The Free People of England: An Alternative History

The rivalry between Scotland her southern neighbour is as infamous and as tedious as that of the rivalry between cats and dogs. Scotland has always had Englands head locked between her arms, as aggressive as any big sister could be. But this book seeks to imagine what life would have been like if the Scots had not successfully conquered England in 950.

Over a thousand years ago, Constantine II grew greedy as he sought to cement his reign as the first King of Alba and his gaze reached the hills of the ancient seat of Strathclyde and drew down into the midst of what we now call England. But what if he hadn’t?

This book, against common theories, proposes that England had the potential to be a domineering world force. I discusses the potential successes but also the potential dangers if England had escaped Scotland’s clutches. Would Scotland have still become the most environmentally friendly country in Europe? Would the British Isles be as diverse in religion and culture as they are today? But most importantly, would England be remembered not as a second, but as a first?