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If England Were Invaded
No fewer than two hundred thousand Germans were already upon English soil! The outlook grew blacker every hour.
Eight years before the onset of World War I, as national hysteria over the possibility of German spies in England reached its peak, journalist and prolific spy novelist William Le Queux penned The Invasion of 1910. Although it has since faded from public memory, at the time of its serialization, the novel was a tremendous success, selling more than one million copies and even inspiring an unauthorized, abridged German-language edition that altered the book’s ending.
If England Were Invaded restores this major work of “invasion literature” to print. Le Queux constructs a catastrophic scenario in which the German army has invaded England in a surprise attack on the coast. The story chillingly chronicles a war fought on the British homeland, with detailed accounts of battles involving real locations and real defense experts of the time. Throughout, Le Queux brings to life the domestic realities of a nation at war, from food shortages and failing financial institutions to the ever-present threat of espionage. One by one, strategic cities and counties in the novel—Birmingham, Manchester, and Suffolk—are abandoned to the German army until it stands poised to “advance upon and crush the complex city which is the pride and home of every Englishman—London.”
A truly entertaining read—complete with campaign maps and fictional proclamations from Kaiser Wilhelm II—If England Were Invaded also offers an incredible cautionary tale about a country that was not prepared for an attack and, in doing so, it shines a light on the common hopes and fears in England at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Eight years before the onset of World War I, as national hysteria over the possibility of German spies in England reached its peak, journalist and prolific spy novelist William Le Queux penned The Invasion of 1910. Although it has since faded from public memory, at the time of its serialization, the novel was a tremendous success, selling more than one million copies and even inspiring an unauthorized, abridged German-language edition that altered the book’s ending.
If England Were Invaded restores this major work of “invasion literature” to print. Le Queux constructs a catastrophic scenario in which the German army has invaded England in a surprise attack on the coast. The story chillingly chronicles a war fought on the British homeland, with detailed accounts of battles involving real locations and real defense experts of the time. Throughout, Le Queux brings to life the domestic realities of a nation at war, from food shortages and failing financial institutions to the ever-present threat of espionage. One by one, strategic cities and counties in the novel—Birmingham, Manchester, and Suffolk—are abandoned to the German army until it stands poised to “advance upon and crush the complex city which is the pride and home of every Englishman—London.”
A truly entertaining read—complete with campaign maps and fictional proclamations from Kaiser Wilhelm II—If England Were Invaded also offers an incredible cautionary tale about a country that was not prepared for an attack and, in doing so, it shines a light on the common hopes and fears in England at the beginning of the twentieth century.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1906
60 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
William Le Queux
443 books29 followersWilliam Tufnell Le Queux was born in London on 2 July 1864. His father, also William of Chateauroux, Indre, was a French draper's assistant and his mother was English.
He was educated in Europe and studied art under Ignazio Spiridon in Paris. He walked extensively in France and Germany and supported himself for a time writing for French newspapers. It was one of his sensational stories in 'The Petit Journal' that attracted the attention of the French novelist Emile Zola and it was supposedly he who encouraged Le Queux to become a full-time writer.
In the late 1880s he returned to London where he edited the magazines 'Gossip' and 'Piccadilly' before joining the staff of the newspaper 'The Globe' in 1891 as a parliamentary reporter. But he resigned in 1893 and decided to abandon journalism to concentrate on writing and travelling. And his extensive travelling saw him visit Russia, the Near East, North Africa, Egypt and the Sudan and in 1912-13 he was a correspondent in the Balkan War for the Daily Mail. On his travels he found it necessary to become an expert revolver shot.
His first book was 'Guilty Bonds' (1891), which concentrated on political conspiracy in Russia to such a degree that it was subsequently banned in that country. A series of short stories 'Strange Tales of a Nihilist' followed in 1892 and from then on he was producing books on a regular basis until his death, and beyond, as a number of posthumous works were published.
His works mainly related to espionage activity and it was said that he was employed for a number of years as a member of the British Secret Service, where he was an expert on wireless transmission. He did claim to have been the first wireless experimenter to have broadcast from his station at Guildford in 1920/21 and he was president of the Wireless Experimental Association and a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers.
He stated at one time that he began writing to help finance his work for British Intelligence for whom he was required to undertake much travelling and to make personal contact with royalty and other high-ranking people. He recorded some of the latter meetings in his autobiography entitled 'Things I Know about Kings, Celebrities and Crooks' (1923).
He was at one time Consul of the Republic of San Marino and he possessed Italian, Serbian and Montenegrin decorations. He was also a keen collector of medieval manuscripts and monastic seals.
However, all his activities did not stop him turning out novel after novel and at the time of his death he had well over 100 books to his credit.
After several weeks' illness, he died at Knocke, Belgium, in the early hours of 13 October 1927. His body was returned to England and on 19 October he was cremated at Golders Green with the Reverend Francis Taylor of Bedford conducting the service, which was attended by Le Queux's brother and a few intimate friends.
Gerry Wolstenholme
January 2013
He was educated in Europe and studied art under Ignazio Spiridon in Paris. He walked extensively in France and Germany and supported himself for a time writing for French newspapers. It was one of his sensational stories in 'The Petit Journal' that attracted the attention of the French novelist Emile Zola and it was supposedly he who encouraged Le Queux to become a full-time writer.
In the late 1880s he returned to London where he edited the magazines 'Gossip' and 'Piccadilly' before joining the staff of the newspaper 'The Globe' in 1891 as a parliamentary reporter. But he resigned in 1893 and decided to abandon journalism to concentrate on writing and travelling. And his extensive travelling saw him visit Russia, the Near East, North Africa, Egypt and the Sudan and in 1912-13 he was a correspondent in the Balkan War for the Daily Mail. On his travels he found it necessary to become an expert revolver shot.
His first book was 'Guilty Bonds' (1891), which concentrated on political conspiracy in Russia to such a degree that it was subsequently banned in that country. A series of short stories 'Strange Tales of a Nihilist' followed in 1892 and from then on he was producing books on a regular basis until his death, and beyond, as a number of posthumous works were published.
His works mainly related to espionage activity and it was said that he was employed for a number of years as a member of the British Secret Service, where he was an expert on wireless transmission. He did claim to have been the first wireless experimenter to have broadcast from his station at Guildford in 1920/21 and he was president of the Wireless Experimental Association and a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers.
He stated at one time that he began writing to help finance his work for British Intelligence for whom he was required to undertake much travelling and to make personal contact with royalty and other high-ranking people. He recorded some of the latter meetings in his autobiography entitled 'Things I Know about Kings, Celebrities and Crooks' (1923).
He was at one time Consul of the Republic of San Marino and he possessed Italian, Serbian and Montenegrin decorations. He was also a keen collector of medieval manuscripts and monastic seals.
However, all his activities did not stop him turning out novel after novel and at the time of his death he had well over 100 books to his credit.
After several weeks' illness, he died at Knocke, Belgium, in the early hours of 13 October 1927. His body was returned to England and on 19 October he was cremated at Golders Green with the Reverend Francis Taylor of Bedford conducting the service, which was attended by Le Queux's brother and a few intimate friends.
Gerry Wolstenholme
January 2013
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 4, 2015
Interesting read but seems dated and not really believable
December 1, 2025
I was going to give this 2-stars. It is pretty well written for what it is however what it is, is a theoretical invasion of britain written in 1905 and set in 1910. About 70% of it is battle reports, complete with numerous maps. Frankly, not my thing.
It was written to promote more defense spending in britain and universal military service. Which is does point out is nothing like conscription.. although the author is unable to say how its different.
In any case, you might think the invading germans would be quite vilified but the author seems to admire them quite a lot and any vitriol is kept for the anti-war movement.
Even brutal actions by the german army are no more condemned than the brutal actions of the british mob, such as the lynching of anyone who seems a bit foreign.
Anyway, it was 2-stars until we get to the siege of london itself, and this has so many modern vibes too it. It must be far more familiar to to-days reader than contemporary ones. The street fighting, guerilla warfare etc. Of course the author did have things like the french revolution to base some elements on, he just needed to add (for the time) modern weapons.
Overall, quite long, very detailed, which does create a certain depth.. but also can be boring. The later parts start to get a bit more fictional-feeling with the rise of the League of Defenders, stuff. Pretty interesting despite its length.
Made available by the Merril Collection.
although a non-pdf is preferable on my ancient ereader so i read the version from the Roy Glashan's Library.
It was written to promote more defense spending in britain and universal military service. Which is does point out is nothing like conscription.. although the author is unable to say how its different.
In any case, you might think the invading germans would be quite vilified but the author seems to admire them quite a lot and any vitriol is kept for the anti-war movement.
Even brutal actions by the german army are no more condemned than the brutal actions of the british mob, such as the lynching of anyone who seems a bit foreign.
Anyway, it was 2-stars until we get to the siege of london itself, and this has so many modern vibes too it. It must be far more familiar to to-days reader than contemporary ones. The street fighting, guerilla warfare etc. Of course the author did have things like the french revolution to base some elements on, he just needed to add (for the time) modern weapons.
Overall, quite long, very detailed, which does create a certain depth.. but also can be boring. The later parts start to get a bit more fictional-feeling with the rise of the League of Defenders, stuff. Pretty interesting despite its length.
Made available by the Merril Collection.
although a non-pdf is preferable on my ancient ereader so i read the version from the Roy Glashan's Library.
December 8, 2014
Its not the best written book in the world. I'd say it is an interesting read for its history context. It is interesting to read into the paranoia about an aggressive Germany in the years running up to the First World War.
The format could be improved; it is written using newspaper articles which takes away any personal aspect from the book as there are no particular characters per se.
The message of the book is one of the most unsubtle I have ever read. Basically, the author hates socialism and thinks that more should be spent on the military and that national service/conscription should be introduced. He asides to this frequently and it gets pretty petty.
The style of writing is also a bit old-fashioned. Call me immature but when the word "ejaculated" is used I don't assume they mean to exclaim...
I would say only read this book if you have an interest in WW1 history or a personal understanding of the geography of greater London or East Anglia.
The format could be improved; it is written using newspaper articles which takes away any personal aspect from the book as there are no particular characters per se.
The message of the book is one of the most unsubtle I have ever read. Basically, the author hates socialism and thinks that more should be spent on the military and that national service/conscription should be introduced. He asides to this frequently and it gets pretty petty.
The style of writing is also a bit old-fashioned. Call me immature but when the word "ejaculated" is used I don't assume they mean to exclaim...
I would say only read this book if you have an interest in WW1 history or a personal understanding of the geography of greater London or East Anglia.
January 12, 2012
Please note that the 2007 edition is a reprint of the century old novel.
The Invasion of 1910 is an early attempt at speculative military fiction that envisions how the rising naval power of Germany could threaten Britain. Written in 1906 amid a flurry of rising tension of battleship construction between the two nations, Le Queux attempts to show the failings of the "current" state of British military preparedness and political resolve. The writing is not the best, Le Queux is more interested in ideas and major plot points rather than characterization, but he creates a gripping vision of a World War I that might have been. His naval battle scenes in particular are excellent, on par with most modern military fiction in their descriptiveness and technical savvy.
The Invasion of 1910 is an early attempt at speculative military fiction that envisions how the rising naval power of Germany could threaten Britain. Written in 1906 amid a flurry of rising tension of battleship construction between the two nations, Le Queux attempts to show the failings of the "current" state of British military preparedness and political resolve. The writing is not the best, Le Queux is more interested in ideas and major plot points rather than characterization, but he creates a gripping vision of a World War I that might have been. His naval battle scenes in particular are excellent, on par with most modern military fiction in their descriptiveness and technical savvy.
December 12, 2012
More of a textbook than a novel, but a fascinating historical document which, in response to the author's perception of a rundown in British defence, posits a German invasion of the UK, in glorious detail. It apparently had an enormous impact and galavanised the Army/Navy somewhat in the lead up to WW1. Fascinating.
August 15, 2014
A book very much of its time. The narrative suffers at this distance of time with the lack of characters to draw the story along relying as it does on newspaper reportage to add colour to the military detail. A very dry read.
November 21, 2017
Starting in 1871 with The Battle of Dorking there was a fashion for novels about invasions, in particular, German invasions of Britain. In 1906 William Le Queux wrote The Invasion to champion the idea that Britain needed to spend more on the Army and to adopt compulsory military service to defend Britain against invasion. The book is set 4 years into the future (1910) and starts with a surprise German invasion. It is written as a mixture of first-hand accounts often purporting to be newspaper articles but also including letters and diary entries. There are no major characters in the book, which make it feel more like a history book than a novel.
It would be good to read this book with an Ordnance Survey map of East Anglia and a street map of London as there are lots of detailed discussions of movements of troops and war correspondents. The battles are often described in detail, including modern technology such as motorcars and telephones, in addition to the traditional horsed cavalry but understandably without the horrors of trench warfare. The tone of the battle descriptions is somewhat romantic and reminded me of H G Wells's The War of the Worlds.
The naval aspects of the war are largely skipped, which might seem odd given the vital nature of naval warfare in any invasion of Britain, but given that the political focus is on the small size of the British Army that oversight is understandable.
This book is interesting as an example of pre-WW I Invasion Literature and British Germanophobia. It is also an example of how war was envisioned less than 10 years before World War I broke out. Though I doubt I would have finished the book if I had read it rather than listening to the Librivox audiobook.
The book ends with a short off-topic scattergun political tirade, which in my mind undermines its purpose.
It would be good to read this book with an Ordnance Survey map of East Anglia and a street map of London as there are lots of detailed discussions of movements of troops and war correspondents. The battles are often described in detail, including modern technology such as motorcars and telephones, in addition to the traditional horsed cavalry but understandably without the horrors of trench warfare. The tone of the battle descriptions is somewhat romantic and reminded me of H G Wells's The War of the Worlds.
The naval aspects of the war are largely skipped, which might seem odd given the vital nature of naval warfare in any invasion of Britain, but given that the political focus is on the small size of the British Army that oversight is understandable.
This book is interesting as an example of pre-WW I Invasion Literature and British Germanophobia. It is also an example of how war was envisioned less than 10 years before World War I broke out. Though I doubt I would have finished the book if I had read it rather than listening to the Librivox audiobook.
The book ends with a short off-topic scattergun political tirade, which in my mind undermines its purpose.
October 6, 2024
Some might find the style old-fashioned (it is) and the story fanciful but with “If England Were Invaded” (originally published as “The Invasion of 1910”) Le Queux was addressing something that he saw as a real and genuine concern - the unpreparedness for Britain to deal with armed conflict.
In the book the conflict comes to us when the superior German army affect an invasion along the Eastern coast. In reality, four years after publication, we went to it as we were pulled into the defence of Belgium and France.
I’m sure some people will find the book tedious. It is presented as a series of ‘battle reports’ from various sources and, as such, there are no individual characters to get behind or really root for. It’s speculative, alternative history style “faction”.
However I personally found the book genuinely gripping in places and, as Le Queux spent a good deal of time plotting and planning the route of his invasion and visiting the local areas, his research gives it a real air of authenticity. Having a map with you to keep track of the troop movements is strongly recommended.
I’m not sure how effective the book was in terms of making the general public or the government of the day aware of the dangers they were facing but, given that I’ve seen Le Queux’s name and this book in particular, crop up in various recent biographies and “histories of the secret service” etc it’s obvious that it’s considered to be an important book of its time.
In the book the conflict comes to us when the superior German army affect an invasion along the Eastern coast. In reality, four years after publication, we went to it as we were pulled into the defence of Belgium and France.
I’m sure some people will find the book tedious. It is presented as a series of ‘battle reports’ from various sources and, as such, there are no individual characters to get behind or really root for. It’s speculative, alternative history style “faction”.
However I personally found the book genuinely gripping in places and, as Le Queux spent a good deal of time plotting and planning the route of his invasion and visiting the local areas, his research gives it a real air of authenticity. Having a map with you to keep track of the troop movements is strongly recommended.
I’m not sure how effective the book was in terms of making the general public or the government of the day aware of the dangers they were facing but, given that I’ve seen Le Queux’s name and this book in particular, crop up in various recent biographies and “histories of the secret service” etc it’s obvious that it’s considered to be an important book of its time.
August 15, 2021
A sort of early 20th century Red Dawn in which England wakes up one morning to find it has been invaded by Germany. There's plenty of action in this alternate history and the naval battles are particularly well described. The innovations of WWI technology - trench building, armored motor vehicles, and Maxim machine guns - are prophesied but their impact isn't clear to the author who largely describes the conflict in terms of 19th century warfare, complete with cavalry charges.
The alarmist tone of the book was intended as a wake up call to England as the country, along with the rest of Europe, grew increasingly uneasy over Germany's military and industrial buildup. Even eight years before the outbreak of war (the book was published in 1906) it had become clear to many that conflict was inevitable. The ruthless behavior of the German military and even the violation of Belgium's neutrality are clearly foretold here.
Curiously, when Germany, after the initial succcess of the invasion, makes its surrender and indemnity demands one item included is the independence of Ireland. Thus, contrary to the author's intentions, at least some of the books initial readers may have been rooting for an ultimate German victory.
The alarmist tone of the book was intended as a wake up call to England as the country, along with the rest of Europe, grew increasingly uneasy over Germany's military and industrial buildup. Even eight years before the outbreak of war (the book was published in 1906) it had become clear to many that conflict was inevitable. The ruthless behavior of the German military and even the violation of Belgium's neutrality are clearly foretold here.
Curiously, when Germany, after the initial succcess of the invasion, makes its surrender and indemnity demands one item included is the independence of Ireland. Thus, contrary to the author's intentions, at least some of the books initial readers may have been rooting for an ultimate German victory.
November 3, 2017
Warmongering at its Best
London becomes England's Alamo!
Specifically written to inflame England's literate population to support National Service and a strong military. Uses the German "threat" to inflame nationalism, prejudice against foreigners, and suspicion against immigrants. Seemingly written by a military elitist, describing gallant soldiery and glorious battles on both sides. A little tedious, because the names and places are unfamiliar to me, but is full of action in good detail.
London becomes England's Alamo!
Specifically written to inflame England's literate population to support National Service and a strong military. Uses the German "threat" to inflame nationalism, prejudice against foreigners, and suspicion against immigrants. Seemingly written by a military elitist, describing gallant soldiery and glorious battles on both sides. A little tedious, because the names and places are unfamiliar to me, but is full of action in good detail.
July 7, 2020
Oh so dull. This is more a work of alternative history non-fiction than a novel and it is really really boring. I had expected to like this but it was just tedious. Should have guessed that something that was serialised in the Daily Mail, even that long ago, would be dire.
August 2, 2016
Fascinating 'what if' novel written with extreme detail.
February 24, 2017
Fascinating details regarding cities and towns in England, battle strategy, etc. Not great as a story, however.
January 5, 2024
Annoyingly, pointlessly detailed. British propaganda. Poorly aged, but an interesting introspective on British thinking in 1906. If ONLY we listened to Lord Robert's speech in 1906. IF ONLY!!!
September 30, 2023
Definitely a better novel than his earlier, “The Great War in England in 1897.” He can see his growth as a writer was for the best. The story itself was interesting and entertaining.
November 3, 2024
Part science-fiction, part prophecy, Le Queux’s novel about the invasion of England was published in 1906. At that time, he was already predicting events that were supposed to be taking place four years into the future, that is in 1910: an invasion by Germany that was perfectly planned and executed, while the British forces were totally unprepared for the event, psychologically as well as in terms of men and material, including a cavalry that was what the word implied: horses.
One late evening in 1910, when a newspaper editor cannot send a telegraph message, it turns out that all the telegraph lines near the east coast have been cut or damaged in some way. As accounts filter in from different parts of the country, usually in person by someone driving in, it becomes clear that a huge invading force has landed in Britain, completely trained and armed, and drilled to effect an absolute takeover of the country.
What follows is a detailed military history of troop movements, war plans, attacks and defence, and the complete conquest of a terrified civilian populace by a superior armed force, the Germans, who are utterly ruthless in the matter of reprisals and executions. The British Army is hard put to supply reinforcements, and so volunteers take over the defence, which they accomplish, but not without great losses. The record is enlivened by letters and diaries of fallen German soldiers, who provide the details of how the whole scheme was devised by the Emperor himself, and also the newspaper reports of the authorised war correspondents, plus the odd motorist, other than the narrator, who witness scenes of pitched battle and the carnage in entire villages. The German advance is unstoppable, as the narrative goes on, almost hysterically.
If the style is a bit dated, the content certainly is not. The invasion described here nearly took place, if not in the Great War, certainly in the Second. On both occasions, Britain was woefully unprepared, busy with political rivalries and civil unrest both within the country and in the colonies. Finally a naval battle sees the Germans off. Here once again, Le Queux's facts were technically correct. The British Navy was at this time superior to the British Army in terms of manpower and weaponry. She was still the proud holder of the title of the Queen of the Seas. Wilhelm II, however, had been building a strong naval fleet, and although Germany herself was almost a landlocked nation until he took over, by the time real war broke out in 1914, Germany's navy was superior to Britain's, in terms of tonnage, battleship class, weapons on board, submarines, speed and manpower.
‘The Invasion’ is a richly imaginative and realistic portrait of modern war, and if the author’s analogies have been drawn from the Franco-German war of 1870, or the Boer War of 1899, he is still able to give a vivid description of the possible weapons of modern warfare, including “motor vehicles” and balloons. In the event, the reality was not very different. Trench and siege warfare marked many of the battles of World War I, while horse carriages were used to transport cannon and wounded soldiers. In reading this novel, I found myself drifting between fiction and reality, a great compliment to a novel written nearly one hundred and twenty years ago.
A bit of trivia here: Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was to give Prussia, later Germany, a bum rap forever for militancy and aggression, was already Kaiser, or Emperor, of Germany in 1888. Edward VII of England became King only in 1901. So although King Edward was the older cousin, Wilhelm II was senior to him both by rank (Edward was Prince of Wales while Kaiser Wilhelm was already an Emperor, and on an equal footing with Queen Victoria herself until her death in 1901), as well as by title (Wilhelm held to the title of Kaiser, while Edward modestly limited himself to the title of King, although his overseas colonies meant he was an emperor, and his official title was in fact King-Emperor). This is noted here, as Le Queux's book frequently mentions both the Emperor and the King. Edward VII died in 1910, while the Kaiser went on to declare a real war in 1914, when England woke to the very real dangers outlined in the Le Queux fantasy.
One late evening in 1910, when a newspaper editor cannot send a telegraph message, it turns out that all the telegraph lines near the east coast have been cut or damaged in some way. As accounts filter in from different parts of the country, usually in person by someone driving in, it becomes clear that a huge invading force has landed in Britain, completely trained and armed, and drilled to effect an absolute takeover of the country.
What follows is a detailed military history of troop movements, war plans, attacks and defence, and the complete conquest of a terrified civilian populace by a superior armed force, the Germans, who are utterly ruthless in the matter of reprisals and executions. The British Army is hard put to supply reinforcements, and so volunteers take over the defence, which they accomplish, but not without great losses. The record is enlivened by letters and diaries of fallen German soldiers, who provide the details of how the whole scheme was devised by the Emperor himself, and also the newspaper reports of the authorised war correspondents, plus the odd motorist, other than the narrator, who witness scenes of pitched battle and the carnage in entire villages. The German advance is unstoppable, as the narrative goes on, almost hysterically.
If the style is a bit dated, the content certainly is not. The invasion described here nearly took place, if not in the Great War, certainly in the Second. On both occasions, Britain was woefully unprepared, busy with political rivalries and civil unrest both within the country and in the colonies. Finally a naval battle sees the Germans off. Here once again, Le Queux's facts were technically correct. The British Navy was at this time superior to the British Army in terms of manpower and weaponry. She was still the proud holder of the title of the Queen of the Seas. Wilhelm II, however, had been building a strong naval fleet, and although Germany herself was almost a landlocked nation until he took over, by the time real war broke out in 1914, Germany's navy was superior to Britain's, in terms of tonnage, battleship class, weapons on board, submarines, speed and manpower.
‘The Invasion’ is a richly imaginative and realistic portrait of modern war, and if the author’s analogies have been drawn from the Franco-German war of 1870, or the Boer War of 1899, he is still able to give a vivid description of the possible weapons of modern warfare, including “motor vehicles” and balloons. In the event, the reality was not very different. Trench and siege warfare marked many of the battles of World War I, while horse carriages were used to transport cannon and wounded soldiers. In reading this novel, I found myself drifting between fiction and reality, a great compliment to a novel written nearly one hundred and twenty years ago.
A bit of trivia here: Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was to give Prussia, later Germany, a bum rap forever for militancy and aggression, was already Kaiser, or Emperor, of Germany in 1888. Edward VII of England became King only in 1901. So although King Edward was the older cousin, Wilhelm II was senior to him both by rank (Edward was Prince of Wales while Kaiser Wilhelm was already an Emperor, and on an equal footing with Queen Victoria herself until her death in 1901), as well as by title (Wilhelm held to the title of Kaiser, while Edward modestly limited himself to the title of King, although his overseas colonies meant he was an emperor, and his official title was in fact King-Emperor). This is noted here, as Le Queux's book frequently mentions both the Emperor and the King. Edward VII died in 1910, while the Kaiser went on to declare a real war in 1914, when England woke to the very real dangers outlined in the Le Queux fantasy.
March 3, 2023
The level of detail - town to town, skirmish to skirmish - made me feel like Germany really did invade England back in 1910. Often I was bored, other times I became very emotional (including almost being brought to tears by one scene), and most of the time it was all eerily…legit.
The best sections are in the back half, once the Germans have London in view. The best scenes play up the human factor, instead of just depictions of Regiment Number Whatever and the So-and-So Fusiliers engaging with these Hussars and those Cuirassiers, with Infantry Number Whichever performing a pincer movement, while the So-and-So Grenadiers arrive from the South, and lots of on and on like that.
But it’s not all like that, thank goodness. It’s almost like Le Queux can slip between two ways of writing this: the boring way, and the insanely compelling way. If you DNF early, you miss the guerrilla warfare in London - women with guns and hatchets, dead combatants’ tragic last diary entries, deadly panic in the Tube stations and tunnels, and rivers of blood in the streets. By this time we are (mostly) past naval battles that are just lists of different types of ships doing things involving tricky terminology (though “sinking”, and “all aboard lost” are clear enough terms).
3.5 stars, rounded down, to punish the dry stretches. Overall, I’m glad I stuck with it, and even surprised myself when, as I mentioned, I suddenly almost cried. This 1906 book was designed to get the British government and populace more concerned about Germany, and now works as proto-SF. At times, I was reminded of Storm by George R. Stewart (though I think that book was duller, overall), but here, substitute Germans for really bad weather. I suppose, in the stretchiest sense, I was also reminded of World War Z, but that’s more to do with basic structure, not the feel of either book. Lastly - I read this in early 2023, and thought a lot of Ukraine.
The best sections are in the back half, once the Germans have London in view. The best scenes play up the human factor, instead of just depictions of Regiment Number Whatever and the So-and-So Fusiliers engaging with these Hussars and those Cuirassiers, with Infantry Number Whichever performing a pincer movement, while the So-and-So Grenadiers arrive from the South, and lots of on and on like that.
But it’s not all like that, thank goodness. It’s almost like Le Queux can slip between two ways of writing this: the boring way, and the insanely compelling way. If you DNF early, you miss the guerrilla warfare in London - women with guns and hatchets, dead combatants’ tragic last diary entries, deadly panic in the Tube stations and tunnels, and rivers of blood in the streets. By this time we are (mostly) past naval battles that are just lists of different types of ships doing things involving tricky terminology (though “sinking”, and “all aboard lost” are clear enough terms).
3.5 stars, rounded down, to punish the dry stretches. Overall, I’m glad I stuck with it, and even surprised myself when, as I mentioned, I suddenly almost cried. This 1906 book was designed to get the British government and populace more concerned about Germany, and now works as proto-SF. At times, I was reminded of Storm by George R. Stewart (though I think that book was duller, overall), but here, substitute Germans for really bad weather. I suppose, in the stretchiest sense, I was also reminded of World War Z, but that’s more to do with basic structure, not the feel of either book. Lastly - I read this in early 2023, and thought a lot of Ukraine.
August 26, 2017
This isn't a book in the usual sense of the word. If you're already familiar with the political and historical context of The Invasion of 1910, you can stop reading. You already know what comes next.
If no, best to Google a bit and read up. Basically this "book" contains a serialized set of newspaper articles commissioned to drive sales and to beat the government of the day with a stick on issues of defense policy. There are no characters and not much of a story.
To fill out your understanding of events leading up to the Great War it's worth reading. To attempt to read it as a standalone "book" really, don't waste your time.
http://www.revisionist.net/hysteria/g...
https://airminded.org/2009/10/04/the-...
If no, best to Google a bit and read up. Basically this "book" contains a serialized set of newspaper articles commissioned to drive sales and to beat the government of the day with a stick on issues of defense policy. There are no characters and not much of a story.
To fill out your understanding of events leading up to the Great War it's worth reading. To attempt to read it as a standalone "book" really, don't waste your time.
http://www.revisionist.net/hysteria/g...
https://airminded.org/2009/10/04/the-...
January 28, 2021
A must read for all Americans
This might have been wrote in 1906 but it also applies to today. Change Germany to China and England to America and you'll have the state of the world in 2021. China is not our friend and would love to obtain our country. Just as England ignored this book in 1906 and let the 1st world war happen we have our heads in the sand!
This might have been wrote in 1906 but it also applies to today. Change Germany to China and England to America and you'll have the state of the world in 2021. China is not our friend and would love to obtain our country. Just as England ignored this book in 1906 and let the 1st world war happen we have our heads in the sand!
February 25, 2024
Exceptional
Keep at it clerics alike stuff upper lip definitely a triumph of literal skill and needs to be understood for what it is
Keep at it clerics alike stuff upper lip definitely a triumph of literal skill and needs to be understood for what it is
March 26, 2018
This book was stupid. An implausible concept and I don't care for fantasy.
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