We the States: An Alternate History Novel

American history buffs will be captivated by Sivitz’s eerily believable story of an alternate reality in which the original U.S. Constitution is rejected and three countries are formed instead of one. The roles of the Founding Fathers are different, and George Washington is not elected as the first president. He stays at Mount Vernon with Martha and their slaves, including his cook, Hercules, and Martha’s maid, Ona Judge. The two slaves make plans to escape while the countries are established from “a nation torn asunder, scattered in three”: The National States of America elects a life-term “supreme executive,” who becomes the “Supreme Leader”; the Confederation of Columbia is led by a president; and the Republic of New England elects a prime minister. The fictional wars and political intrigue are ingeniously intense, with acrid infighting between the emerging leaders and threats from outside countries. Expanded insights on historical personalities include a temperamental Martha Washington, a dictatorial Alexander Hamilton, and a bombastic Aaron Burr, while the story of Hercules and Ona’s escape adds depth to the novel. This what-if tale of a country’s formation is frighteningly plausible, and its commentary about the toxins of divisive politics is chilling. [em](BookLife) [/em]