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Amazon.co.uk Review
American editor Robert Cowley has brought together those whom his meaty book dubs "the world's foremost military historians" to describe details of significant human conflicts and to construct plausible "counterfactual" events. The balance between the actual and the speculative varies between essays but the counterfactual is always used as "a tool to enhance the understanding of history".
Beginning with the siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC and ending with the Cold War, the contributors posit some amazing historical alternatives. Christianity and Islam, for example, may never have existed and Hitler might have been killed in the First World War. Generally taking a "Western" (sometimes specifically American) perspective, the far-reaching repercussions of real and imagined events are shown. Information gems include the fact that Genghis Khan's soldiers wore silk underwear and that the Kaiser almost met his end in a Wild West show stunt in 1889. What If? reveals that the path of history is a mix of action, reaction and chance. As the editor writes, "milliseconds can influence centuries" and "the difference can be as slight as the path of a bullet". A book of both facts and opinions, it can be argued with as well as learnt from. It might provide perfect fodder for an intellectual dinner party--although pondering the frightening unpredictability of past and future could damage your appetite! --Karen Tiley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"'Anyone interested in military history or indeed history in general will find it fascinating to read.' Spectator 'Pure, almost illicit pleasure... What makes these essays tremendously diverting is how little they strain one's sense of credibility.' Andrew Roberts, Sunday Telegraph 'These informed, elegant essays authoritively analyse incidents over the past 3,000 years.' The Times 'One of the delights of the book is that broad speculative analysis is built from a mass of exciting detail. This make for a top-class bed-side read.' Financial Times"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a book, this was certainly hard to put down and was a quick read, the various scenarios it presents are very interesting, although the great emphasis on 1770's America should perhaps be highlighted on the book's cover. There was one greater frustration though, each scenario is built up vividly but there is a lack of detail as to WHAT the consequences of an alternate history might have been. You end up finishing the book feeling you have been on a roller-coaster ride where none of the drops lived up to the expectation built up in the climb. A good introduction to alternate history, but no more.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a history student myself and with an interest in alternative histories and what might have been, I found this book to be very entertaining. The book covers scenarios such as Thirteen ways the Americans could have lots the revolution, a Roman Victory over the Germanic tribes in the Teutoburg Forest, a victorious Spanish armada, a failed D-Day, and the cold war turning hot at the Berlin Wall in 1961 to name but a few. In each scenario events are pin pointed in which history could have diverted off into an alternative path. It is thoroughly entertaining to read, although I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed that the alternatives weren't explored in a bit more detail. Nevertheless, the book is an interesting and entertaining read to anyone with an interest in history.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
well, i just think this is a superbly interesting book, perfect for dipping in to and re-visiting. If more people were to read this sort of book on trains etc. it would represent a considerable intellectual advance over puzzles and glossly magazines. its NOT a university text book, and to criticise it from that point of view is to mis-understand the aim of the book.
Also, to complain that the consequences of various alternatives are not fully fleshed out is a dire mistake. The book allows a lot of room for the reader to fill in the blanks- for instance, the wonderfully written little segment on the mongols and the death of Ogadai that saved Europe perfectly explains how our continent could have been culturally decimated without trying to piant that particular picture in full.
Another interesting element to that particular story is the destruction of the Caliph of Baghdad by the Mongols. The supreme head of Islam was put in a sack and "trampled to paste" by wild horses. the caliphate has never been restored...how would christians have coped had the pope suffered the same fate?
anyway, questions like that are left to your imagination, which is a pleasant and pleasing thing to get from a book.
the last few chapters are slightly below power, and the over-emphasis on america is slightly grating. But the book clearly believes that the various cultural traits of people can be traced back to historical events- for instance, Russian xenophobia comes from the attacks of the Mongols centuries ago, whilst German aggression is put down to that nation never having experienced Roman rule etc etc. its a highly debatable thought, but to go with it a minute only a young, historically naive nation like America would have the temerity to revise history and re-present it in such an interesting fashion.
Also, to complain that the consequences of various alternatives are not fully fleshed out is a dire mistake. The book allows a lot of room for the reader to fill in the blanks- for instance, the wonderfully written little segment on the mongols and the death of Ogadai that saved Europe perfectly explains how our continent could have been culturally decimated without trying to piant that particular picture in full.
Another interesting element to that particular story is the destruction of the Caliph of Baghdad by the Mongols. The supreme head of Islam was put in a sack and "trampled to paste" by wild horses. the caliphate has never been restored...how would christians have coped had the pope suffered the same fate?
anyway, questions like that are left to your imagination, which is a pleasant and pleasing thing to get from a book.
the last few chapters are slightly below power, and the over-emphasis on america is slightly grating. But the book clearly believes that the various cultural traits of people can be traced back to historical events- for instance, Russian xenophobia comes from the attacks of the Mongols centuries ago, whilst German aggression is put down to that nation never having experienced Roman rule etc etc. its a highly debatable thought, but to go with it a minute only a young, historically naive nation like America would have the temerity to revise history and re-present it in such an interesting fashion.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
WHAT IF? OR SO WHAT!
This book was a rare English venture into the world of 'counterfactualism'. The authors probably wish they had never embarked on the journey.
The late A.J.P. Read more
The late A.J.P. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Stephen Cooper
Dull and Pointless
This is one of the worst books I've ever attempted to read.
It is full of dull and uninspiring analysis of potential turning points in history with very little depth, and... Read more
It is full of dull and uninspiring analysis of potential turning points in history with very little depth, and... Read more
Published 17 months ago by dave
Enjoyable History
An enjoyable romp through History, and an exploration of "might have been", if for example the British soldier had shot George Washington when he had him in his sights. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Glosblue
What if American historians didn't have a skewed perspective?
'What If?' is a series of speculations on how world history might have taken a different turn but for certain tight contingencies, usually in battle. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2009 by A. Warmington
Superb read!
A cracking romp through the what ifs of military history. Perhaps a tad too much on the American revolution, although that is inevitable given the mainly US contributors. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2009 by M. C. Vibert
Not just for history anoraks!
An excellent read, never gets too technical or detailed to turn off the casual non-expert reader. Great both to learn more about the actual events and to think about the impact of... Read more
Published on 20 April 2008 by Refusenik
Fascinating and thought provoking
Most fans of history have often asked themselves "What if" certain historical events had turned out differently. What is [...] attack on the Soviet Union had succeeded? Read more
Published on 12 May 2007 by M. McManus
Not history but entertainment.
I read this book expecting a work of well researched history and read it alongside Creasey's Decisive Battles. I was disappointed. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2004 by El Loro
Disappointing
What if? What if the authors had spent more time in developing alternative scenarios rather than in presenting the historical background? Read more
Published on 10 April 2003
Disappointing
I'd been anticipating reading this book for some time, and as soon as I got it I dived in - and what a pity! Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2003 by James Dominic Cheesman
Listmania!
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