By coincidence, in the past
week two readers* have emailed me questioning whether Britain’s defeat at
Dunkirk really is the DIVERGENCE POINT of the book. (As a quick reminder the
divergence point in a work of alternative history is the moment where events
take a different path to our own version of reality.) Those two emails were
actually very astute, and follow on from similar messages I’ve had over the
years. So although I planned not to reveal this until a later date (if ever),
today I’ve decided to confess all.
 |
| Robert Frost would approve... |
Dunkirk is not the true divergence point of the
book. It is a symptom of an earlier cause. It is the place where geopolitical
history changes but the real shift – a minuscule fissure in the past – predates
it. If, thus far, I have promoted a slight falsehood it is because I have been
playing to an audience; fulfilling the marketing needs of the book (though in
my defence all the clues as to what’s really going on are in the text). As
regular readers of this blog will know by now, nothing is ever quite what it
appears with Afrika Reich!
So what is the true
divergence point?
I’m not going to tell
you for two reasons: 1) better you work it out yourself 2) rather unfairly,
it’s more fully explored in Book 2. However, I believe world events are not
decided at the macro level but micro. History is determined not when Caesar
crosses the Rubicon – but earlier, in the accretion of childhood experiences
that motivate the crossing in the first place.
Whilst you’re puzzling all
this out (or heading back to Facebook, which is probably more entertaining
anyway) I’ll leave you with a clue:
*One in Iowa, America; one
in Venezuela – hello/hola if you’re reading!
Guy. Thanks for your recent email answering my question on POD. And blog . Please to know I'm an "astute reader". That's a first! Looking forward to learning more about the alternate history in book 2. John Miller, IA
ReplyDeleteAnother fresh idea! I like the way you're deconstructing the genre. I didn't get it when I read it but understand totally what you mean now. Very original. What other tricks have you got up your sleeve? DR
ReplyDeleteGUy
ReplyDeleteI don't remember you mentioned this at your talk at EBF! Was this something that you planned from the beginning. I always wonder how preconceived ideas are in literature - the best example being Shakespeare. Pick up any modern edition and the accompanying notes are as long as the play itself, but what I always want to know is whether Shakespeare intended all the symbolism etc. Or whether this is the modern reader/critics overlaying. I digress... Another interesting blog.
Best regards
Ron
I'm guessing it's got something to do with the burning of Dolan!!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to sequel and learning more.
Aha! The beach in Togoland!! With Eleanor! You mean Hochburg and Burton could have been friends? :-)
ReplyDeleteOh but what a teaser for Book 2!
Take care
x
i dont see how how dunkirk can be anything but the point of divergence. still better than the nazis beat russia or d day fails which is cliches. its the same in dominion. is that where you got idea
ReplyDelete