7 American Revolution Alternative History Books

The American Revolution holds a special place in my heart beyond being the foundation of my country. In recent years, I have taken an interest in my family's genealogy and discovered many ancestors who were here before the revolution and eventually fought for our independence. My family lived on what was the frontier in southwestern Pennsylvania. Those first Baker family members were taken as prisoners of war by the British and their Native American allies at the time. Other ancestors of mine, also from Pennsylvania but a different part of the state, joined the local militia. 

Before my father passed away in 2023, we were actively pursuing membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. His grandmother had been part of the Daughters of the American Revolution, but I was not able to use that ancestor due to changing standards in terms of documentation. I have since proved another ancestor and gained membership this year, honoring my father’s final pursuits. 

So, given I have already written alternate history book lists for WWII, WWI, and the American Civil War, I decided it was time to cover the American Revolution. Here are seven books that you should definitely check out of this time period in American history that interests you. 

For Want of a Nail: If Burgoyne Had Won at Saratoga by Robert Sobel

What if a single battle had changed the course of history? In For Want of a Nail, Robert Sobel imagines a world where General Burgoyne’s British forces triumphed at Saratoga, tipping the scales of the American Revolution. The fledgling United States never rises as we know it—political alliances shift, kingdoms expand, and technology and culture take wildly unexpected paths.

Through meticulous alternate history, Sobel charts a century reshaped by victory and defeat, weaving a tapestry of “what might have been” that is as provocative as it is thrilling. Every decision, every skirmish, every lost nail resonates across generations. Step into a world where the familiar is transformed, and discover how the smallest change can echo through time.

The Two Georges by Harry Turtledove and Richard Dreyfuss

What if the American Revolution had never happened? What if the colonies had remained loyal to the British crown, forging a continent united under the banner of peace and stability? In The Two Georges, Harry Turtledove and Richard Dreyfuss imagine just such a world—a North America where George Washington is celebrated not as a revolutionary, but as a hero of unity, and King George III rules a continent unbroken.

Centuries later, this alternate history has given rise to a society of elegance, order, and prosperity. However, even in a world built on harmony, human ambition and greed cannot be completely eradicated. When a priceless national treasure—a painting symbolizing the enduring bond between the crown and the colonies—is stolen, an unlikely pair of heroes must navigate a web of intrigue, treachery, and danger to recover it.

Filled with richly imagined landscapes, historical twists, and thrilling adventure, The Two Georges asks: how fragile is peace, and what does loyalty truly mean when the world you know is not the one you live in? In this world, every choice has consequences, and every act of courage or betrayal echoes across a continent that might have been.

Liberty 1784: The Second War for Independence by Robert Conroy

What if the struggle for American independence had never truly ended? In Liberty 1784, Robert Conroy imagines a world in which the fledgling United States faces not just one revolution, but a second war for freedom.

The uneasy peace following the first conflict proves fragile, and old rivalries ignite anew as Britain seeks to reclaim its lost colonies and assert its authority over a restless people.

From the battlefields to the halls of power, the nation is thrust back into turmoil. Patriot militias, loyalist forces, and British regiments collide in a brutal contest that tests courage, loyalty, and resolve. Cities smolder under siege, alliances shift, and heroes emerge in unexpected places, as the very idea of liberty is challenged at every turn.

Conroy’s vivid alternate history plunges readers into a world where every decision matters, every skirmish could change the fate of a nation, and the price of freedom is paid in blood and sacrifice. Liberty 1784 is more than a tale of war—it is a riveting exploration of what it truly means to fight for independence when history itself is still in the balance.

Second Chance: An American History Military Time Travel Novel (Pale Rider Alternative History) by Michael Roberts 

We lost the revolution in 1777. America is still a colony, shackled under the yoke of England. But what if the course of history could be rewritten?

When my best friend unearths an alien machine capable of traveling through time, he hands me a single, impossible mission: save General George Washington and win the revolution. Only then can the chains of tyranny be broken. Hah. If only it were that easy.

But he picked the right man. Former military personnel and police—I have the skills, strategies, and grit to make the impossible happen. Modern weapons, disguised as eighteenth-century flintlocks, are in my hands, and suddenly a plan that once seemed like madness now feels like a fighting chance. So many lives could be saved… if I survive.

As I prepare to journey into the past, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Every choice could cost me everything, yet the chance to alter America’s destiny, to change the course of history for the better, is a temptation I cannot ignore. This is more than a mission—it’s a fight for freedom across time, where courage, cunning, and sacrifice are the only weapons standing between failure and the birth of a nation.

Columbia & Britannia by Adam Chamberlain, Brian A. Dixon, Mark Beech, C. Mitchell O'Neal, Joe Tangari, Alexander Zelenyj 

On 14 September 1766, Prime Minister William Pitt proposed the Conciliation Act, which established a unified framework between the American colonies and Great Britain and granted them representation in Parliament. In this world, the American Revolution never occurs, and North America remains a loyal part of the empire. Columbia & Britannia explores the rich and complex history that unfolds in the centuries that follow.

This anthology features nine original stories by six authors—Adam Chamberlain, Brian A. Dixon, Mark Beech, C. Mitchell O’Neal, Joe Tangari, and Alexander Zelenyj—each taking readers to different moments along this alternate timeline. From early colonial disputes to the horrors of the War of Wars, from the political maneuvering behind a British moon mission to the spirited rivalries on New England cricket fields, these stories imagine a North America deeply intertwined with the British Empire.

Enhanced with detailed appendices of maps, letters, diaries, and biographies, the collection provides a fully realized vision of a loyalist North America. Together, the stories chronicle the enduring connection between Columbia and Britannia, exploring the challenges, ambitions, and triumphs that shape a continent forever bound to its imperial parent.

The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood

14 September 1766: Prime Minister William Pitt introduces the Columbia Compromise, uniting Great Britain and her American colonies and giving them a voice in Parliament. In this world, the American Revolution never ignites, and the colonies remain loyal to the crown. This is the story of British North America—a continent shaped by loyalty, law, and empire.

In The Year of the Hangman, young Creighton is thrust into this alternate world, where freedom is curtailed and the rules of survival are harsh. Sent to live with loyalist relatives, he finds himself caught in a maze of intrigue, espionage, and moral uncertainty, navigating a society where every choice carries weight and every action could have far-reaching consequences.

Through daring escapes, secret missions, and the trials of life under occupation, Creighton discovers courage, resilience, and the complexity of loyalty in a world where the Revolution never came. Gary Blackwood’s thrilling tale explores how history might have unfolded differently, offering a vivid vision of a North America still bound to Britain, yet brimming with tension, adventure, and the ever-present spark of resistance.

Defending the Colonies: A Novel of Alternate American History (The Finch Folio #1) by Danniel H. Lessin

Will duty, courage, and clever thinking be enough to navigate a world on the brink of chaos?

It is 1775, and Major Giles Finch, a skilled British military engineer, faces a perilous reality. The colonies are stirring with rebellion, and the authority of governors and commanders is slipping as unrest spreads across New England. Finch and his family find themselves directly in the path of the Sons of Liberty, whose acts of defiance soon escalate into open conflict.

Thrown into the heart of the struggle, Finch becomes a trusted advisor to Military Governor Thomas Gage. From observing skirmishes in the field to devising strategies for full-scale engagements, he must outmaneuver the rebels, maintain the confidence of his peers, and protect his loved ones amidst the chaos of war. Every decision carries weight, and every misstep could cost not only the colonies but his family and his honor.

Defending the Colonies immerses readers in a gripping alternate history where the tides of revolution test loyalty, ingenuity, and the courage to survive against overwhelming odds.

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