Small changes - screwing an extra knot out of a warship's engines or a petty functionary insisting a family sell a wedding clock before they can get unemployment benefit - small changes which can nevertheless lead to a different world war than the one we know explored from the viewpoint of Republican Spaniards, committed Nazis, British parliamentarians and Royal Naval officers to name but a few in this stunning fictional alternative history.
In this novel a real accident which took place during the Spanish Civil War takes places a little differently resulting in a ship being damaged more severely than it was historically. As a result of the accident and skilled political actions by a politician who was a minor player at the time historically the ship repairs are done in her parliamentary district setting off ripple effects. She becomes a more significant MP years earlier than took place historically and her influence shifts a number of other events in the lead up to world war two. I am sure this will have a significant effect as later novels continue the story.
So a tiny change in the speed of a boat changes history. From Jarrow to Asturias there are ripples when the ship HMS Hood moves at an extra knot, long before the war breaks out.
And this is interesting. But for me it is not enough. The tale moves slowly, I know too little about the actual events in this obscure run up to war. What is new? What is unchanged? The characters are many and so each relatively shallow.
This book will be great for some, just not quite for me. I don't think I'll finish the series, though I'm not sad to have read it.
An alternative history with tiny butterfly effects. Not a bad read but a tendency to lapse into purple prose that doesn’t seem to fit. Long drawn out at times with only occasional action. I reached the end but skimmed at times to get there. Needs to be much likelier.