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Title: If The South Had Won The Civil War |
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Review of If The South Had Won The Civil War
- The Past is a strange place indeed . . . everything could have been so different so easily.
Just a touch here and a tweak there . . . .
MacKinlay Kantor, Pulitzer Price-winning author and master storyteller, shows us how the South could have won the Civil War: how two small shifts in history (as we know it) in the summer of 1863 could have turned the tide for the Confederacy. What would have happened to the Union, to Abraham Lincoln, to the people of the North and South, to the world?
If the South Had Won the Civil War originally appeared in Look magazine nearly half a century ago. It immediately inspired a deluge of letters and telegrams from astonished readers, and became an American Classic overnight. Published in book form soon after, Kantor's masterpiece has been unavailable for a decade. Now, this much requested classic is once again available for a new generation of readers, and features a stunning cover by acclaimed Civil War artist Don Troiani, a new introduction by award-winning alternate history author Harry Turtledove, and fifteen superb illustrations by the incomparable Dan Nance.
It all begins on that fateful afternoon of Tuesday, May 12, 1863, when a deplorable equestrian accident claims the life of General Ulysses S. Grant . . . .
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Comments for If The South Had Won The Civil War
- Posted on 2008-05-11
If the South had won the 'Civil War' - what a delightful thought!
I love this little book of 'alternative' or 'what if?' history - only 127 pages in the edition I have - and, though reading it occupies a mere hour or so, it deals with the delightful thought that 'The War for Southern Independence' might have ended much earlier, in 1863, and very differently, if a couple of relatively minor happenings had had different outcomes, and it acts as a tonic to those of us who still believe in the Southern cause. The reason I write this is because MacKinlay Kantor does not describe a victory for the old Confederacy as a triumph for illiberal white supremacists, more a rational and sensible reinstitution of peace and civilisation for both North and South. For example, one of Mr Kantor's imagined heroes is 'Rel' Stuart - Robert Edward Lee Stuart, son of General 'Jeb' Stuart - a Congressman from Virginia who becomes Governor of the C.S. State of Cuba. (That would be infinitely preferable to the Castro brothers, surely?). I won't reveal the whole of the logically and carefully crafted tale: suffice to say that the people prosper, that slavery dies a death in the late 1800s (the 'Liberation Act' being passed by the Confederate Congress in 1885, with provision for financial restitution for slave-owners), and that the old 'United States' are likely to be reunited following a conference between the Presidents respectively of the Confederate States of America, the United States of America and the Republic of Texas, at Washington, D.D. (District of Dixie) - in April, 1961, one hundred years after the firing on Fort Sumter. Relatively light reading regarding a very heavy subject - but so enjoyable!
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-05-05
Rather Drab and Boring
If The South Had Won The Civil War isn't the most appropriate title for this book, rather How The South Could Have Won The Civil War would have been a much better title. 90% of the book consists of the events leading up to the surprising C.S.A. victory and 10% of the events that take place after the Civil War events dies down. Overall I kept hoping that the book would pick up steam and turn out great and that moment never came.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2007-05-29
An interesting and worthwhile read
As its title suggests, this is an alternate history which reads like a history book text rather than a novel, based on the theme that the South won the American Civil War ("The War for Southern Independence"). No spoilers here, but the book is about evenly divided into how the South wins the Civil War, and the aftermath.
The distinguishing characteristic of this text is its optimism. Despite the division of what is now the USA, this book speculates that there would have been prompt reconciliation and a close feeling of kinship between the CSA and USA. Perhaps this would have been so. One likes to think so.
This one appears to have been thoroughly researched, and the alternate-history actions and speeches by the key figures (i.e. Robert E. Lee, JEB Stuart, "Confederate President Woodrow Wilson") and many others) are realistic, and in fact are great fun. As is this book.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2006-04-13
The granddaddy of all what-ifs...
If The South Had Won The Civil War by MacKinlay Kantor has some good points and bad points. First, the bad points. The TWO events that change the war, Grant's death and Lee's vicitory at Gettysburg, seem possible events by themselves but not when put together. Also, as we enter the 20th Century the details start to wash away. Why would all nations, the USA, the CSA and the Republic of Texas join in World War One on the same side? Why would they fight the Axis in World War Two?
The good points are that Mr. Kantor DOES deal with the issue of slavery and the many problems all three nations would have after the Civil War. Also, he shows many of the dangers of the Cold War. For example, the USSR HAS Alaska. Which means they not only have a foothold in North America, but also all the oil from those oil fields.
But would that truly force the nations to think about rejoining into one nation again? I don't think so. But this is still a book you should have or at least read. It only took me an hour to read.
Score: 3 - Posted on 2006-04-06
Well-written alternate history by a Pulitzer Prize winner
As described by other reviews and the title of the book, this is perhaps many American historians' favorite 'What if...' question. Kantor gives a quick summary of how it could have happened and details the end of a Civil War won by the Confederacy.
while well-written and enjoyable to read, I found some of his conclusions quite odd, especially the behavior of Abraham Lincoln.
Nevertheless, an enjoyable, quick read for any student of the American Civil War. I give this one a 'B+'.
Score: 4