[Elfsea] On Topic---Book Review---RULED BRITANNIA by Turtledove

[giles nemeton]

I have just finished a book that should be of interest
to SCAdians who have late period personas.
Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove.

What if the Armada HAD conquered England?
How would the Spanish treat a conquered England?
What would the average Englishman/woman think of the
situation?
What would YOU do if you were Will Shakespeare and
your Queen Elizabeth was locked in the Tower of
London?
How can the English win their country back?

These are some of the questions that Turtledove
considers as he weaves his tale of a conquered
England. It is a good idea to have a biographical
dictionary handy as you read this book. Turtledove
includes real and imaginary characters in this play of
'what if?'--but all the major characters are real and
all seem real as you are caught up in the story.
Characters as diverse as Will Kemp, a popular fool of
the day, Richard Burbage, the lead actor and owner of
the theatre; Lope Felix de Vega Carpio, later to be
known as the Spanish Shakespeare; Christopher Marlowe
of no little fame in his own right; William Adams,
sometimes known as 'Anjin-san',and a host of others.

Altogether a very enjoyable read packed with detail
about Elizabethan times and people written by a
knowledgable scholar of medieval and Byzantine times.

enjoy.........

cian


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MORITURI NOLUMUS MORI......