Rating: 
Summary: The Theater as a Political Power
Review: For a writer to portray the life of another writer, one for whom daily living details are in short supply, is a difficult job. When it is not a work of biography, but rather an alternate history, and the writer being portrayed is Shakespeare, this act takes courage and more than a bit of chutzpah. Happily, Turtledove is (mostly) equal to this task.
Imagining a world where the Spanish Armada won, and England conquered and placed under the nominal rule of Queen Isabella, subsidiary to King Philip II of Spain, in many ways this is an intriguing look at the both the time and place - and its overlap with another SF writer's look at this time, Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, provides an interesting comparison. Instead of Stephenson's incredibly broad look at the times, people, and politics, Turtledove chooses to limit the scope of this book to the theater and its environs, with Shakespeare becoming the focal point of an attempted rebellion, as William Cecil commissions him to write a play designed to inflame the audience. Almost simultaneously, he is commissioned to write a play praising the life and deeds of King Philip, due to be performed upon Philip's death.
The tension in this book derives from these two opposing objectives, of how Shakespeare can write and get rehearsals performed of a subversive play while being closely watched by the Spanish for his progress on the King Philip play. Many of the characters presented are familiar ones: Kit Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Richard Burbage; and in general they are well fleshed out, and conform in the main to what is actually known about these people.
But more than plot or character, this book is driven by style and place. The dialogue is done in the Elizabethan English of the time, what Shakespeare basically wrote in. At times this is a little unnerving, as the syntax, word order, and vocabulary is such that you need to read a sentence two or three times to make sense of it. But it certainly provides a definitive ambience, which coupled with the descriptions of living, working, hygienic, and religious conditions, the typical fashions in dress and social customs, gives one a very good sense of the era. Turtledove has also inserted some wry jokes: changes in the names of Shakespeare's plays (such a "Love's Labour Won" instead of "Love's Labour Lost") and at various appropriate places in the dialogue he has stolen some of Shakespeare's most famous lines, given them perhaps a slightly shifted meaning. You don't need to be a Shakespearian scholar to recognize these, as most of these lines are so famous they have almost become part of the English language, though trying to match the lines to what play they belong in (and if that play had been written by the time of this book) is a more difficult but fun exercise.
The major failing I found with this book was that the basic idea behind the plot, that those planning a major rebellion would try to use a play as one of its major lynch-pins, does not come across as very believable. The play could obviously only be performed once, and would an audience of a couple hundred or so really make that much difference to the outcome of an uprising? But as a fun, light read that provides an interesting perspective on the times and the writer, this work does quite well.
--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)
Rating:
Summary: One of his better books
Review: Harry Turtledove has written one of his better books. Set in 1597, he uses William Shakespeare as his main protagonist. Spain has defeated and occupies Britain affter after defeating the English Navy with it's Armada. Shakespeare is asked to write a play that will incite the English to revolt and overcome the Spanish and gain England's freedom once again.Though the book moves slow at times, its plot and premise is worth the effort. It is one of his better efforts. It seems that his stand alone alternative histories always seems to be more concise and and pointed than his alternative history series of the USA and CSA. Turtledove's research and use of dialogue are well done. While his writing may be a little simple at times, this is one time that he has created a book well worth reading for fun and imagination.
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: 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: 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: Turtledove's Best
Review: I just finished reading "Ruled Brittania" by Harry Turtledove. This is his best work yet. Unlike much of his work it's not science fiction, it's just alternate history. The central character is William Shakespeare (which I thought took a lot of guts, writing a fictional story about the English language's most famous author). If you like Shakespeare, you'll love this book. If you're not into Shakespeare, you will be after reading this book. This is the 12th Turtledove book I've read, in my opinion it's the best of the dozen. A brief outline: The Spanish Armada conquered England and has ruled the island for 9 years now. We get a unique look at the writings of Master Shakespeare, as they never occured. The poet gets caught up in a conspiracy to rebel against the Spaniards. Naturally, they want him to write a creme de la creme play that will incite the populace to rise up. It moved me, caught me up in the lives of the characters, and, at times, had me roaring with laughter. Definitely recommended to one and all.
Rating:
Summary: A NEW ROLE FOR SHAKESPEARE
Review: Since its inception, Science Fiction has speculated about time travel and the possibility of changing the present by meddling in the past. Harry Turtledove writes about radically altered pasts without resort to time machine through a device called "alternate history". Blurbs on his books proclaim him the master of this genre. In support of his title Turtledove has published two hefty tomes in as many months. Advance and Retreat is the fourth book in his "war between the provinces" series which projects events in the US Civil War through a very convoluted looking glass. Ruled Brtiannia is more conventional, working from a single "what if..." premise, i.e. that the Spanish armada had succeeded in subjugating England in 1588. Elizabeth is locked up in the Tower and Phillip II's daughter sits on the throne of England. Turtledove's story begins a decade later when William Shakespeare becomes embroiled in a plot to throw off the Spanish yoke. He proves a reluctant and timid revolutionary. Turtledove creates a persona for Shakespeare that is entirely believable and consistent with the known facts of his life. Many of the other characters in the book are important historical figures, though playing somewhat different roles in an England under Spanish rule. William Cecil is the prime conspirator rather than Elizabeth's prime minister. He commissions Shakespeare to write and perform a play that will arouse the patriotic fervor of the English. Lope de Vega, the great Spanish playwright (who really did sail with the armada) is a captain in the London garrison and a fan of Shakespeare's plays. His commander has him commission Shakespeare to write a play extolling the virtues of Phillip II. Faced with these competing and contradictory demands, Shakespeare comes up with a solution worthy of... well... of Shakespeare. Burbage, Kemp and Christopher Marlowe naturally figure in the story. Turtledove sprinkles lines from Shakespeare and Marlowe, or approximations thereof, liberally through his dialogue. He plays a trifle loose with the sequence of the plays for no apparent reason, having the Falstaff of the Merry Wives of Widsor precede the Falstaff of Henry IV -- rather than the the other way round. A witty and entertaining book.
Rating:
Summary: Turtledove's Best
Review: Ten years after the successful invasion of the Spanish Armada overthrew Elizabeth, England has quietly simmered under the repression of the dons. All it needs is the right motivation to rise up. As King Phillip II lies on his death-bed, England's remaining loyalists decide now is the time to strike. But how to stir the people to rebellion? A play's the thing, and who better to write it but William Shakespeare of course. It's not that easy, of course. Spain wants to make sure England stays loyal, and what better way to commemorate their king than with a play, written by William Shakespeare. Poor Master William. Not made for intrigue, nor gifted with great physical courage, he finds himself in the burden of his nation's sovereignty on his shoulders. Worse, he is forced to contend with the attentions of Senior Lieutenant Lope de Vega, who is made for intrigue and is a formidible playwright of his own. "Ruled Britannia" is the book that Harry Turtledove should be remembered for. Even more than "Guns of the South", even more than "Worldwar" or "Great War". Turtledove writes with a richness of setting and depth of character only hinted at in previous works. He imbues Shakespeare and de Vega with complexity and depth as both play unwitting games of cat and mouse, leading from back alley murder and conspiracy, through the threat of the Inquisition, plays, romance, swashbuckling action, onward to the inevitable question: which play will be performed?
Rating: 
Summary: GOOD PLOT - BRILLIANT DIALOG - POOR STORY
Review: This being my first Harry Turtledove outing I was expecting something incredible based on the reviews of this book and a few of his others. A very promising plot and a strong beginning soon falter into pages of repetition. A sweeping idea of "what if" is played like a TV show with a tight budget; witty Elizabethan dialog between Shakespeare & his theater actors - dialog with Shakespeare and his lodge mates - Spanish Second Lieutenant Lope dialog with Shakespeare at the theater & dialog with Lope and his Spanish Captain. These four scenes and three locations populate 80% of the story and for the most part the dialog doesn't move the plot along - it seems to be there only because Turtledove loves the language and is enjoying creating these scenes - too bad they don't serve the story and at about the half way point I found myself getting agitated for want of something interesting to happen. The tension of Shakespeare being commissioned two write two plays, one supporting King Phillip & one designed to create an uprising among the English is so completely buried beneath the day-to-day pointless yakking that any attempt to create urgency is lost. Additionally, I didn't feel that the Spanish rule was uncommonly oppressive and didn't get the sense that by restoring Elizabeth would have improved anything - I just didn't care.
I think that his choice of plot is fantastic & I think that he's mastered the language and is a accomplished writer. However, there just isn't enough story here to recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Kinda boring
Review: This book was kind of boring. Although it had a great storyline and the first 100 pageswere pretty good. Theres lots of pages of diolagoue after that, and it gets rather boring with hardly no action at all.
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