For Want of a Nail: If Burgoyne Had Won at Saratoga - Softcover

Sobel, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1853675040 ISBN 13: 9781853675041

Publisher: Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal, 2006

Synopsis

For Want of a Nail is an alternate history classic. The outcome of one battle in the American Revolution diverges from reality, and sparks an unstoppable chain of events which affects the history of the whole North American continent. In reality, the British general John Burgoyne, heavily outnumbered by American troops, surrendered his army to General Horatio Gates at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, a major turning-point of the Revolution. Robert Sobel takes a step sideways and presents the alternative version: reinforcements arrive at Saratoga, Gates' men flee, and Burgoyne is victorious. Rather than openly allying itself with the American rebels, France withdraws its support, as does Spain, and the colonies surrender. Those former rebels who refuse to live in the Confederation of North America established by the British leave their homes and settle in what becomes the United States of Mexico. From then on the two continental nations find themselves constant rivals, locked in military, political and economic conflict. Sobel provides a detailed, intricately documented insight into two warring powers that develop in such dramatically different ways from their shared origins.

About this title

About the Author:

Neal O. Hammon, an architect, is the author of several books and numerous articles on pioneer history, including My Father, Daniel Boone published in 1999. He served in World War II aboard the USS Montpelier and was recalled to serve on the USS Helena for two years during the Korean War. He graduated from the University of Illinois. Richard Taylor is a professor of English at Kentucky State University in Frankfort. He has written a novel ("Girty"), four collections of poems, and Three Kentucky Tragedies. In 1992, he received the Distinguished Professor Award at KSU. He served as Kentucky's Poet Laureate from 1999 to 2001. He and his wife live near Frankfort with their three children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1853675040
• ISBN 13: 9781853675041
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 442