Robert Conroy's: Liberty 1784: The Second War for Independence

By Perry Glasgow

The book was my introduction to Robert Conroy’s work, and I wasn’t disappointed. Conroy grips the attention of the reader in the Prologue to this alternative history yarn when George Washington is beheaded at the Tower of London.

The French loss at the Battle of the Capes allows the British Navy to relieve Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, which leads to the defeat of the American Revolution. The book follows the characters the consequences, trials and tribulations of both historical and fictional characters as a result of the defeat. The Founding Fathers are either imprisoned or executed which brings harsh British rule back to the colonies. The participants of the Revolution are forced to flee to Ft. Washington near modern-day Chicago, or face imprisonment. The dream of Liberty lives within the remnants of Colonials.

Conroy skillfully weaves historical personalities with the fiction characters in a page turner. What he lacks in depth he makes up in telling a great story.

The only disappointment I found is in implausibility of parts of the book to me. The reader has to ask themselves would there have been the French Revolution if the American Revolution had failed? The lack of a Native American presence in the book I found to be a faux pas. Crossing Shawnee territory itself should have provided more of a challenge than presented in the book.  At times Conroy interjects too much modern thought into his characters, but it doesn’t take away from an excellent story line.

The fans of alternate histories should find the book an enjoyable read despite missing on a few points. The book is available from Amazon in both hardcover and Kindle editions.