 26 April 2001 by Paul Tomlinson
And with a bound they were free........
I am a fan of "alternative" histories (Robert Harris's "Fatherland", Harry Turtledove's "Great War" series etc) and as a fan of Mr Harrisons previous... Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2000 by jarrod.nash@unilever.com
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