Redcoats' Revenge: An Alternate History of the War of 1812

by David Fitz-Enz

Book Overview

What if, on September 11, 1814, the United States had lost the close-run battle that Winston Churchill called the "most decisive" of the War of 1812? With a victory at Plattsburgh, would the British have eventually been able to regain control of their former colonies? Only one fleeting moment on Lake Champlain might have been needed to forever alter the young country's history and return it to the grip of King George III. Redcoats' Revenge...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574889877
• ISBN13: 9781574889871
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Potomac Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A True Alternate History

I'll start with a spoiler, the British win. Skip the rest if you will but let me tell you something, I'm a huge fan of alternate history I've read some crappy alternate history novels where the United States is this all conquering force that can never be defeated anytime anywhere. Peter G, Tsouras is doing that right now in his alternate history of the civil war. Harry Harrison did the same thing in his abysmal alternate trilogy Stars and Stripes Forever. Come now, if the U.S. is invincible why even write the alternate history if you already know how it'll wind up in the end? Point being this novel was a good change of pace. Not that I hate the U.S. of course not, but this just seemed more real and yes more likely. Lets face it, if Andrew Jackson had gone against Wellington in all likelihood Jackson would have lost. No Harrison of Tsouras to save him. I will admit that this book had it's flaws, for one thing the separation between real history and this alternate history was slim at times, and how Wellington won in the end seems a bit far-fetched, but the end seems likely. Overall a well done and well thought out novel that is one of the best alternate history books published in the last few years.

Great Book

Redcoats Revenge: An Alternate History of the War of 1812 takes the reader through a colorful and often overlooked chapter in our nation's history in a uniquely entertaining way. It is full of wonderful details and draws you into the intricate mosaics of life, warfare, equipment, travel, and especially the character of men, such as Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, The Duke of Wellington, and most most intimately, Andrew Jackson. The iconic names and dates that we've all studied in history class become "real" -- even in this bend-of-fate exploration. If events had followed this similar path we might, today, be sipping Twinings Tea instead of Coca-Cola.

A STUNNER

After reading this book, I must add my voice to the one reviewer who obviously just didn't get it. REDCOATS' REVENGE is a fantastic alterniative history about a period that has too often been ignored in favor of Confederate victories and Nazi triumphs. Fitz-Enz is not only an astute, nuanced historian but a damn good writer. The "reviewer" first objects to the surprise conclusion, *SPOILER ALERT* but the Revolutionary War was full of incidents of soldiers (Patriots, Loyalists, Hessians) deserting from one side to the other (and sometimes back again!). Of course, Benedict Arnold is the most notorious example (though he could never return; Washington had a rope waiting for him). In the actual War of 1812 the Northern states came precariously close to seceding from the Union nearly fifty years before the Southern states did and (in truth) with far better reasons. (Madison really was a disaster as a wartime president, a nineteenth-century intellectual version of our last "commander in chief.") Rather than "turgid," I found the writing vivid and compelling. Fitz-Enz delves deeply into the characters (both the main and minor ones), but never loses sight of the pacing and action. And there is quite a bit of action, even early in the story. Also a boon for war buffs is his intricate understanding and clear explanation of areas of logistics that most other writers would avoid as potentially "too dull." Instead, Fitz-Enz brings them to life: the politics, egoes, and obstacles of mounting a major invasion, the functioning of England's War Board, the nearly impossible task of transporting horses across the Atlantic, etc. Equally brilliant is how the Americans finance their war with a strong dose of Irish support (don't cross the Irish!) and that of some English banks themselves (rather like today's corporations making donations to both political parties, so whoever wins, they win). The narrative is well structured. Of course, the story jumps around, as the "reviewer" mentions, but never in a confusing disjointed manner. This is, after all, an epic international event and Fitz-Enz conveys that very well. Perhaps the "reviewer" suffers from ADD and finds it hard to focus. That's my only explanation for his "critique." My only real question is just how----between paratrooping in Vietnam, being a combat photographer, and overseeing the red phone for much of the Cold War----Col. Fitz-Enz found the time and commitment to learn to write so well. An unforgettable and surprisingly moving (and human) alternative history. Perhaps, more importantly, it's a feat of powerful storytelling.

An excellent change of pace

Far too often, alternate histories devolve into heroic or technological fantasies whose plots are decided by who has the newest, shiniest toys. Even more respectable alternate histories like Britannia's Fist: From Civil War to World War: --An Alternate History devote far too much attention to the machines of the time period in question instead of the people involved. I was very glad to see that Redcoats' Revenge bucks the trend. The story is a simple one: What if Field Marshal the Duke Wellington had accepted command of the Army of Canada in the War of 1812? The chain of events that follow result in Andrew Jackson being appointed commander of an American army thrown together to stop Wellington and their climactic meeting in a battle at Saratoga, New York. Rather than tell his story in a novel form, following the story of a handful of characters deeply involved in events, Fitz-Enz tells his story as if it were presented in a history book. And the detail and backstory of the events involved are so terrific that it can be used as a history. In many ways, the book follows the style of Macksey's Invasion : the German invasion of England, July 1940 / Kenneth Macksey, but focusing more on the characters involved. From the start, we're given excellent backstories of the two generals involved and the historical courses they're set upon. An author's note at the end of the book states that Fitz-Enz' goal was to use the story to encourage readers to delve into the actual history of events. It certainly worked for me. Although there aren't footnotes, he includes a nice bibliography at the end that gives a starting point for more reading. I won't spoil any of the surprises in the book -- and there are some, since Fitz-Enz uses political machinations and individual characters to influence events, rather than calling upon mechanical dei ex machina to advance the plot. The ending is an interesting one, as events are brought to a conclusion while still leaving room for the reader to speculate about what happens next. There isn't a neat and definite resolution to events, as so often happens in alternate histories. Overall, I'd strongly recommend this book to any alternate history reader who is tired of the normal course of the genre, or to any reader of history with an interest in the War of 1812. I sincerely hope that Fitz-Enz continues to write alternate histories, as he's shown a real talent for them here, and it'd be a shame to see him give up after just one book.

Good book

This is a good alternate history of the war of 1812. The Duke of Wellington takes comand of the redcoats. Without giving to much away, we get our butts kicked in this book but this book sets the stage for a second book. This book is well worth your money.