The Two Georges [Hardcover]

Richard Dreyfuss (Author), Harry Turtledove (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

The Oscar-winning actor and the Hugo Award-winning author offer a rollicking story of murder, intrigue, and a stolen painting in America the way it might have been, had George Washington surrendered to George III. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Will Oscar-winning actor Dreyfuss collect any new awards for his first novel, coauthored with a Hugo-winning master of alternative SF (Worldwar: Tilting the Balance, Forecasts, Jan. 22)? Probably not, but the talented thespian won't get the hook for his rookie writing, either, as he partners on an entertaining detective story set in a present-day North American Union, still a colony of the British Empire. Thomas Bushell and Samuel Stanley of the Royal American Mounties must find the famous Gainsborough painting of The Two Georges?showing Washington kneeling to the king?that has been stolen by the subversive Sons of Liberty while on traveling exhibit. The Mounties are accompanied by the exhibit's curator, Kathleen Flannery, who's helpful but may be collaborating with the Sons. Their cross-country search shows off a lower-tech world, in which people get around in dirigibles and steamer cars, and old-style powers like Austria, Prussia and the Ottoman Empire vie for dominance. The authors' alternate globe is recognizable yet delightfully distorted; in this looking-glass, engaging characters play out a suspenseful and satisfying story.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Actor Dreyfuss and novelist Turtledove (World War: Tilting the Balance, LJ 2/15/95) set this alternative-history thriller in an America where the Revolutionary War never occurred. Gainsborough's painting, The Two Georges (the symbol of the unity between the British Empire and the North American Union), is held for ransom by the fanatical Sons of Liberty. Before King-Emperor Charles III comes to America to deliver a unity speech, Royal American Mounted Police Colonel Tom Bushnell must find the painting. A fast-paced and gripping story of a leisurely and different society; highly recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312859694
• ISBN-13: 978-0312859695
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Quite!...Things Much The Same ., August 23, 2002

By 

A. J. Cherrington (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Two Georges (Hardcover)

This is one of those popular fictional stories that leave you asking the question- Was the United States such a good idea? It really dosen't matter.

The idea of the late twentieth century storyline in this book being based on our 1930's tecnology was a little bit unbelievable.

The North American Union would have been an independent Commomwealth country by now, Philidelphia probibly the capital city, although the fictional Victoria could have been created at the start of the 20th century ( after that Queen's death)as Canberra in Australia had. Being peacefull, non-violent, understanding of others, the NAU would've still developed on the lines that run parallel to our USA reality ie: a superpower that even Russia and Germany would never have touched. Which in the end would have pushed aside Great Britain as the heart of a global empire.

Aviation, Radio, Television, Computer technology, Entertainment and all the things that we take for granted today would still have existed in the NAU late 20th century, you can't stop human development.... Anyhow the storyline WAS good and apart from silly little things such as cross country airship travel (more useful for overseas services)and some stupid names for cities (New Liverpool? England would have kept L.A. although Astoria instead of Chicago does have a nice ring to it.), proved to be a good read.

Based on an assasination attempt on the visiting King Charles by Irish trouble makers, the plot soon thickens into a more broader storyline that involves a young detective, a very clever woman and an adventure that is enjoyable to follow.

From the start, famous people of our reality are represented in this storyline and are all linked together with a great and sometimes humorous plot. All over a stolen painting with a nasty surprise inbedded in it.

No doubt to that fact that Harry Turtledove's excellent record of mastering alternate history was used.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An intersting tale..., May 18, 2002

By 

James Crabtree (Camp Purgatory, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Georges (Mass Market Paperback)

The Two Georges is a fine story in the genre of the alternate history, set in the North American Union which, as a British domain, comprises almost the entire continent. In this story the famous painting of George Washington and King George III in the act of reconciliation is stolen, placing in jeapordy the Union which Washington helped to create.
The story can stand alone on its merits as a detective novel, as North American Mounted Police Colonel Thomas Bushell deals with intrigue and the machinations of the Sons of Liberty, the terrorist group descended from the 18th century revolutionaries who are still trying to make America independent. However,the premise upon which this alternate timeline is based is slim at best, there being many more issues at play in Colonial America than George Washington or King George III combined could have dealt with. The impression one gets is that the world has been a safer and more stable place over the last couple of centuries, wit only some friction among the great powers, an impression which would be hard for a serious historian to consider. Granted that the novel could not have discussed much of what has happened over the last 200 years without being too artificial or taking away from the story at hand, but it might have tried to give a better idea of the state of the world, recent events, etc.
I thought the technological disparity between the 20th century of The Two Georges and our own to be a valid premise. Overall, a good read!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Slow Moving, August 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Georges (Mass Market Paperback)

This book starts out well, giving a glimpse into what the world would be like without an American Revolution. It was fun just to look at his alternate world map. However, the pace of the book was very slow. This book might have made a decent short story, but not a novel. The characters are not that inspiring. I was also dismayed to see the few remaining patriots portrayed as racist terrorists. I find it hard to believe that even had the revolution of 1776 failed, colonies would not have sometime later fought for their freedom. Portraying the British as the good guys was more than a bit disconcerting.