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1901
The year is 1901. Germany’s navy is the second largest in the world; their army, the most powerful. But with the exception of a small piece of Africa and a few minor islands in the Pacific, Germany is without an empire. Kaiser Wilhelm II demands that the United States surrender its newly acquired Guam, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines. President McKinley indignantly refuses, so with the honor and economic future of the Reich at stake, the Kaiser launches an invasion of the United States, striking first on Long Island.
Now the Americans, with their army largely disbanded, must defend the homeland. When McKinley suffers a fatal heart attack, the new commander in chief, Theodore Roosevelt, rallies to the cause, along with Confederate general James Longstreet. From the burning of Manhattan to the climactic Battle of Danbury, American forces face Europe’s most potent war machine in a blazing contest of will against strength.
Now the Americans, with their army largely disbanded, must defend the homeland. When McKinley suffers a fatal heart attack, the new commander in chief, Theodore Roosevelt, rallies to the cause, along with Confederate general James Longstreet. From the burning of Manhattan to the climactic Battle of Danbury, American forces face Europe’s most potent war machine in a blazing contest of will against strength.
404 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
118 people are currently reading
922 people want to read
About the author
Robert Conroy
26 books196 followersRobert Conroy was a best selling author of alternate history novels. His 1942, which is set within a Japanese conquest of Hawaii, won the prestigious Sidewise Award for alternate histories.
After taking early retirement from automotive management, Conroy decided to combine his loves of history and writing. After discovering that Kaiser Wilhelm had plans to invade the U.S., he wrote his first alternate history, 1901 in which the invasion took place. He found alternate history fascinating and the possibilities never-ending. He also wrote for Military History Magazine.
Conroy had a MBA, was a US Army Veteran and was a retired instructor at Macomb Community College. He had a married daughter and two grandsons. He lived in southeastern Michigan with his wife of forty-plus years. He passed away in December 2014 from Cancer.
After taking early retirement from automotive management, Conroy decided to combine his loves of history and writing. After discovering that Kaiser Wilhelm had plans to invade the U.S., he wrote his first alternate history, 1901 in which the invasion took place. He found alternate history fascinating and the possibilities never-ending. He also wrote for Military History Magazine.
Conroy had a MBA, was a US Army Veteran and was a retired instructor at Macomb Community College. He had a married daughter and two grandsons. He lived in southeastern Michigan with his wife of forty-plus years. He passed away in December 2014 from Cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 10, 2020
The plot of this novel had much merit, especially since Robert Conroy was inspired by actual plans made by Imperial Germany to invade the USA. But Conroy's novel soon runs aground on one-dimensional fictional characters, cliched events and situations (including romances!)
Conroy also delights in killing off historical personalities. In this alternate history, William F. Halsey (then a midshipman at the US Naval Academy) and John Philip Holland (a pioneer designer of submarines) bite the dust. And Douglas MacArthur (then a West Point cadet) is severely wounded. (Why couldn't he have whittled down the ranks of his flat, boring fictional characters instead?)
Conroy also blows up half of Manhattan and has German troops set fire to Sagamore Hill, Teddy Roosevelt's Long Island estate. Even this does not inject a sense of pulse pounding drama into Conroy's narrative.
Speaking of historical characters, his depictions of the likes of William McKinely, Theodore Roosevelt, Nelson Miles, and James Longstreet have promise at first, but in the end are as forgettable as his fictional characters, though his depiction of former Union General William F. "Baldy" Smith redeeming himself for a mistake he made at Petersburg during the Civil War is creative, and one of the precious few flashes of gripping alternate history Conroy displays.
In closing, I feel "1901" is a forgettable read that does no justice to its intriguing premise.
Conroy also delights in killing off historical personalities. In this alternate history, William F. Halsey (then a midshipman at the US Naval Academy) and John Philip Holland (a pioneer designer of submarines) bite the dust. And Douglas MacArthur (then a West Point cadet) is severely wounded. (Why couldn't he have whittled down the ranks of his flat, boring fictional characters instead?)
Conroy also blows up half of Manhattan and has German troops set fire to Sagamore Hill, Teddy Roosevelt's Long Island estate. Even this does not inject a sense of pulse pounding drama into Conroy's narrative.
Speaking of historical characters, his depictions of the likes of William McKinely, Theodore Roosevelt, Nelson Miles, and James Longstreet have promise at first, but in the end are as forgettable as his fictional characters, though his depiction of former Union General William F. "Baldy" Smith redeeming himself for a mistake he made at Petersburg during the Civil War is creative, and one of the precious few flashes of gripping alternate history Conroy displays.
In closing, I feel "1901" is a forgettable read that does no justice to its intriguing premise.
December 14, 2015
Really 2.5 stars, maybe 2.75. Conroy's first novel; I can only hope they improve from here. First, big points for an AU that isn't the Civil War or WW2. Concept is an Imperial German invasion (more like a large raid) of New York in 1901 to force America to hand over its newly-acquired colonies. The problem lies in the execution: the time period (late Victorian/Early Edwardian) doesn't ring true, feels anachronistic. The historical figures aren't convincing, particularly Theodore Roosevelt (who comes across as bipolar) and Kaiser Wilhelm 2 (presented as a shrieking cartoon villain). The otherwise well-crafted writing is bogged down by unnecessary detail (like the tonnage and armament and speed of nearly every ship mentioned) and interminable dragging exposition (most of it of little value to the plot) delivered through multiple boring military briefings and Cabinet meetings. The ultimate American victory also seems to owe quite a bit to amazing coincidence verging on Alien Space Bat territory. Worse, one of the few non-white vantage point characters is an Apache presented in a ridiculously stereotyped fashion.
August 28, 2021
A 14 and a half hour unabridged audiobook.
I haven't read any alternate history in nearing two decades, and only that of Harry Turtledove. It's time to revisit an interesting genre and say hello to a new author (for me).
This book just didn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, it was okay. But at no point was I excited about the characters or events. Much of it just seemed, empty, for lack of a better word.
I haven't read any alternate history in nearing two decades, and only that of Harry Turtledove. It's time to revisit an interesting genre and say hello to a new author (for me).
This book just didn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, it was okay. But at no point was I excited about the characters or events. Much of it just seemed, empty, for lack of a better word.
May 10, 2022
A little-known fact about the military buildup of Germany at the end of the 19th Century is that contingency plans were developed for a German invasion of the United States of America. At the time, Germany had the best army in Europe (and probably the world) and America almost didn’t have one. Germany also had a larger and more modern navy than the United States so it’s short-term prospects in a war with the U.S. looked good. In 1901, Conroy has come up with a justification for Germany actually launching the attack and then in a delightful bit of alternate military history, takes the reader through the course of the war.
I was a little frustrated in the beginning because I didn’t think Conroy understood how vast the resources of the U.S. in 1901 were and how implausible it was that Germany could prevent a massive buildup against their invasion, but it quickly became apparent that Conroy had respectably built these factors into his plan of war. He also effectively shows the peace faction, many of whom had staunchly opposed absorbing the former Spanish empire into the U.S., causing trouble for the president and adding tremendously to the risks if the growing U.S. army suffered a major defeat.
There are a lot of other things to like about this novel as well. The role of the British struck me as highly credible. The technology issues that would still be around (in our world) in 1914 were even more of a problem in 1901. There are tremendous leadership problems to be resolved (and the solution made me laugh with delight). Conroy also does some very nice work with the U.S. navy in this book and I thought his depictions of Kaiser Wilhelm II fit well with what I had read about the man, as did his characterization of Theodore Roosevelt.
On the other hand, there were two things about this novel that I didn’t like. The first was that President McKinley was very reluctant to declare war on Germany even after they invaded. This just isn’t plausible. Yes, McKinley was slow to declare war on Spain over actions in Cuba which he doubted justified going to war over, but that is highly different than a foreign power without provocation landing an army on Long Island. Even Woodrow Wilson would have rushed to declare war under those circumstances.
The second thing I disliked was how much time was devoted to the two romances in the novel. Nothing against romance, I read them occasionally, but this was a book about a war that might have happened and they were a huge distraction.
Overall, I was quite glad I read the book and I am adding Robert Conroy to the list of authors I’d like to read more of.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
I was a little frustrated in the beginning because I didn’t think Conroy understood how vast the resources of the U.S. in 1901 were and how implausible it was that Germany could prevent a massive buildup against their invasion, but it quickly became apparent that Conroy had respectably built these factors into his plan of war. He also effectively shows the peace faction, many of whom had staunchly opposed absorbing the former Spanish empire into the U.S., causing trouble for the president and adding tremendously to the risks if the growing U.S. army suffered a major defeat.
There are a lot of other things to like about this novel as well. The role of the British struck me as highly credible. The technology issues that would still be around (in our world) in 1914 were even more of a problem in 1901. There are tremendous leadership problems to be resolved (and the solution made me laugh with delight). Conroy also does some very nice work with the U.S. navy in this book and I thought his depictions of Kaiser Wilhelm II fit well with what I had read about the man, as did his characterization of Theodore Roosevelt.
On the other hand, there were two things about this novel that I didn’t like. The first was that President McKinley was very reluctant to declare war on Germany even after they invaded. This just isn’t plausible. Yes, McKinley was slow to declare war on Spain over actions in Cuba which he doubted justified going to war over, but that is highly different than a foreign power without provocation landing an army on Long Island. Even Woodrow Wilson would have rushed to declare war under those circumstances.
The second thing I disliked was how much time was devoted to the two romances in the novel. Nothing against romance, I read them occasionally, but this was a book about a war that might have happened and they were a huge distraction.
Overall, I was quite glad I read the book and I am adding Robert Conroy to the list of authors I’d like to read more of.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
January 3, 2023
For a first novel, this is quite impressive and its plot/era is a nice change from typical alt-history books. Sometimes the book was quite slow and pages could’ve been in the middle of the book and given to the end, just to flesh out the climax slightly more. In terms of characters, it was a mixed bag though, generally, they were interesting and believable. The mix between real historical figures and fictional characters was interesting, even if some could’ve been fleshed out more. The reason why I’ve given it a 4* is because it is an interesting plot with a decent ending, even if it was predictable. One thing that I didn’t like about this book (nor did I like about the previous book of Conroy’s that I read, Liberty: 1784) is the love story. It was unnecessary; not every person is motivated to fight because of a woman they just met. Additionally, the female characters feel one dimensional as they’re limited to being a character’s wife or a victim of a sexually motivated crime- something I noticed in the previously mentioned novel, Liberty: 1784.
It may seem strange, given the criticism, to give this a 4* however my ratings are based on how much I enjoy a book and I did enjoy this book, faults and all.
It may seem strange, given the criticism, to give this a 4* however my ratings are based on how much I enjoy a book and I did enjoy this book, faults and all.
September 12, 2022
This novel was a mix of military and alternate history. The premise is somewhat unbelievable, even though Germany actually had real thoughts about invading the USA. The story line is intriguing nonetheless. Most of the characters, both historical and fictional, were somewhat interesting though two-dimensional. The plot worked seamlessly to develop a clever and very satisfying plot.
March 28, 2018
One of the great problems with alternative history is the lack of imagination. All too often, the novels of the genre begin with a divergence, usually involving the Civil War or World War II, and lead to a result that is not unfamiliar to a student of our history. In this respect, Robert Conroy’s book is a refreshing change of pace with its intriguing premise: what if the German kaiser had decided to attack the United States in an effort to take over its recently acquired colonies? As ideas go, it is imaginative enough to be refreshing, yet plausible enough to work. Conroy follows this up with a believable plot that details the consequences of this decision on the world and on the cast of characters he assembles.
Nevertheless, this is the limit of Conroy’s achievement, as having avoided one pitfall he ends up stumbling into others. Though the plot is engaging the writing is not, as Conroy’s insertion of details often gives passages the feel of a textbook. A similar problem exists with the characters; while his main hero and heroine are well fleshed out, the rest often come across as underdeveloped and stereotypical.
The greatest problem with Conroy’s novel, though, is its lack of respect for the historical background. Though this might seem counter-intuitive in a novel of alternative history, it is one of the keys to a successful alternative history novel. Yet Conroy seems uninterested in this. All too often he infuses his characters with more modern sensibilities (such as attitudes towards blacks and immigrant Germans) which no event could have created back then. Doing so robs them of their distinctive voice, and strong historical personalities such as Theodore Roosevelt seem to be little more than two-dimensional mouthpieces used to offer expositions on the plot. He also falls victim to name-dropping, introducing other famous figures no matter how implausible their participation in events might have been, apparently for no reason other than to give him an excuse to crowd his narrative with a “who’s-who” of historical characters.
As a consequence, the novel fails to live up to the promise of the plot. Readers drawn to the genre by the works of authors like Harry Turtledove will find Conroy’s novel a pale imitation of their best efforts. Though entertaining in some respects, it lacks the vivid evocation of an alternate past that makes such books compelling reading. I only hope that other, better writers of the field will be inspired to make similar bold leaps of the imagination when defining “what might have been.”
Nevertheless, this is the limit of Conroy’s achievement, as having avoided one pitfall he ends up stumbling into others. Though the plot is engaging the writing is not, as Conroy’s insertion of details often gives passages the feel of a textbook. A similar problem exists with the characters; while his main hero and heroine are well fleshed out, the rest often come across as underdeveloped and stereotypical.
The greatest problem with Conroy’s novel, though, is its lack of respect for the historical background. Though this might seem counter-intuitive in a novel of alternative history, it is one of the keys to a successful alternative history novel. Yet Conroy seems uninterested in this. All too often he infuses his characters with more modern sensibilities (such as attitudes towards blacks and immigrant Germans) which no event could have created back then. Doing so robs them of their distinctive voice, and strong historical personalities such as Theodore Roosevelt seem to be little more than two-dimensional mouthpieces used to offer expositions on the plot. He also falls victim to name-dropping, introducing other famous figures no matter how implausible their participation in events might have been, apparently for no reason other than to give him an excuse to crowd his narrative with a “who’s-who” of historical characters.
As a consequence, the novel fails to live up to the promise of the plot. Readers drawn to the genre by the works of authors like Harry Turtledove will find Conroy’s novel a pale imitation of their best efforts. Though entertaining in some respects, it lacks the vivid evocation of an alternate past that makes such books compelling reading. I only hope that other, better writers of the field will be inspired to make similar bold leaps of the imagination when defining “what might have been.”
September 9, 2022
I have always had an interest in counterfactual historical fiction, and this is an interesting departure, one that does not retread the worn-dry points of departure in the genre (Confederate victory in the Civil War, Axis Victory during WW2). While it plays a little bit with the actual history (the German Navy in 1901 was not nearly as competent as Conroy conveys), I feel like there is a valiant effort to explore this fictional military engagement with realism. The dialogue was often not great, but I’ve read worse.
I would give this book 3-4 stars were it not for the truly cringe inducing fat-fingered attempts at romance and erotic literature. Not only were the “romantic” elements ham-fisted with the subtlety of a Mack truck, the (wholly unnecessary) erotic components read like they were written by a clueless horny 12-year-old. It was just… bad. So bad.
I would give this book 3-4 stars were it not for the truly cringe inducing fat-fingered attempts at romance and erotic literature. Not only were the “romantic” elements ham-fisted with the subtlety of a Mack truck, the (wholly unnecessary) erotic components read like they were written by a clueless horny 12-year-old. It was just… bad. So bad.
August 7, 2014
A fascinating fun romp through 1901 USA vs Kaiser Wilhelm's army and navy - re-writing 1914 history to occur just a little earlier and play with the idea. Some interesting cameo appearances such as James Longstreet at age 86 taking command of the US army to fight against the German Army, and various younger versions of the WW1 and WW2 leaders we know from our history: Douglas McArthur, Dewey, Roosevelt, and their matching German counterparts. Overall, very entertaining with some riveting naval and land battles in the later half of the book.
April 20, 2017
Robert Conroy's first novel presents an engrossing historical fiction of a German invasion of New York by Kaiser Wilhelm 2. In an effort to expand Germany into a global empire by taking the recent US acquisitions of Cuba and the Philippines (among others), a German Army/Navy sneak attack forces the US to re-enlist Civil War generals, rely on international partnership with England, and quickly test a new military and Navy. Recommended.
September 26, 2017
Alternate history has always been one of my go-to sources for books, so I was intrigued by this book about a potential war between the US and Imperial Germany. I was very disappointed. From the back flap, this is Robert Conroy's first book and it shows. One of the most important parts of alternate history is that you have to get the reader to buy in to this different version of history. Instead, we have Germans landing within the first 25 pages or so with almost no set up. If he had taken the time to set up the plot a bit more, it would have been more plausible. The next problem that leads into is the fact that we don't really know the main characters at all before the main plot starts. I did not really understand what he was trying to do with the main characters either. The main male protagonist is promoted multiple times for questionable reasons and spends most of the book/war romancing the main female character. Apparently being a general isn't too hard. His most uncomfortable scenes are with a 16 year female character that is brutally raped twice, but then immediately falls in love with and starts sleeping with an American soldier. Apparently, Conroy was a very prolific author, so I assume his books got better.
October 23, 2022
Now I understand the quality of Robert Conroy's writing. I have always enjoyed his alternate history books and I have only one left to read before I have read them all. This was is my second to last book of his to read and I came to discover it is his first novel, plus he lives/lived in Michigan. It is very sad that he died and that there will be no more. :( This novel is a great start to his career as an alternate history writer and I wish he had had time write more. This is quality writing, with good characterization, settings and logical extrapolation of the what if.... I do have every book he wrote and just one more to read before I must must start re-reading them to get my Conroy fix. This one and the other I have been patiently waiting to read because I know no more are forthcoming and I want to stretch the quality out longer. Did Conroy write any short stories? I will let the last one I have not read wait until next year. That book is "1920: America's Great War." The good part is his books are worth re-reading.
October 26, 2023
This will be a short review since I read this nine years ago. I don't recall how I stumbled upon this book, Robert Conroy's first novel, but I'm glad that I did. (It may have been given to me as a throwaway, or it was on the bookshelf of a friend or library that didn't want it.) I enjoyed it so much that I subsequently read Conroy's next book, 1863, and plan to read the rest of Conroy's novels of alternate history.
As it says on the cover, this book asks, "What if Germany had invaded America in 1901[?]" It's a pretty implausible premise logistically, but it is based on actual war plans that Germany had at that time. The existence of war plans for a particular scenario doesn't necessarily mean that the scenario is plausible, but at least some military planners thought it was a worthwhile exercise.
Germany enjoys some shocking surprise battle victories that put the U.S. in a tenuous situation from which it might have to sue for peace. I won't spoil anything. Like 1863, it was a fast and enjoyable read.
As it says on the cover, this book asks, "What if Germany had invaded America in 1901[?]" It's a pretty implausible premise logistically, but it is based on actual war plans that Germany had at that time. The existence of war plans for a particular scenario doesn't necessarily mean that the scenario is plausible, but at least some military planners thought it was a worthwhile exercise.
Germany enjoys some shocking surprise battle victories that put the U.S. in a tenuous situation from which it might have to sue for peace. I won't spoil anything. Like 1863, it was a fast and enjoyable read.
July 5, 2011
Most people realize that an alternative history novel (just like a Science Fiction novel) requires some ability, on the part of the reader, to suspend one's disbelief. A good, well written, story assists the reader in doing this. For me this is the hallmark not only of a good story but also a good writer. In the case of Robert Conroy's 1901: A Novel, the premise behind the story certainly was engaging enough (a punitive German invasion of the United States in the aftermath of the Spanish American War) for me to pick this up from the $1 bin at my local used book seller. Not expecting great literature (it was in the $1 bin for crying out loud) I assumed that the subject matter would keep me reading... however, the execution by the author, Conroy, failed to deliver on the promise.
In other alternative history books that Conroy has written, he is praised for his historical research. However based on the conclusions that he drew from his "research" for this title I am highly suspicious of this praise for his other works. In the first two chapters Conroy sets the tone for 1901 by claiming that Germany had the second largest fleet (the largest belonging to Great Britain) in 1901. Regardless how you measure Germany's fleet, it wasn't just far behind Great Britain's at this point in history, but also the French Fleet and (prior to its destruction by the US Navy in the Spanish American War) possibly the Spanish Navy as well. Furthermore although the Imperial German Navy was a force to be reckoned with during the First World War (technically, organizationally and manpower-wise) in 1901 Kaiser Wilhelm II (and Admiral Tirpitz) was just embarking on their project to build a first class navy to rival his Grandmother Victoria's Royal Navy.
As I said in the opening of this review, alt-history requires some ability to suspend one's disbelief so if you can forgive Conroy's shoddy research on this point, his portrayal of Wilhelm as some kind of Hitler-esque villain and the Imperial German Army (and by extension the entire German nation) as mindless Nazis strains my disbelief faculties to the breaking point. In the post World War II world, it is easy to pick on the poor Germans. Hitler is the personification of evil and Conroy uses our own bias to create a cartoon like villain that will play upon our sympathies without having to work to hard to develop a real set of circumstances or characters to be the "bad guys" for the novel.
This is especially problematic when the French make a much better villain during this time period. The French still have a jealousy/dislike of Britain (still true in 1939 and probably so today as well) that dates back to when Angles, Franks, Saxons and Celts fought over the British Isles. France had a powerful navy which rivaled Britain's for most of the 19th century (and was certainly the second largest in 1901) not to mention that the French had overseas colonies in Africa, Asia and the Americas. However, there is some historical basis for German animosity towards the US in the wake of the Spanish American War (the German Navy and Dewey's Asiatic Fleet almost coming to blows after the Battle of Manila Bay as well as incidents in Samoa in the late 1880s).
Given these first two strikes I have to give props to Conroy for his use of former American Civil War generals as commanders for the US Army in 1901. This was certainly the case with two of the Spanish American War's more successful commanders Joe Wheeler and Fitzhugh Lee (who were both Confederate Generals during the American Civil War). Also, I believe that Conroy's "rehabilitation" of General James Longstreet (General Lee's right hand man after Stonewall Jackson died) in 1901 pre-dates most of the Longstreet apologetic histories that have come out in the last several years.
However, having these Generals use expletives like the sergeants who pushed me through my own basic training in the 1980s stretches credibility beyond the breaking point again. It is almost as if Conroy believes that all Southerners are rednecks, trailer trash or worse. I am certain that the modern "lost cause Confederate gentlemen" school of thought is just as flawed, but these generals were the aristocracy of the time and while they probably did swear they most certainly did not use modern expletives.
So if you consider that a 0-2 foul ball, the final strike against Conroy's work comes in his portrayal of the British Admiralty as scared of the "mighty" Imperial German Navy. To the point where they let the entire German fleet (auxiliaries and all) sail into the North Atlantic bound for an invasion of the United States, unchecked, unmolested and almost unconcerned (yes, the British provide some covert assistance to the US) is simply a "wave of the hand" to make the story work.
Couple this with uneven writing (which should have been fixed by the editor) and the melodramatic love story that seems like a tack on (to what purpose I am uncertain, because those scenes feel "Harlequin Romance Novel" to me) and this book is probably a 1 1/2 star book on my shelf. Conroy's authorship suffers when compared to Turtledove (the later is very good at writing character descriptions) and even though I liked (and related to) the main character, Patrick Mahan, Conroy's characterizations are quite one-dimensional and cardboard.
So what is the bonus star for (note: I'd rate the book 2.5 stars if GoodReads allowed)? Well, I think the premise of 1901 is interesting, if you strip away most of the "junk" noted above, there are some pretty decent short stories here -- which may have been how this book came about (a series of short stories or ideas by the author). With a little imagination and some better research this could have easily been a good read. As it is, the story wasn't much more than a cheap and partially entertaining way to spend a late evening plane flight.
In other alternative history books that Conroy has written, he is praised for his historical research. However based on the conclusions that he drew from his "research" for this title I am highly suspicious of this praise for his other works. In the first two chapters Conroy sets the tone for 1901 by claiming that Germany had the second largest fleet (the largest belonging to Great Britain) in 1901. Regardless how you measure Germany's fleet, it wasn't just far behind Great Britain's at this point in history, but also the French Fleet and (prior to its destruction by the US Navy in the Spanish American War) possibly the Spanish Navy as well. Furthermore although the Imperial German Navy was a force to be reckoned with during the First World War (technically, organizationally and manpower-wise) in 1901 Kaiser Wilhelm II (and Admiral Tirpitz) was just embarking on their project to build a first class navy to rival his Grandmother Victoria's Royal Navy.
As I said in the opening of this review, alt-history requires some ability to suspend one's disbelief so if you can forgive Conroy's shoddy research on this point, his portrayal of Wilhelm as some kind of Hitler-esque villain and the Imperial German Army (and by extension the entire German nation) as mindless Nazis strains my disbelief faculties to the breaking point. In the post World War II world, it is easy to pick on the poor Germans. Hitler is the personification of evil and Conroy uses our own bias to create a cartoon like villain that will play upon our sympathies without having to work to hard to develop a real set of circumstances or characters to be the "bad guys" for the novel.
This is especially problematic when the French make a much better villain during this time period. The French still have a jealousy/dislike of Britain (still true in 1939 and probably so today as well) that dates back to when Angles, Franks, Saxons and Celts fought over the British Isles. France had a powerful navy which rivaled Britain's for most of the 19th century (and was certainly the second largest in 1901) not to mention that the French had overseas colonies in Africa, Asia and the Americas. However, there is some historical basis for German animosity towards the US in the wake of the Spanish American War (the German Navy and Dewey's Asiatic Fleet almost coming to blows after the Battle of Manila Bay as well as incidents in Samoa in the late 1880s).
Given these first two strikes I have to give props to Conroy for his use of former American Civil War generals as commanders for the US Army in 1901. This was certainly the case with two of the Spanish American War's more successful commanders Joe Wheeler and Fitzhugh Lee (who were both Confederate Generals during the American Civil War). Also, I believe that Conroy's "rehabilitation" of General James Longstreet (General Lee's right hand man after Stonewall Jackson died) in 1901 pre-dates most of the Longstreet apologetic histories that have come out in the last several years.
However, having these Generals use expletives like the sergeants who pushed me through my own basic training in the 1980s stretches credibility beyond the breaking point again. It is almost as if Conroy believes that all Southerners are rednecks, trailer trash or worse. I am certain that the modern "lost cause Confederate gentlemen" school of thought is just as flawed, but these generals were the aristocracy of the time and while they probably did swear they most certainly did not use modern expletives.
So if you consider that a 0-2 foul ball, the final strike against Conroy's work comes in his portrayal of the British Admiralty as scared of the "mighty" Imperial German Navy. To the point where they let the entire German fleet (auxiliaries and all) sail into the North Atlantic bound for an invasion of the United States, unchecked, unmolested and almost unconcerned (yes, the British provide some covert assistance to the US) is simply a "wave of the hand" to make the story work.
Couple this with uneven writing (which should have been fixed by the editor) and the melodramatic love story that seems like a tack on (to what purpose I am uncertain, because those scenes feel "Harlequin Romance Novel" to me) and this book is probably a 1 1/2 star book on my shelf. Conroy's authorship suffers when compared to Turtledove (the later is very good at writing character descriptions) and even though I liked (and related to) the main character, Patrick Mahan, Conroy's characterizations are quite one-dimensional and cardboard.
So what is the bonus star for (note: I'd rate the book 2.5 stars if GoodReads allowed)? Well, I think the premise of 1901 is interesting, if you strip away most of the "junk" noted above, there are some pretty decent short stories here -- which may have been how this book came about (a series of short stories or ideas by the author). With a little imagination and some better research this could have easily been a good read. As it is, the story wasn't much more than a cheap and partially entertaining way to spend a late evening plane flight.
December 11, 2017
I have read a bunch of Conroy alternative history books and enjoyed all of them. Like his other books, this one has a decent pace without a lot of needless filler other authors work into their stories. He also sprinkles a small but decent amount of a love story that doesn’t overwhelm the main story. I enjoyed the discussions between the various historical figures, like Longstreet, Roosevelt and the Germans (e.g., Turpitz, who had a Nazi battleship named after him). Reference to young WW2 legends D McArthur and Halsey was fun...although their fates were troubling. The only criticism is that all of Conroy’s books seem to follow a common pattern. Overall, a fun read that was hard to put down.
April 25, 2020
Pretty interesting book. Alternate history. It’s a gripping saga with ominous overtones. Conrad’s prose is intelligent and quick. Someone said a gripping page turner, indeed. It’s war so it’s bloody, but you can skim without losing the sense of horror and despair. So much of America after the civil war is here and unemotionally presented.
I spent time thinking about the what if’s, how would this have changed the reality of the War to end all...; and would it have changed the crash and the Great Depression? History buffs and social historians alike get plenty of fodder for philosophic reflection. Read it!
I spent time thinking about the what if’s, how would this have changed the reality of the War to end all...; and would it have changed the crash and the Great Depression? History buffs and social historians alike get plenty of fodder for philosophic reflection. Read it!
August 15, 2021
I felt I read it before maybe pre Goodreads days? Or because in his first book, Conroy sets the formula for his others, especially the other WWI era one I recently read: generals returning, some romance, cameos by major historical figures, President dying..... Maybe because it was his first book, it did not seem as exciting. The idea was good. The main point could have happened. In the way written, perhaps. How the characters reacted, especially Mahan, the German leadership and soldiers, seems real. Good as a first book, but since not read first and read better from the author, seemed disappointin.
March 13, 2019
It’s short but entertaining if you’re a fan of alternate history, this book delivers. I could totally envision this timeline occurring as the author has written it. I’ve owned this book for a long time and finally decided to read it. I’m glad I did. Historical figures from Longstreet to Tirpitz are brought to life. If you’re looking for a quick read on what might have been this short novel is for you.
January 19, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this romp.
I quickly became emersed in this story. Being a fan of alternate realities this pulled me in and I read until I finished it.
Names from the Civil War were present and accounted for. Heroes from both sides of the way resurfaced and, over again, ravaged the enemy.
This story took me away from the worries of this planet and I followed willingly into that alternate planet.
I don't want to come back. Lol
I quickly became emersed in this story. Being a fan of alternate realities this pulled me in and I read until I finished it.
Names from the Civil War were present and accounted for. Heroes from both sides of the way resurfaced and, over again, ravaged the enemy.
This story took me away from the worries of this planet and I followed willingly into that alternate planet.
I don't want to come back. Lol
March 4, 2021
A Delightful Alt-History Novel
A considerate, well grounded and not overly reaching timeline about Industrial Age America getting picked on by the Militant German Empire. Likable characters.
I enjoyed Mr. Conroy's Roosevelt and particularly had some laughs at certain decisions (no spoliers) that indeed fit the character and time.
Wonderful command of the period and understanding of the characters employed. Smartly written.
A considerate, well grounded and not overly reaching timeline about Industrial Age America getting picked on by the Militant German Empire. Likable characters.
I enjoyed Mr. Conroy's Roosevelt and particularly had some laughs at certain decisions (no spoliers) that indeed fit the character and time.
Wonderful command of the period and understanding of the characters employed. Smartly written.
July 18, 2023
Not bad, the description of the Germans was straight off of WW1 propaganda posters and a retro projection of Hitler's Reich into the Kaiser etc. It's laughable because swarms of German Americans went back to Germany to volunteer to fight in the early years of WW1 so it's just poor history.
Otherwise, aside from the excessive sex scenes and the Americans lucking into victory because.... 'murica
It wasn't bad.
Otherwise, aside from the excessive sex scenes and the Americans lucking into victory because.... 'murica
It wasn't bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2024
This, I found, was quite a riveting read. It's technically an alternate history novel based on war plans developed by Kaiser's Germany to wage war against the US and take colonial possessions in the Caribbean. I found it quite fun, like an Indiana Jones-type of action story, except no archeology. The end left room for a sequel, though the author unfortunately passed away.
Read if you like How Few Remain.
Read if you like How Few Remain.
March 3, 2018
Good lord, what a truly mediocre book. Cartoonish characters, clunky dialog, gratingly bad love scenes, and name-dropping of historical figures are all much as expected. All that might be forgiveable if the military history was at least plausible, but it descends into the worst kind of rah-rah pro-American jingoism, making the last 50 pages of the novel excruciating to read. U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
May 27, 2021
I couldn’t bring my self to read the last 20 pages. This is how predictible and boring the story is.
Poorly written dialog and a story of how great USA is, and how cruel and stupid the Germans are.
Utterly boring and a waste of both timeand money.
He has writen good books, but this one... Crap worth only to be used on a toilet.
Poorly written dialog and a story of how great USA is, and how cruel and stupid the Germans are.
Utterly boring and a waste of both timeand money.
He has writen good books, but this one... Crap worth only to be used on a toilet.
December 30, 2021
This was an interesting alternate history in a period of US history that does not get enough attention as it is. I was interested in the story throughout and never felt that it lagged at all, thats very rare. Overall very happy that I read this.
September 9, 2023
Well done and authentic!
Nicely woven tale of pre- WW1 military thought. Scene changes in Kindle version are abrupt, would serve to have some indication of changes. *** or extra space between paragraphs.
Nicely woven tale of pre- WW1 military thought. Scene changes in Kindle version are abrupt, would serve to have some indication of changes. *** or extra space between paragraphs.
July 2, 2024
I've always really enjoyed alternate history novels, especially ones that focus on alternate military history. Even so, I couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably every time this book mentioned the German army being "attacked in the rear." Clearly, I am the most mature person on the planet.
August 15, 2025
I loved this book. The story and characters (especially Patrick Mahan) were very compelling to me. I like Conroy's style of writing quite a bit and will be seeking out more of his novels. I like his unique mix of military and alternate fiction.
Overall I was very entertained by this novel.
Overall I was very entertained by this novel.
September 26, 2017
I liked this book.....I like history and understood many of the historical characters
January 7, 2018
Intriguing idea but poorly executed with caricature as characterisation.
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