Product Description Once too often in the War Between the States, Great Britain?s support for the Confederacy takes it to the brink of war with the Union. The escape of a British-built Confederate ironclad finally ignites the heap of combustible animosities and national interests. When the U.S. Navy seizes it in British waters, the ensuing battle spirals into all-out war. Napoleon III eagerly joins the British and declares war on the United States. Meanwhile, treason uncoils in the North as the anti-war Democrats, known as Copperheads, plot to overthrow the U.S. government and take the Midwest into the Confederacy.
Britannia?s fist strikes quickly and hard. Along with the Canadians, the British invade New York and Maine, and the Royal Navy strikes at the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The clash at Charleston is history?s first great naval battle between ironclads. Meanwhile, a French army marches into Texas from Mexico, and the French Navy attacks the Gulf coast. In the Midwest, the Copperheads rise in revolt to liberate Confederate POWs and arm them with stockpiled weapons. Never has the Republic been in such peril.
Britannia?s Fist brilliantly describes not just a war of stroke and counterstroke but one in which new technologies?repeating weapons, observation balloons, advances in naval ordnance and armament?become vital factors in the struggle of the young country against the Old World?s empires. For one of the great missed stories of the Civil War was not the advance of military technology but its impediment by incompetence, disorganization, and in some serious cases outright refusal to contemplate anything innovative. This is also a war in which the Union finds a ?combat multiplier? when it organizes history?s first national-level intelligence effort. Britannia?s Fist is the compelling story of powerful historical personalities who come together as the Union goes into total war mobilization in the fight for its life.
Good Beginning but Kind of Short November 22, 2008 Understanding that in an 'Alternate History' book, you have to spend a considerable amount of time setting up the scenario, a 226 page (body of the story) first book of a trilogy, doesn't give much time for anything else. Having set-up at least three major and three minor areas of interest, it seems hard to figure out how he will settle these all in 500- 600 pages.
He has given us a glimpse at the major battle areas of Portland, Maine and Charleston South Carolina; also we know there will be a battle somewhere in the Hudson Valley between New York City and Albany. But he has hinted at a major battle between armies in the Chattanooga Tennessee area, the French attacking New Orleans, the rebellion of the Copperheads in the midwest, and a British Naval assault on the Chesapeake Bay and Washinton DC. This is a great set of scenarios, but how can it all be done in two short books?
Harry Turtledove, the consummate Alternate Historian, when he covered this period, took over 1400 pages and could have written double. Assuming that even though it say Civil War to World War, he's not talking about running this up to 1914-1918, but turning the Civil War into a World War. Even then, to do a detailed job, he's going to have to shortchange someone somewhere. Maybe he'll do what other authors have done and just write what needs to be written and not worry about making this a trilogy.
NOTE: one small but very annoying mistake...on all the maps in the book, the Isle Anocosti is mislabeled as P.E.I, Prince Edward Island is just north of the Nova Scotia - New Brunswick isthmus. Poor proofing.
Zeb Kantrowitz
Britannia's Fist Brief Review November 10, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying that if you haven't read any of Peter Tsouras other works, do so post haste. Mr. Tsouras is a historian of excellence and a writer of some little merit. The charge has been laid by others that this book is dry and has a text book feel. I do not agree, but it is written less like a novel and more like a history than other comparable books.
This book is the first in a proposed trilogy (at least) dealing with how the American Civil War led to a far larger world war. It is well written and researched. It lays out the point of differentiation and lets us see how some small changes make large effects. I do not, for one, think that this book or series will turn into "ameriwank" as has been suggested. The history we work with is too limited to allow this to occur. This same history already had many roads not taken, and this simply shows how it could have changed the world.
I recommend that this book be picked up by anyone with an interest in the American Civil War or alternate history tastes. It will whet your appetite for more!
Britannia's Fist November 1, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A very good tale about how a war with Britain and France starting in 1863 might have gone. Like most of Paul Trouras' books this reads like a modern history with footnotes and the characters are all based on real people.
The descriptions of combat are intense and the explanations of the difference between the English and American Weapons is interesting but the infighting on the American Side over the issuing of repeater weapons and keeping to the older more traditional seems a bit to contrived.
It it said that this book is part of a trilogy on this subject and the next book is eagerly awaited as it has started a good story line and
A new novel and style for Tsouras October 27, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Tsoursas changes pace from his normal highly technical scenarios for a more story based format, but doesn't leave behind his keen eye for detail and accuracy. He makes this transition rather smoothly, not reaching the level of other authors in the genre but creating a real page turner. This is similar to his short story in the Dixie Victorious novel which was based off the Trent Affair, this novel is based off of the Laird Rams affair. Two ships were created for the Confederates in violation of international treaties. In our version of history they backed off after diplomatic pressure from the US. In this version they don't take the threats seriously and US takes action by sinking one of the ships before it can be transferred to the CSA triggering a declaration of war from the British government.
This book differs from others in the genre in that it offers a lot of background information, a majority of the action in the latter half of the book. It does a good job of letting the reader understand the political situation and introducing key characters, some fictional most behind the scenes. Little attention is given to General Lee, Longstreet, or Grant. A lot of attention is put to Sharpe, head of the first dedicated Military Intelligence Department, the well written but entirely fictional "Big Jim" Smoke (Copperhead Leader), or Garnet Wolseley the unofficial intelligence agent and observer for the British. This gives a clearer image of the complicated political climate of that era. Especially the Union, that is on a lot shakier feet that people realize. With rioters, copperheads, and other various anti-war democrats all wanting an end to the war and impeach Lincoln.
The book is lighter on the action that some will like. Most of the land battles save Maine are lightly touched on. The main action sequences involve the race to stop the Laird Rams from reaching the South, the British invasion of Maine and NE states, and a British task force attacking the blockade on Charleston. A majority of the book deals with the fledgling Union military intelligence department and how much potential advantage it has, the Copperheads, antiwar Union rebels planning to release POW's and arming them with stolen guns, and British soldiers carefully planning their actions based off of current intelligence. The battles of the South are mostly skimmed over. The Confederates seem to be wary after their losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, but get their second wind after Britain takes actions. They make some aggressive strikes and taking the initiative and putting some Union armies on the defensive. The French have little involvement, declaring war after the British, with plans to break the blockade in the Gulf of Mexico.
The main problem many will have with this novel is it sets up a lot of ideas, but doesn't go very far with them, it's pretty spread out trying to cover all angles. It focuses a little too much on technology, which is important but less could have been said about the cannons and more about the story. The novel is also relatively short considering how long it was delayed, hopefully this means there will at least be a trilogy. Most of the plots and battles inconclusive save for one, and the ones that did succeed were only touched on in a rather ominous nature. This is both good and bad. It is good that it gets you more interested in the outcome and next novel. It is bad in that we will probably have to wait another year to learn the outcome.
WARNING SPOILERS BELOW.
The Brits receive a bloody nose at the hands of new river monitors at Charleston for little gain. The blockade isn't broken and they loose more ships than the Union. The Battle for Maine ends indecisively, the British butting heads with the Maine divisions, fresh back from the frontlines. Hoping to quickly occupy Portland they weren't expecting to encounter more than militia and have to withdraw and prepare to attack a hastily defended town, unfortunately one defended by combat veterans. Albany is invaded by a small British force and they destroy anything that could support the war effort and loot the city. The Copperheads organize several prison breaks, most failing but one so successful Chicago is under the control of an armed and organized Confederate force who raise their flag. Longstreet takes advantage of a gap seen in Rosecrans forces and routs them. The British effectively end US international shipping, blockading every major port and hunting down the ships at sea. Russia declares war on the British in defense of the Union. The results of this are minor, only a few ships able to offer any support. I am curious what type of support the Czar would be able to offer considering the distance and the performance of the Russian Army during the Crimean War. Lee realizes Meade is in a weak position and hungrily marches on the offensive.
A Superlative Alternate History October 24, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
First the criticisms, it's far too short and unless the next two books are three times as long I can't see this series ending with three books. Secondly, it often read more like a history book than a novel, though that's not likely going to bother the audience of this work. Thirdly, as mentioned in other reviews he does have a fetish for weaponry, naval ordinance in particular.
However all that being said, the scenario laid forth in this book is vastly superior in its detail and plausibility to any other alternate history book I can think of. It puts Turtledove to shame. The maps and the footnotes are of excellent quality and add great historical flavor. The author has certainly done a great deal of research on the time period and it shows.
Although American victory is foreshadowed, the opening phase of the conflict is certainly balanced with both sides inflicting serious defeats upon each other. I can't wait to read the sequels.
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