Two Crowns for America

by Katherine Kurtz

It's 1775, and in Europe, an unseen Master peers into a darkened mirror to see the man whose destiny is to wear the victor's crown. Across the sea, in a land named for a virgin queen, Gen. George Washington is thrown from his horse and has a dream that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Soon, a reluctant Washington will be elected Commander-in-Chief of the new Continental Army and considered for the position of king of America--and his rise will set in motion a chain of events that lead directly to rebellion. But little do the colonists and Founding Fathers realize that they are part of a greater plan, being used as pawns in another person's game of power and conquest.


From the Paperback edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Alternate History, Fiction, Historical, Adult, Historical Fantasy

375 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Katherine Kurtz is an American fantasy novel writer. She is best known for her Deryni series. She currently lives in Virginia.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katherine Kurtz has been one of my favorite "return to" authors. She makes me think about the world in a different way. Sometimes, she takes me so completely into her worlds that it takes me a while to return to my own.

In "Two Crowns," the world she creates is not of pure fantasy (as in her Deryni series) but rather of the Revolutionary United States. Scottish immigrants, patriots of the Stuart cause, have added the new colonies to their cause. George Washington, the Marquise de Lafayette, St. Germaine, are the key characters.

Kurtz writes of Freemasonry being the impetus and the reason for the success of the Revolution.

[Jack Massa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Secrets of Freemasonry, refugee Jacobites in Colonial America, the occult secrets behind the Revolution...Wow, given my predeliction for this sort of material, I was ready to love this book.

Then I started to read it.

With a plot that meanders (literally) all over the map, flat and poorly drawn characters, long stretches of vapid reportage of historical events, and a truly memorable lack of dramatic focus, Two Crowns for America proved remarkably disappinting. Did I mention the dull and turbid prose? A skipper.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really disappointed by this book. The characters were nicely done and enjoyable (even if they all got along too well. I like a little conflict among my protagonists), but there was no really feeling of there being any antagonists of note, which was disappointing considering the book was set in the Revolutionary War. I also did not like the whole idea that all the events of the war was manipulated from afar.

[Mark Muckerman · Rating 1 out of 5]

What can say that the other unflattering reviews haven't said? Very little.

It. Just. Wasn't. Good.

The writing was week - overblown and dry throughout most of the book, and ridiculously contrived and cliched elsewhere.

The plot? A potentially strong premise that could have better played upon the still-popular conspiracy theories connecting Freemasonry to the shaping of America. But trying to weave a connection between the Masons, two continents, the Scottish battle for independence, the Hanoverians, the American Revolution, George Washington (and throw in a little astral projection and body possession from half a world away) just gives you a confusing mess and a boring read.

Pass this one by. Or, if you really want to read it, go to McKay's Used Books in Virginia, because that's where my copy is heading next. . .

[Owlsinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halfway through the book I looked at the "Reader Comments" Post-It in the back: I'd read it several years before (pre-Goodreads), and have no recollection of having done so. Still finished, because...how does it end? It's much more a description of Masonic ritual (real or invented - who knows?) and influence on Washington and the planning of the War of Independence, than on the actual execution of the war itself.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wondering about how much of all the Masonry stuff is factual. The book was a bit disturbing to me, although it made me think about how much influence those in other countries had on our revolutionary war. The seance scenes and the mind-control from abroad were a distraction from the ongoing story for me, but I may be in the minority.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read, highly entertaining and kept me enthralled.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are new to the Deryni series, go out, buy/borrow every book in the series and read them all back-to-back-to-back. IMHO, they are the very best in fantasy/medieval/semi religious/mystical fiction.

I am saying this to let you know how I feel about Kurtz and her books. This book is NOT set in the Deryni universe and as such I was a little disappointed. That's not fair to this book and I freely admit that. YMMV.

This book is set in the late 18th century around the time of the birth of the United States. It's a fictional account of how somethings might have happened in the life of General George Washington. Because of movies like "National Treasure", there has been some recently interest in that time period and what if any role free masons may have played in the birth of this nation. If you have doubts, pull out a dollar bill and look at it. The masonic symbols are there and hard to deny. Truth be told, after I read this book, I went to Wikipedia and read about the House of Stuarts and the transition from the Stuart monarchs to the Hanover monarchs in England.

Pros: In classic Kurtz style, it is meticulously researched, accurate in historical details (obviously except where she took liberties for the sake of the story) and tells rich stories of the lives and the development of the main characters.

Cons: It is not set in the Deryni universe. (Grin) Some people hold the stories and legends surrounding the birth of our nation as almost sacred and maybe offended by the supposed involvement of the free masons in our nation's birth. (though to those folks I would say, "This is a work of fiction!")

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had been on my "get around to reading it" shelf for a while, and when I finally did, I was a little disappointed. Not alternate history in the traditional sense, instead it is a story of alternate explanations for what really happened. The down side is that much of the book is about Masonic ceremonies and the missing treasure of the Jacobites...fascinating, but lacking in drama because we already know how the story comes out in the end. The most dramatic moments of the American revolution are used as a mere backdrop, which further distanced me from the story.
I have always liked her purely fictional works, and I think the historical constraints interfered too much with her normal writing style. It's good, but could have been better.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting indeed, though I had to kind of slog through the first fifty pages. What made it so interesting in the foundation in fact (e.g., that a lot of Jacobites did emigrate to the American colonies). It might very well have been that some had designs for an American throne for the Bonnie (albeit aging) Prince Charlie. Also a thoughtful, imaginative look at some of the Founding Fathers, in particular, George Washington, and the role that Masonry and Protestant faith might have played for the leaders of the American Revolution. The upshot is that if you already have a general interest in the American Revolution, Masonic influences and history, and the Jacobites, you will likely enjoy this book.

[bkwurm · Rating 2 out of 5]

So apparently the Freemasons were operating behind the scenes to either offer a crown to the surviving Stuart or to George Washington, if he wanted it. In addition, they were responsible for the design of the American flag and the appearance of masonic symbols like the pyramid and the all seeing eye in the Great Seal.

I felt it would have worked better without all the mystical mumbo jumbo and simply focused on the behind the scenes plotting and counterplotting. But still an interesting read although you have to wonder how much of the rituals in the Freemason ceremonies detailed in the book are based on fact

[Laurie]

Bonnie Prince Charlie, Free Masons, Founding Fathers--seasoned with just a soupcon of Kabalah. It's all good fun, and makes us look at some of the what-ifs of history. What if Washington had become king? What if Bonnie Prince Charlie had won at the battle of Culloden? The "young pretender" we meet in this historical novel is old and worn out with dashed hopes. His romantic young supporters don't see at first that the cause is lost, but they ultimately put their energies behind Washington. An enjoyable voyage in time.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly, what if tale that takes great liberties with American history in the revolutionary war and mostly screws it up. I hated this book, and consider it to be the worst thing that Katherine Kurtz has written. It should have never seen the light of day, and god only knows what the publisher/editor was thinking when they ok'd it. Not worth it by any means.

For the complete review, with venom, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_32018...

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Kurtz's Deryni books but this one just didn't work for me. Though years passed, not much actually happened in terms of book action. Kurtz lovingly portrays Freemasonry and some of the Founding Fathers but they never felt like real people. Washington was essentially manipulated and when he found out he was, he let it continue with no real complaint.

Overall, it was a disappointment.

[Dot Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent conjecture

This story May have its roots in the true founding of the United States. If so, I would like so see a similar salvation for us as we seem to be pulled away from what this country stands for in the world today.

[I · Rating 4 out of 5]

a keen little fantasy alt-history of Colonial America.

[Janet]

Masons with mystical powers drive the American Revolution, oh my! Found it rather dull. Lots and lots of descriptions of mystical symbols and rituals, and lots of troop movements.

[David Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The book club I was a member of several years ago all read it and thought it was a very good read.

[colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

an alternative history of colonial america. i think i enjoyed it much more the first time i read it.

[Diana Sandberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am reluctant to publish a really bad review in a public forum; therefore, I will only say that I did not find this book at all to my taste and that I would not recommend it to anybody.

[Sem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Masons, masons everywhere...

[Lissa Notreallywolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly Masonic alternative historical fantasy of American colonial times.