Interesting alternative to history
J. T. Maicke wrote an interesting alternative to the history of Germany. The author introduces Princess Christa who was a brave young girl. The princess grew up to become empress of Germany. The princess’ tomboy lifestyle made her a great leader. As a little girl in the royal family, Princess Christa was expected to act like a lady. Instead, Christa defended her favorite pastime of hunting. She didn’t need to be validated by her family and she never backed down.
I think that Christa would fit right in to today’s empowered women, and certainly not in the late 18th or early 19th century. And good for Christa for wanting to get an education at a time when women were not allowed to attend college. As the empress, Christa’s intelligence was underestimated. History would have been different if the country was run by an empress. ( )

In his book "Iron Maiden" author J.T. Maicke presents a most unusual proposition. What if a woman ruled the German Empire instead of Wilhelm II? How would history be changed? Christiana von Preussen is a cousin of the Crown Prince, who is to become Kaiser Wilhelm II. Christiana is not your ordinary Prussian princess. We first meet her as a determined, intelligent girl, one who is not interested in the normal pursuits of princesses for the time. Rather than being interested in fashion, she dresses in pants! (horror) She loves to hunt, is an excellent markswoman and swordswoman. Sewing is not for her. She even attends university, unlike most females of her class.

When a communist group assassinates her entire family, Christiana is thrown into the unexpected position of Empress. As German Chancellor von Eichenburg is soon to learn to his dismay, Christiana will not allow him to rule in a regent's position. This girl, who fended off an assassin through her own cunning. with only her pistol, has great plans for the destiny of Germany.

At first glance, this novel seems to be a straight forward, entertaining story, blending fictional with real historical figures, but being an alternate history, a fairy tale, that did not really happen. That is until, one reads the "Author's Notes" at the end of the book, how he developed the plot of the story, his thoughts about how our history and current world political situation would be under leaders with different political beliefs. How much better the world would be.

Christiana is a remarkable, far sighted benevolent ruler. She rules with only the good of her people and country in mind. She wants to relinquish her absolute power and rule as all her people dictate, not just the upper crust wish. She is a pacifist, who does not hesitate to go to war if required, but wants to do the least damage to all people and countries as possible. When replying to her critics after the war, she states, "Germany's future does not lie in military power and territorial conquest. It lies in the mastery of economics, education, the arts, the social and physical sciences, technology, and, yes, statesmanship and diplomacy. Our leadership in these fields will benefit not only Germany but the entire world. Moreover, it will help guarantee the peace, an extended peace never before seen in Europe. Rather than shake the clenched, mailed fist, Germany will extend to to its neighbors the open hand of friendship. We will create trust rather than conflict. We will build prosperity rather than inflict upon our continent the ravages of war that Europe has suffered under for so many centuries. This, gentlemen, is my vison! And we must make it our shared vision, not only for Germany but for the entire world!"

How much better would our world be, if instead of our current group of narcissistic, greedy, power hungry, globalist, elitist Western leaders, we had those with the wisdom of Christiana? If only....

Alternate history is a genre I used to shy away from. I detest those historical novels about the Imperial Russian family, which revolve around a child of Nicholas II who miraculously survives the tragic assassination of their family, only to re-appear years later. But, then I discovered the Roma Nova series by Alison Morton and Dominion by C.J. Sansom. I immediately became a fan. J.T. Maicke belongs in their illustrious company. ( )