Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove
To be free, or not to be free…

In 1588, Spain attempted to conquer England, but was turned back by England’s fire ships. Had the attempt succeeded, however, the result could have been Turtledove’s Ruled Britannia. It is now 1597, and Britain has spent nearly a decade under the rule of King Phillip of Spain. A revolution, however, is brewing, and will drag in a certain British playwright named William Shakespeare…

While no knowledge of either history of Shakespeare is required to enjoy this book, fans of Shakespeare’s work will take particular enjoyment in the blank verse and bad jokes typical of the bard’s writing. While the story is written in modern English, the dialog is partially in Shakespeare’s English, with enough of it thrown in to give the story a period feeling.  My favorite alternate history to date.

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Tags: alternative history