"For Want of a Nail"

For Want of a Nail: If Burgoyne Had Won at Saratoga (Robert Sobel)

Most (in fact, all the ones I can think of off the top of my head) alternate history books are novels; This book instead reads like a history textbook, complete with copious fake footnotes. I found this approach to be quite refreshing. (It helps that Sobel is very committed to this format, going so far as to include a very critical essay from a fake historian at the end and pages and pages of made-up books in the bibliography.)

The departure point is (checks title) if Burgyone had won at Saratoga, which is plausible; for me, the factor that really seemed like it must be from another earth is the reasonableness and practicality of the British government in the immediate aftermath. Once over that hump, Sobel spins a very interesting if somewhat dry tale, and my only complaint here is that the book would have really benefited from a few maps; I was never quite sure where Southern Vandalia and Jefferson were located. Probably for history nerds only, but a easy recommendation if the concept piques your interest.

Grade: B+