Dominion (Sansom novel)
 First edition cover | |
| Author | C. J. Sansom |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Political thriller |
| Genre | Alternate history |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
Publication date | 25 October 2012 |
| Media type | Hardback |
| Pages | 608 |
| ISBN | 978-0230744165 |
Dominion is a 2012 alternate history novel by British author C. J. Sansom. It is a political thriller set in the early 1950s against the backdrop of a Britain that has become a satellite state of Nazi Germany.[1] The Point of divergence from actual history is that Lord Halifax, rather than Winston Churchill, succeeded Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister in May 1940.[1]
Awards
Dominion won the 2013 Sidewise Award for Alternate History, Long Form.[2][3]
Controversy
Sansom's fictionalised portrayal of some historical figures (among them Lord Beaverbrook, Oswald Mosley, Enoch Powell, and Marie Stopes) as members of a Quisling puppet government caused some controversy. Powell's depiction in particular was problematic:[4] Journalist Peter Hitchens called it a "babyish, historically illiterate slur" and called on Sansom to apologise to Powell's family.[5] Allan Massie for The Daily Telegraph, however, defended the portrayal, arguing that "in the make-believe world of counter-factual history, a novelist is entitled to take a different line" and that having a younger version of Powell be as such was "not inherently improbable."[6]
References
- 1 2 C. J. Sansom (19 October 2012). "My nightmare of a Nazi Britain". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ↑ Silver, Steven H (July 1, 2013). "Sidewise Award Nominees". SF Site. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
- ↑ Glyer, Mike (August 31, 2013). "2013 Sidewise Awards". File 770. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Enoch Powell widow 'furious' over 'ludicrous' slur that portray her husband as a Nazi sympathiser". Daily Mail. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ↑ Peter Hitchens (13 January 2013). "We dole out £207bn in benefits. Even lemmings aren't that dumb". Mail on Sunday. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ↑ Allan Massie (7 January 2013). "Enoch Powell was no fascist. But it's not ridiculous for an author to imagine him in a pro-Nazi government". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 February 2013.