Book Description
Essays by Stephen E. Ambrose, John Keegan, David
McCullough, James M. McPherson, and others
A fascinating collection of never-before-published essays on
the great turning points in world history written by the most
renowned historians at work today.
Historians and inquisitive laymen alike love to ponder the
dramatic "what ifs" of history. In these twenty-two
original essays, scholars ask the tantalizing question: Where
might we be if history had not unfolded the way it did? Their
answers are surprising, and sometimes frightening, but always
entertaining.
David McCullough imagines George Washington's ignoble end at
the hands of the British if he had not made his escape from
Long Island in August 1776. Writing about the Civil War,
James M. McPherson suggests General Robert E. Lee could have
moved into Union territory and the ultimate crossroads--
Gettysburg--and won it all in 1862, if only his Special Order
No. 191 had not been lost and turned over to General
McClellan. Would the Union have been cleaved in half? Stephen
Ambrose describes what might have happened if D-Day had
failed. If the storm enveloping the Normandy coast in 1944
had become worse on June 6th, the invasion would have
resulted in catastrophe.
Other essay topics include Alexander the Great's luck, the
Spanish Armada's ill wind, Napoleon's overconfidence,
Hirohito's missed opportunity, and Hitler's inflated ego. In
addition to the twenty-two essays, fifteen
"sidebars," or shorter pieces, cover even more
"what ifs." Among the contributors are Stephen W.
Sears, Thomas Fleming, Victor Davis Hanson, Lewis H. Lapham,
William H. McNeill, Williamson Murray, Josiah Ober and
Theodore K. Rabb.
edited by Robert Cowley
featuring maps and photographs throughout
