If It Had Happened Otherwise

by J.C. Squire

Alternate history essays written by Winson Churchill, Emil Ludwig, Andre Maurois, G.K. Chesterton, Harold Nicolson, Ronald Knox, H.A.L. Fisher, J.C. Aquire, Hilaire Belloc, Philip Guedalla, Milton Waldman, Charles Petrie, G.M. Trevelyan, and A.J.P. Taylor.

Genres: History, Alternate History, Science Fiction Fantasy

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1931

About the author

Sir John Collings Squire was a British poet, writer, historian, and influential literary editor of the post-World War I period. His writings mostly discuss common experiences.

Born in Plymouth, he was educated at Blundell's School and St. John's College, Cambridge. He was one of those published in the Georgian poetry collections of Edward Marsh. His own Selections from Modern Poets anthology series, launched in 1921, became definitive of the conservative style of Georgian poetry.

He began reviewing for The New Age; through his wife he had met Alfred Orage. His literary reputation was first made by a flair for parody, in a column, "Imaginary Speeches," in The New Age from 1909.

His poetry from World War I was satirical; at the time he was reviewing for the New Statesman, using the name Solomon Eagle (taken from a Quaker of the seventeenth century). One of his reviews from 1915 was of The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence. Squire had been appointed literary editor when the New Statesman was set up in 1912; he was noted as an adept and quick journalist, at ease with contributing to all parts of the journal. He was acting editor in 1917–18, when Clifford Sharp was in the British Army, and more than competently sustained the periodical. When the war ended he found himself with a network of friends and backers, controlling a substantial part of London's literary press.

From 1919 to 1934, Squire was the editor of the monthly periodical, the London Mercury. It showcased the work of the Georgian poets and was an important outlet for new writers. Alec Waugh described the elements of Squire's 'hegemony' as acquired largely by accident, consequent on his rejection for military service for bad sight. Squire's natural persona was of a beer-drinking, cricketing West Countryman; his literary cricket XI, the Invalids, were immortalised in A. G. Macdonell's England, Their England, with Squire as Mr. William Hodge, editor of the London Weekly. In July 1927 Squire became an early radio commentator on Wimbledon.

In his book If It Had Happened Otherwise (1931), he collected a series of essays, many of which could be considered alternative histories, from some of the leading historians of the period (Hilaire Belloc, Winston Churchill); in America it was published that same year in somewhat different form under the title If: or, History Rewritten.

Squire was knighted in 1933, and after leaving the London Mercury in 1934, he became a reader for Macmillan, the publishers; in 1937, he became a reviewer for the Illustrated London News.

Reviews

[John Selmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, or History Rewritten, edited by JC Squire, 1931 379pp, is a collection (maybe the first such) of 11 counterfactuals:

Introduction by JC Squire describes the concept of alternate history, and notes some of the ones in this anthology are good guesses about what could have happened, others being more fanciful.

If the Moors in Spain Had Won by Philip Guedalla presents a series of historical documents showing how Granada being a separate Moorish kingdom to Spain, becomes a European cultural centre, allied to Britain in winning the Peninsular War, and later in WW1, gaining Spain as a mandated territory. The independent Granada is entirely plausible, however the subsequent success story sounds optimistic.

If Don Juan of Austria Had Married Mary Queen of Scots by GK Chesterton, who starts with a talk on love stories and Genesis. Mary had several suitors, and although Don Juan was not one of them (but Chesterton mentions a quote that he intended to carry her off), he could easily have been. The Scots would have rallied around a Mary married to Don Juan, and later would have England rallying against the Muslim threat to Europe (which he was famous for fighting against), instead of Protestant fighting Catholic. He would have promoted old-fashioned knightly chivalry, and together with a less Protestant England, avoided the rise of commercial and business interests in politics; in short, a poorer, more conservative, and more Catholic Britain, which of course the author would like to see. Don Juan marrying Mary, though unlikely, was not impossible and would certainly helped Mary’s cause and opposed Turkish interests, but whether the result would make a better Britain is more wishful thinking and a matter of taste. The author is pro-Catholic, anti-Protestant and thus anti-capitalist, and has picked an alternate that supports the views he espouses here.

If the Dutch Had Kept Nieuw Amsterdam by Hendrik Wilhelm Van Loon suggests it could have remained independent until the 19th century due to its role as a trading centre, although over time dominated by the British and hosting exiled Dutch royalty, before being incorporated into the USA, becoming the centre of its intellectual life and main brewer. But the treaty incorporating it into the union also meant stronger Individual Rights (ie human rights), resulting in Prohibition being declaring unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. On the whole, it seems unlikely to have remained independent so long as suggested here, but then there wouldn’t be a story to narrate, and he wouldn’t be able to make his comments on Prohibition and the right to drink alcohol.

If Louis XVI Had Had an Atom of Firmness by Andre Maurois, says he could have implemented Turgot’s proposed reforms, had he stood up to Marie Antionette’s opposition. Shown the results in the “Unrealized Possibilities” department in Heaven, the Historian sees that Louis agreeing not to summon Parliament which would block the reforms, or remove Turgot, France would have had no revolution, stayed out of the costly American War of Independence and had a “revolution of talents”, leading to a new constitution and a constitutional monarchy. With the USA the most important part of the British Empire, and no Napoleonic Wars, Europe at peace and becoming a United States itself, there is no WW1 but the British Empire and Europe preparing for conflict in 1931. Well-thought out, detailed, and not too implausible – if Louis continued to back Turgot.

If Drouet’s Cart Had Stuck (by Hilaire Belloc) then Louis XVI would have escaped in 1791, the French monarchy survived and the revolution put down. The result would be a weaker, failing France propped up by Britain, Austria conquering Italy, the Empire (Reich) eventually dominating Europe and, when war comes in 1914, Britain and France lose and are absorbed into a European Commonwealth capitaled in Vienna. All related in a series of articles and letters. Detailed and generally plausible, except that a German defeat of France need not lead to the defeat of Britain – as indeed it didn’t.

If Napoleon Had Escaped to America (by HAL Fisher) he could have been a popular figure there, espousing revolution and independence for Spanish possessions. An American friend and confidant relates how Napoleon created a new empire capitaled in Lima. It’s reasonable to suppose Napoleon and his ideals could have influenced events in South America had he escaped, but the outcome given here seems very speculative.

If Byron Had Become King of Greece by Harold Nicolson reviews the memoirs of the Duke of Negroponte. Byron is related to have lost a leg fighting for Greek independence, before retiring to England and changing to become disillusioned, indolent and prematurely aged, before being brought out of retirement as a weak, ineffectual but well-loved king of Greece. The main contention here is that Byron may have changed from experience had he survived, and his reputation become quite different.

If Lee Had Not Won the Battle of Gettysburg by Winston S Churchill is written as a counter-counter-factual; in the counter-factual world, Lee went on from winning Gettysburg to take Washington. This would not have been enough to win the war, but did give him the great standing as both general and statesman to enable him to make his address abolishing slavery in the South, although without an assertion of racial equality. This meant British objections to an alliance with the South were overcome. With the moral issue against secession gone, and British aid to the South, the North agreed to secession in 1863. So Gladstone stayed with the Tories to build the Empire, and Disraeli goes to the Liberals, advancing many social reforms. Tensions between North and South continue, until 1905 when the Russo-Japanese war creates a crisis, resolved by an alliance formed with the United States, the Confederacy and the British Empire, and this English-Speaking Alliance (ESA) is powerful enough to avert war in 1914. Disarmament and the prospect of a United States of Europe beckons in 1930. The author’s contention that Lee would have had to do more to win the American civil war than take Washington is reasonable, and he had the standing to make the policy suggested, however implausible, and it may well have had the desired effect of successful secession. The swapping of roles for Gladstone and Disraeli is an amusing (though not too implausible) joke about their relative politics. The rest is the author promoting his political ideals, which we see played out in real life later; the UK in alliance with the US and Canada, leading to NATO, and his promotion with the US of a United States of Europe from 1953 onward, resulting in the Treaty of Rome and eventually the EU.

If Booth Had Missed Lincoln by Milton Waldman is written as a hostile review of “Lincoln – A Vindication”. Had Lincoln survived, his reconciliatory policies would have been at odds with a vengeful and acquisitive Congress, and his prestige would have collapsed (more like that of Johnson, who had to deal with the war’s aftermath). Lincoln would veto Congress’s bills and the result would be paralysis. He is threatened with impeachment, and his unpopularity on the election trail in 1866 leads to his collapse and removal from office on medical grounds. He is mainly remembered for poor decisions in the civil war, and failing to secure the peace the people demanded. The author’s contentions are not unreasonable, and it is an interesting reminder that Lincoln need not have been regarded as the great American icon that he is.

If the Emperor Frederick Had Not Had Cancer (by Emil Ludwig) he could have ruled Germany for many years. As a Liberal, he would have disputed with Bismarck on some reforms, but secured peace for Germany, renewing the Russian alliance, and thanks to his wife’s connection to Queen Victoria, a treaty with England; also agreeing a court of arbitration for disputes at The Hague. He concentrates on the power of the army, and does not try to make Germany a great naval power with an overseas empire. After Bismarck’s death, he moves Germany to parliamentary democracy. His death in 1914 sees a prosperous Germany and Europe at peace. The author’s contentions seem roseate, but Frederick would have been liberal and un-warlike; Germany and Europe would certainly have been very different with Frederick as Kaiser.

If It Had Been Discovered in 1930 That Bacon Really Did Write Shakespeare (by JC Squire) then there would have been a major publishing boom as Shakespeare’s works are all reissued as Bacon’s, and the economy of Stratford-on-Avon would have collapsed. But, contends the author, if Bacon wrote Shakespeare, who wrote Bacon? A masterstroke on deduction yields the truth; Shakespeare must have written, Bacon, and so Stratford’s economy is saved. This is an amusing conceit and a satire on those promoting the theory of Bacon writing Shakespeare; although given the importance of these figures, proving such a theory would indeed create upheaval in some quarters.

Overall, these alternate histories all demonstrate how they could have occurred, and follow through the consequences, and in a way that is difficult to represent in a short story of equivalent length. Some are related through historical documents or letters, one by looking at the alternate history records held in Heaven, others as histories or reviews of histories, and one speculating on our history from the alternate view. So there is story in these, often working better than straight fiction. The subjects naturally represent the concerns of the time and the views of the authors, although they concern historical events that remain important and are still food for thought.

[Giorgio Giuliani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books gives an alternative perspective on what story might have been if something so small had happened otherwise. It reminds us how small differences in many cases drive to huge impacts on the long run.

[Aingeal Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alt-histories are a fascinating genre and I am currently researching to write an alt-history based on the hypothesis: what if Henry VII had married Katherine of Aragon after the death of Queen Elizabeth? This anthology is fascinating, and I would love to own a copy, unfortunately it is out of print and used copies sell for over $200.

[Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, Virginia, there was alternate history before Turtledove. I acquired this volume at a used bookstore in high school, back around 1960, and it’s what made me a lifelong fan of “what if” speculative writing. As the Introduction says, “There is no action or event, great or small, . . . which might not have happened differently, and, happening differently, have perhaps modified the world’s history for all time.” The eleven contributors include some of the leading literary lights of the time: G. K. Chesterton (on the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots), Hendrik Van Loon (the Dutch hang on to New Amsterdam), Andre Maurois (Louis XVI didn’t panic), Hilaire Belloc (Louis XVI again, but this time he escaped to England), Harold Nicolson (Byron becomes king of Greece), Winston S. Churchill (the American novelist, that is, on Lee not winning at Gettysburg -- yes, a double twist), and Emil Ludwig (Frederick the Great survives to old age). A couple other authors, now long forgotten, consider the Moors retaining Spain, Napoleon escaping to America after Waterloo, and Booth missing his shot at Lincoln (a what-if that has seen relatively heavy use compared to most others in this book). Squire himself proposes that Francis Bacon is proved to have written the plays of Shakespeare, and what that entails for Bacon’s own literary efforts.

If asked to propose a what-if, most of us would probably first posit that the South won the Civil War or that Germany won World War II. The latter was not available when this volume was put together, obviously, but those two alternatives do account, in one form or another, for a large proportion of alternative history fiction. Which is why, given my strong background in history, I have always enjoyed rereading the essays in this volume; they aren’t retreads of the same old ideas. And, given the general quality of the contributors, all of them are very much worth the reading. While it has been reprinted several times, this book nevertheless has been out of print for more than forty years and I wish someone would pick it up again.

[Matt Kuhns · Rating 2 out of 5]

An anthology of counterfactual histories, or “what if” stories, mostly with a focus on European events between the Rennaissance and early 20th century. Most are largely reactionary in theme and outlook, many taking the form of “what if such-and-such defunct dynasty had avoided the particular unfortunate accident which cut short their reign” and concluding that things would be gloriously better for it.

Among some novel exceptions, I quite enjoyed the amusing exploration of “what if it had been discovered that Sir Francis Bacon really did write Shakespeare’s works.” This witty entry was in marked contrast with the rather appalling attempted-satire on “what if the General Strike had succeeded” which posited a 1984-style dictatorship in Britain as the consequence of authorities’ failure to crush labo(u)r’s protest. Right, smashing, "yaaaay capitalism."

For sheer lunacy, though, Winston Spencer Churchill’s entry takes the cake. Beginning from the proposition that Lee won a decisive victory at Gettysburg, Churchill rapidly succeeds one implausible consequence with another in order to indulge his lifelong fantasy of a unified American-British Empire. Even this bizarre conclusion, however, pales in comparison with the detour taken on the way, wherein Lee follows up his Gettysburg triumph by not only sweeping into Washington and capturing the Union capital, but then unilaterally declaring the abolition of slavery throughout North America.

Uh… W. T. F? I have charitably elected to assume that Winnie came up with this one while drunk.

[Amarilli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sono rimasta un po' delusa da questo libro, ma per colpa mia, mi aspettavo dei saggi più che dei racconti ucronici. Nel complesso l'opera è interessante e a tratti anche divertente, è un po' difficile apprezzare l'inventiva degli autori quando si tratta di fatti storici che per noi sono remoti o di secondo piano.

Visto che io l'avrei trovato utile per decidere l'acquisto del libro, riporto l'elenco delle ucronie trattate:

1. Se in Spagna avessero vinto i mori
2. Se Don Giovanni d'Austria avesse sposato Maria Stuarda di Scozia
3. Se Luigi XVI avesse avuto un po' di fermezza
4. Se il carretto di Drouet si fosse bloccato
5. Se Napoleone fosse fuggito in America
6. Se Byron fosse diventato re di Grecia
7. Se Lee non avesse vinto la battaglia di Gettysburg
8. Se Booth avesse mancato Lincoln
9. Se l'Imperatore Federico III non si fosse ammalato di cancro
10. Se nel 1930 si fosse scoperto che Bacone aveva davvero scritto le opere di Shakespeare
11. Se lo sciopero generale del 1926 avesse avuto successo e la Gran Bretagna fosse diventata socialista
12. Un sogno giacobita
13. Se Napoleone avesse vinto la battaglia di Waterloo
14. Se l'arciduca Ferdinando non avesse amato sua moglie

[Larry-bob Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly interesting alternate-history essays by a variety of writers; originally published in the 1930s. Sir John Squire comes up with an amusing twist on "If it had been discovered in 1930 that Bacon really did write Shakespeare." There are some experiments in form, such as entries from an alternative-world Baedeker in "If the Moors in Spain had won" by Philip Guedalla and pages from newspapers in "If the General Strike had succeeded" by Rev. Dr. Ronald Knox which includes some odd articles apparently off the topic such as the essay "Pigs as Water-Finders" ("Meanwhile, it seems that this particular dowser-pig has been born on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Water, we understand, is not what our American cousins cry out for: they have all too much of it. The animal, alas, like all animals, is bound down by the terms of Nature's eighteenth amendment: and it is doubtful whether even a peach-fed ham would be sagacious enough to unearth a cache of buried whisky."

[James S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The essays are of varying quality, but in general they all share a certain lack of imagination. I got the feeling that most of the authors were just pushing an agenda. In this regard, the essays by Chesterton and Churchill were particularly awful.