Ruled Britannia: Fascinating Alternate History by Harry Turtledove
Written: Jan 12 '03 (Updated Jan 26 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: engaging story, historical detail
Cons: includes lines from a play clearly not penned by Shakespeare
The Bottom Line: I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction or alternate histories, as well as to others. This is an engaging book, filled with historical details.
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| msmarques's Full Review: Harry Turtledove - Ruled Britannia |
Ruled Britannia is a fascinating and fun alternate history by Harry Turtledove. Unlike some of his other works, this is a stand-alone novel (not part of a series).
Plot Synopsis
What would have happened if the Spanish Armada had been a successful invasion on England? This novel focuses on the lives of Shakespeare and the Spanish soldier and playwright, Lope de Vega as they live, write, act, love, and become involved in political intrigue.
The sub-plots of the love(s) of these two men, and of Lope de Vega's attempts to find success as a playwright, while working as a soldier, bring depth the the characters and richness to the plot.
Alternate History
Alternate histories often start with the question: what would have happened if the results of a war had been different. In that aspect, this book is similar. Yet the war (the English versus the Spanish) and the time (Elizabethan/Shakespearan England) are unusual.
Harry Turtledove's background as an historian show in the details. He has clearly thought of the implications, especially on the small details. For example, England has moved back and forth between Catholicism and Protestantism, and this latest switch back to Catholicism brings on different reactions by the various characters. For some this is a return to the belief of their parents. To others this is an annoyance in adjusting to the new calendar, especially during the days of fasting (Lent).
It is amusing to see the slight difference to Shakespeare's plays, such as "Loves Labours Won" instead of "Loves Labours Lost".
Historical Fiction
Harry Turtledove has a PhD in Bizantine history, and has clearly done much research into the era.
Many of the characters in this novel really existed. Well-known personages include Shakespeare, King Phillip II of Spain, and Queen Elizabeth. Lesser-known personages include Lope de Vega, a well-known poet playwright in Spain, and one of the survivors of the actual Armada, as well as Richard Burbage and Will Kemp, actors in Shakespeare's company. Many other characters in the book were also real characters in history, and seem to have been portrayed true to their known characters.
If you love historical fiction, you will enjoy the details in this book - descriptions of the theatre, the clothes, the typical food and drink. All these details help make the world of Elizabethan England, as overrun by Spaniards, come to life.
Shakespeare
Fans of Shakespeare will enjoy the portrayal of Shakespeare, and will enjoy catching lines from his plays used as dialog throughout the book. I caught a few, but I'm sure that an English major or Shakespeare scholar would catch more.
The only disappointment is that the lines from a play new to this alternate history do not feel like lines the bard would have penned. The author's notes at the end explain where those lines come from. I would have preferred omitting those lines and just describing how it was played and the audience's reactions.
Summary
Ruled Britannia is a fun and well-written alternate history by Harry Turtledove. Read it yourself, or give it to a teenager to help interest him (or her) in history.
Further Reading
Want to read more by Harry Turtledove? His Worldwar series has 4 books, and is followed by a second series of 4 books. Check out my review of the opener, Worldwar: In the Balance at http://www.epinions.com/content_88156507780.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
msmarques
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Member: Michele Marques
Location: Toronto, Canada
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 10 members
About Me:
I love books, movies, and languages.
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