Rating: 
Summary: an entertaining read
Review: Harry Turtledove poses an interesting question: what would have happend in 1588 had the Spanish Armada succeeded in its conquest of Britain? _Ruled Britania_ weaves real people (William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Lope de Vega, Francis Bacon among others) with his "alternative history" to create a unique and entertaining read.Set ten years after the Spanish Armada arrived, the plot of the story revolves around a conspiracy to foment a revolt in Britain, casting out the Spanish and returning Elizabeth I to the throne. William Shakespeare reluctantly is drawn into the intrigue. While the book moves at a lesiurely pace, the attention to historical detail (in terms of dress, customs, sanitation and social class) are remarkable which I enjoyed immensely. The story improves as the plot thickens and the action increases, but as another reader pointed out, it takes a while to get there. Taken at face value, it would be a great airplane read. Historical purists may balk, and those looking for something with "swashbuckling" will be disappointed. A light, if entertaining, read.
Rating: 
Summary: Well...
Review: Harry Turtledove writes convincing William Shakespeare. Need one say more?
Rating:
Summary: Rule Turtledove!
Review: Harry Turtledove's newest book is a straight alternative history; no fantasy, no science fiction. The turning point is a victorious Spanish Armada, whose superior forces overwhelmed the British and have returned England to Catholic rule. Elizabeth I is now a prisoner in the Tower of London, while King Phillip II's daughter Isabella and her husband are the Queen and King. Nine years later, the book begins with a vivid description of the English Inquisition (no one expects...) and heretics paraded and then burned at the stake. The population has been whipsawed between Catholic and Protestant rule, and now the Catholics are back with a vengeance. William Shakespeare is one of Turtledove's viewpoint characters, and like most, he is willing to go along with whatever religion the rulers want, as long as he can continue his day-to-day living. If that means observing Lent a month earlier than the Protestants would have, then he'll eat fish where others can see him. Alas, events do not allow a peaceful existance for him. Shakespeare is asked to help overthrow the Spanish-Catholic overlords by writing a play about Queen Boudicca and her revolt against the invading Romans. Meanwhile, the Spanish ask him to write a master work commerating the about-to-drop-dead-any-day-now King of Spain, Phillip II. And the other viewpoint character, the Spanish lieutenant Lope de Vega, is there to watch Shakespeare and ensure nothing treasonous is going on. And de Vega enjoys his job, in fact he writes plays in Spanish and loves talking shop. So how is Shakespeare ever going to rehearse Boudicca, assuming he can figure out which of his troupe is willing to do so without running to the Inquisition? Unlike most of Turtledove's other books, there are ONLY two viewpoint characters, and that helped move the plot along as well as let the background seep in. Turtledove's typical work has anywhere between eight and twenty viewpoints, giving a channel-surfing feel to some of them. Here we get to know the two protagonists, their fears, triumphs, and demons. Many here have said this is Turtledove's best book yet. While I'd reserve that for _How Few Remain_ (his fantastic alternate history of a victorious Confederate States of America 20 years later), this is certainly one of his best. If you love Shakespeare, you will love the use of his quotes throughout the book, as well as discovering how his plays take different form in this universe. If you don't, you will want to read more Shakespeare when you're through. Don't miss this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable tale of Shakespeare in a Spanish-ruled England
Review: Harry Turtledove's Ruled Britannia considers a fairly common Alternate History point of departure -- the Spanish Armada was successful in conquering England in 1588. (As in, for example, Keith Roberts's Pavane and Kingsley Amis's The Alteration -- two of the very greatest Alternate History novels.) But Turtledove sets his story much earlier -- not in roughly our present day, as with the two examples I mentioned, but rather in 1597, less than a decade into the Spanish occupation of England, with King Philip's daughter Isabella installed on the throne. (As Turtledove points out, Isabella actually did have at least a tenuous claim to the English crown -- no surprise, perhaps, given how tangled European dynasties became.) England has been forcefully restored to Catholicism, and a homebred English Inquisition is killing people for such crimes as witchcraft and sodomy. But in general the populace seems resigned to the changes, if not precisely happy about them. The protagonists of the book are the greatest playwrights of that time: England's William Shakespeare, and Spain's Lope de Vega. Shakespeare is presented as a vaguely apolitical man, working away as his company, Lord Westmoreland's Men, presents such of his plays as Prince of Denmark and If You Like It. He is almost simultaneously given two commissions. A faction of English resisters wants him to write a play about Boudicca, the English queen who resisted the Romans, in order to help stir up passions against the Spanish occupiers. And the Spanish authorities want him to write a play about King Philip, to be presented in his memory on the occasion of his death, which is soon expected. Lope de Vega is a lieutenant in the occupying force, and it is his job to keep an eye on Shakespeare and his fellow players. He is also charged with tracking down suspected criminals such as Christopher Marlowe, and he spends the rest of his time juggling a variety of lovers, both English and Spanish. The novel moves rather slowly to its fairly predictable conclusion. It's generally enjoyable -- it must be said that it's fun to daydream about additional plays from the pens of Shakespeare and Marlowe. And Turtledove raids Shakespeare's works (as well as Marlowe's and Dekker's and Fletcher's and others) for much of the dialogue, as well as for the invented snatches he presents of the new plays. But I couldn't quite believe in the presented characters of Shakespeare and de Vega: much attention is paid to putting period sentiments in their mouths, but their general actions and attitudes still struck me as too modern. And the plot is a bit too slowly paced, not really twisty enough, and rather implausible in basic outline. It's a pleasant way to pass a few hours, but not a fully successful book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Shakespeare dialogue adds snap to alt history
Review: he Spanish Armada, unhampered by the storm and fire ships that saved England in our history, landed and England lies conquered beneath the Spanish (and Irish) boot. Protestantism is persecuted, Elizabeth languishes in the Tower of London, and spies are everywhere, searching out any remaining supporters of the old English order. Yet London remains restive, even after ten years of Spanish rule, looking for a spark to sent it into revolt. English nobleman Lord Burghley decides that Philip's death and a new play by Shakespeare are just the sparks needed to ignite the flames of freedom. Of course, for Shakespeare, any flames might just come from the Inquisition rather than from freedom. Alternate History master Harry Turtledove combines historical research with an abundance of Shakespearian paraphrases to deliver an entertaining and plausible tale. Certainly England's survival from the Spanish Armada was viewed as a miracle at the time, and certainly a Spanish victory would have changed the world. Setting a story in the world of Shakespeare and Marlowe gives the story instant appeal and the author a challenge to depict the Bard as a witty and human man. Turtledove lives up to the challenge. I especially enjoyed his depictions of the exploits of Spanish soldier and playwright Lupe de Vega. For me, at least, the magic of alternate history is seeing how the world is changed by a slightly different turn of fate (hence the success of the Spanish Armada). The point of RULED BRITANNIA, however, is the English resistance to Spanish rule. The end result, should the revolt succeed, is a return to history much as we knew it. Whether a revolutionary play could set off London is certainly debatable but at least tenable. Less so, to me, is the foolishness of Philip leaving Elizabeth in the tower rather than in the Spanish equivalent. Would Elizabeth have dared put Mary Queen of Scots in Edinburgh? The power of RULED BRITANNIA comes from Turtledove's obvious enjoyment of Shakespeare's dialogue, characters such as the word-mangling Constable Strawberry, and Shakespeare's fellow dramatists Kemp and Burbage.
Rating:
Summary: Shakespeare's World Comes Alive!
Review: I agree with another reviewer that this is the book for which to remember Turtledove. Though I haven't read every one of his books, this is by far the best. This is yet another historical "what if" book: What if the Spanish King Philip II and his Armada had defeated the English in 1588 and occupied England? And what if, after 9 years of occupation, the English insurgency had chosen none other than William Shakespeare to be the tool of their revolution? This book has so much going for it: conflict between England and Spain, plotting on both sides as the Englishman Cecil outsmarts the Spanish commanders, a look into daily life in London through the eyes of Shakespeare (the home, the theater, the ordinary tavern, and contemporary speech), Lope de Vega the Spanish poet and resident "Don Juan," and plenty of comedy (the clown Will Kemp and the "keytone cop" Constable Walter Strawberry). It is true that certain notions had to be stretched a bit (e.g., Philip II keeping the defeated Elizabeth so close to home and allowing William Cecil to stay in power), but most of the "what ifs" were believable. The characters wre well-developed, but most were not too lovable to me. I did like both Shakespeare and de Vega. It was neat seeing Shakespeare transform from "relative coward" into a true hero. I am glad that de Vega ended up OK, too (though his "Don Juan" act got a bit old). My favorite characters were the funny ones, especially Constable Strawberry. I didn't see why Shakespeare disliked him so; Strawberry was only doing his job. I am glad that the Constable both showed himself smarter than expected and finally "got his man." I so couldn't stand Ingram Frizer; I am glad he got his just desserts. I also liked Will Kemp, Richard Burbage, and Kit Marlowe (in spite of his reputation). It is true that Catholics may not like the story, because of their treatment by the victorious English. I don't think the author did it to discredit Catholics; Turtledove did it, because that's what the historical English may have done (and vice verse with the Spanish inquisition). Even Shakespeare's quarrel was less about religion and more about politics (he admits that he might have been Catholic were it his own choice). Still I was sorry about the player Quinn (even if he was a jerk) and the editor who were killed only because they were the wrong religion. Neither side came off very well (even Shakespeare laments at what his own people will do after the revolution), but, I guess, that was how many people behaved then. I think that this book gives a good acoount the late 16th Century England from both English and Spanish views. Shakespeare was an excellent choice as the main character, and his interactions with his colleagues (Marlowe, Burbage, Kemp, de Vega, Phelippes, Kate, Sellis, etc.) were well written - so full of wit and poetic pieces. I like the way the author put together other plays to write King Philip and Boudicca, too. All in all, this is a wonderful mixture of history, literary wit, and comedy. I recommend it highly as the best of Turltedove's works.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best Turtledove has written...
Review: I am one who picks up every Harry Turtledove book I can get my hands on. I find his style and grasp of history extremely engaging. This entree', however left me a little flat. Although the intrigue and characters were good, I felt that there was too much padding in the story. This book could have been pared down to 2/3 of its lenghth and it might have been just right. I gave it 4 stars because it is Harry Turtledove after all.
Rating:
Summary: What a McGuffin!
Review: I am stunned. This is a magnificent work of alternative history. The collaboration between the two greatest playwrights of the Renaissance is truly a wonderful touch. I was struck not only by the use of Shakespeare's work, and that of other Elizabethan playwrights, but by Turtledove's use of Elizabeth Tudor's speeches. This is history I know well, and the alternative is rendered as near to perfection as possible.
Rating:
Summary: More from the Ultimate Alternate Historian
Review: I found "Ruled Britannia" to be a very fascinating read, with well-detailed characters, a plausible setting, and certainly enough tension and drama to keep me turning pages when my body was crying out for sleep. This is a good read for anyone interested in Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, or alternate history; even more so for those of us fascinated by all three!
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Romp
Review: I had trouble putting this engaging book down. Obviously Turtledove had great fun writing it, and it shows. Sometimes Turtledove sacrifices character development for the plot (such as in his series about aliens invading Earth during WW2). This book, however, does a great job portraying an all-too-human William Shakespeare, warts and all. I strongly recommend this book!
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