Robert Cowley (ed.) – What If? (1999)
History – 400 pages – my copy (paperback; 2001) bought for £2.49 from the Oxfam Bookshop in Chiswick, London, sometime in 2008
- 3 nods out of 5 -
Simple parlour games, have said many historians in the past. But the “what ifs” of history have long lasting popularity with the reading public. This selection of articles, edited by Robert Cowely, continues in the same imaginary vein of previous incarnations; the front cover also true to form, with Hitler – remember him? – saluting victoriously at the head of the march of soldiers throughout history.
Cowley’s edited pieces are upon military outcomes, from the Greek fights against the Persians in 480 B.C., through to the second half of the twentieth century. It depicts the Mongols turning back from their European invasion, the Spanish Armada, the American Civil War, and of course, many scenarios from the Second World War (‘How Hitler Could Have Won the War’, ‘D Day Fails’ and so on…). Each article is easy to read, informative and ultimately, enjoyable. The layman is introduced to key battles in history, with each historian following the same format: background to event, the event itself, and the plausibility of different outcomes.
The unfortunate hindrance of What If? is the blatant American bias: we have the American fight for independence (3 articles), the American Civil War (3 articles), as well as the American involvement in the Second World War. By way of comparison, the Roman Empire is given a mere one article, while Asia (but for the Mongols) and African history is non-existent. These are the works of American military historians, writing for a primarily American audience; but it becomes highly annoying when all scenarios lead to how it effects the United States. Without Cortez, could there be the USA? Without Drake, could there be the USA? Without the Spartans….and so on.
At no point does Cowley’s selection threaten to grab the reader; unlike other “parlour games” of recent publication, most notably Niall Ferguson’s Virtual History (previously reviewed by the Worm, and given a handsome 4 nods). But as conversation fodder for eager pub quizzers, it is a fitting book for the shelf.
History – 400 pages – my copy (paperback; 2001) bought for £2.49 from the Oxfam Bookshop in Chiswick, London, sometime in 2008
- 3 nods out of 5 -
Simple parlour games, have said many historians in the past. But the “what ifs” of history have long lasting popularity with the reading public. This selection of articles, edited by Robert Cowely, continues in the same imaginary vein of previous incarnations; the front cover also true to form, with Hitler – remember him? – saluting victoriously at the head of the march of soldiers throughout history.
Cowley’s edited pieces are upon military outcomes, from the Greek fights against the Persians in 480 B.C., through to the second half of the twentieth century. It depicts the Mongols turning back from their European invasion, the Spanish Armada, the American Civil War, and of course, many scenarios from the Second World War (‘How Hitler Could Have Won the War’, ‘D Day Fails’ and so on…). Each article is easy to read, informative and ultimately, enjoyable. The layman is introduced to key battles in history, with each historian following the same format: background to event, the event itself, and the plausibility of different outcomes.
The unfortunate hindrance of What If? is the blatant American bias: we have the American fight for independence (3 articles), the American Civil War (3 articles), as well as the American involvement in the Second World War. By way of comparison, the Roman Empire is given a mere one article, while Asia (but for the Mongols) and African history is non-existent. These are the works of American military historians, writing for a primarily American audience; but it becomes highly annoying when all scenarios lead to how it effects the United States. Without Cortez, could there be the USA? Without Drake, could there be the USA? Without the Spartans….and so on.
At no point does Cowley’s selection threaten to grab the reader; unlike other “parlour games” of recent publication, most notably Niall Ferguson’s Virtual History (previously reviewed by the Worm, and given a handsome 4 nods). But as conversation fodder for eager pub quizzers, it is a fitting book for the shelf.
