I'm sure this book would be popular with some, but it wasn't for me. I guess I went in with an idea of something in my mind and it wasn't anywhere near what I thought it would be. The book is well written and reminds me of a journal being read to tell a story moving through history.

I only got a little way into the second section of this book. It is extremely dull to me. The writing is possibly the least-engaging that I’ve come across.

One of the best audiobooks I've listened to in a long time. Loved the whole concept and delivery, though a little hard to follow the narrative at times. I will be on the lookout for this author going forward.

Delightful, Imaginative, Clever

These are the three words that came to mind when I finished reading this entertaining revisionist historical fiction book by Laurent Binet, and adeptly translated by Sam Taylor.

Overall, this cleverly constructed counter-factual romp, set primarily in the sixteenth century, describes a world in which the Incas traveled across the Atlantic and dominated parts of Europe and encountered other empires, and/or budding empires.

Delightful in the history geek in me, enjoyed the combining the fictional characters and well-known historical figures to explore origin stories and the commonalities between empires and conquests.

Imaginative in the use of format and techniques to make the storytelling believable and the characters true to their nature for their time and culture.

Clever in that the story was thought-provoking for me as this revised past was relatable to the present and some of the same issues we are currently experiencing; the less fortunate were the ones that suffered during the upheavals due to the conquests, the role of religions being the dividing and too often used as a tool to manipulate the people to the wills of certain leaders.

While not a perfect book, I was certainly glad to read a book that included Inca and Aztec cultures which often do not have but a one sentence in history books and many never get to learn of the richness of these cultures.
I recommend this book to readers who like a historical, satirical, and parody slant to speculative stories that explore “what If …”.

Inventive and imaginative, this work of counterfactual history is, sadly, really rather dull. Starting with the voyages of the Vikings to the New World and suggesting that some of them settled there and bred with the native population, thus affecting the gene pool, it then goes on to offer an alternate history of our world in which instead of the Spanish conquering the Aztec and Inca Empires, they come to Europe and conquer us. A clever and intriguing premise, but the narration is so lifeless – really much like a rather dry history text-book – that I found my attention wandering. There’s some humour and a few intellectual jokes and references, but overall the execution just doesn’t match the concept. Disappointing.

Laurent Binet continues to deliver novels that are wildly entertaining while also delivering on their intellectual promise. On the fun side of the equation: Who can resist a lady Viking leading a band of explorers?! Then it's a romp through the defining moments of history (and colonialism) with Binet's sparkling prose and wry commentary on human foibles. This is an alternate history with style, grace, humor, and plenty to chew on. But it never feels like homework — readable and engaging, this book is a RIDE.

Published in France in 2019; published in translation by ‎Farrar, Straus and Giroux on September 14, 2021

Civilizations recounts an alternate history of European, Norse, Incan, and Mexican civilizations, a history that, by the Middle Ages, produced a different (and possibly better) world than the one that existed. Laurent Binet imagines a string of linked events that cause Incan sun worship to take hold in Europe, competing against the religion of the “nailed God” (as the Incans describe Christianity) and opening the door to tolerance, religious freedom, and universal peace until the peace is shattered by new conquerors.

The story is told in four parts, although the third part dominates. The first is centered on Freydis Eriksdottir, a bad-tempered woman who was fathered by Norse explorer Erik the Red after he founded Greenland. Freydis flees after committing a murder, bringing her husband, a few men, and some animals in search of a new home. Her entourage spreads disease in Cuba, wiping out most of the native population before she moves on to Panama and then to Peru.

The second part consists of fragments of a journal kept by Christopher Columbus. In this version of history, Columbus never returns to Europe. His explorations take him in search of gold and jewels, initially following the path of Freydis as he makes his way to Cuba. Things do not go well for Columbus and his crew, although they put up several good fights. Near the end of his life, he captures the attention of Higuénamota, the daughter of the queen Anacaona, who loves his stories of European monarchs.

The heart of the story is told in the third part. It begins when Huayna Capac, the Emperor of the Inca Empire, is felled by a red-headed traveler whose ancestry presumably traces to Freydis and her fellow settlers. Huana leaves the throne to his son Huascar but allows Huascar’s half-brother Atahualpa to govern the northern provinces that include Quito. After a time, Huascar declares war on Atahualpa, forcing Atahualpa and his army into a retreat. Hearing rumors of an island paradise, he travels to Cuba where he encounters and marries the naked princess Higuénamota. Using Columbus’ rotting ships as models, Atahualpa replenishes his army and supplies and sails to Portugal. Higuénamota becomes a key political adviser in the events that unfold.

Atahualpa brings the sun god to Europe, where he slowly amasses political power in a land that is torn apart by war, poverty, and fear of the Inquisition. Atahualpa establishes trade routes to Cuba, putting an end to poverty with a steady supply of gold and silver. Putting an end to fear of Moors requires Atahualpa to consult with Machiavelli, whose understanding of politics is unsurpassed. Ending the Inquisition takes a bit more time.

Confrontations with Luther and deal-making with the Pope (who tries to recast the Sun as a metaphor for the Christian God) place Atahualpa into the role of Reformer and Protector of the Poor. His reforms include religious freedom (because the Sun doesn’t care if people want to worship other gods), redistribution of wealth, promotion of foreign and domestic trade, acceptance of science, generous exemptions from the payment of tribute, and a form of welfare for the sick or injured. If Incan government is not Utopian, it is a more caring government than Europe had managed to provide before Atahualpa’s arrival. It is, of course, denounced by men who feel threatened by the prospect of having to share power with others.

Trade with Cuba and the Caribbean assures Atahualpa’s success until Mexico, under the emperor Moctezuma, goes to war with Huascar. The Mexicans have a formidable army, placing the Inca-led Europe at risk of invasion and conquest. Atahualpa’s response is practical if a bit Machiavellian, placing him at odds with Higuénamota.

The final part features Cervantes, who flees Spain after bedding the wrong man’s wife. Cervantes has a series of adventures (generally involving fleeing and being captured) and ends up hiding from the plague in Montaigne’s castle, where yet another comely wife gains his attention. The Cervantes section represents an enormous departure from the preceding story, as Cervantes is the only character whose goal is not power or conquest or glory, unless getting laid falls within one or all of those categories.

Civilizations is driven by politics and events rather than characters, although most of the characters are drawn from history. The key players are shown in broad outline. We learn little about their personalities and inner thoughts, if in fact they have any, beyond their drive to achieve their goals. In that regard, Civilizations is written in the style of a history textbook that was authored with literary flair.

In the place of characterization, the novel features intriguing questions of philosophy. It explores leadership and governance, the harms and benefits of competing religious beliefs, and the ease with which, but for a minor change of events here and there, the history we know could have been very different.

Religion is a driving force of history. It is no less so in this alternate history. An exchange of correspondence between Thomas More and Erasmus debates the merits of religious freedom. Atahualpa sees the differences between Catholic and Lutheran beliefs as too petty to merit burning people for holding one belief or the other. The Incan insistence on tolerance comes to benefit Lutherans, Jews, Muslims, and everyone who was branded as a heretic by the Pope.

The novel highlights cultural differences in ways that remind us how silly culture can be. The Incans are amazed that Catholic cultures place importance on female virginity while not caring whether males gain sexual experience. Believers in the “wrong” religion are scorned as infidels until they amass armies, and then are accepted as good neighbors, provided they leave their armies at home. All of this should be puzzling, but Civilizations reminds us that we often accept things as given that should puzzle us.

Civilizations is driven by ideas rather than characters, and the plot is driven by big events rather than the small stories around which most novels are built. For those reasons, Civilizations might not be to every reader’s liking, but history buffs who like to imagine “what if” should love it.

RECOMMENDED

Thank you for the ARC. I loved it so much that I needed to read it in hardcover which I bought and devoured this week. Reading the novel was intensely enjoyable. It hit me much the same way as reading THE LONG SHIPS by Frans G. Bengtsson did--both are books that I wish I could read for the first time over and over again. I'm a fan of Laurent Binet and will be reading HHhH this week too and will be reading all of his works as soon as I"m able. Just great stuff!

Great alternative history as to the chronicle style and flip side of who conquered who on one side the the Atlantic. But this distances the reader, who wants to find out more about the personal, intimite, or introspective side that an account of seeds cannot. Still, getting the insights of Columbus and the conclusion with Cervantes to some way to enrich key characters. The end seems too set-up for a sequel, so perhaps we'll plunge deeper.

Ah. Fans of alternate history and those with a good understanding of how the Americas were colonized might enjoy this. The basic premise turns things around so that Europe is colonized. Some of it is entertaining, some of it frustrating - perhaps too twee- but it's always interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A brilliant alternative history. Across 3 books now, Binet has shown the ability to zag when others zig to wonderful effect. The first part reads, very appropriately, like a saga as it recounts a Viking trip all the way to Panama. We then flip to diary entries as we experience the downfall of Columbus. The third and, by far, longest part generally reads as a straightforward history. This is the one part that can drag a bit, but the letters and smaller character moments go a long way towards alleviating this concern. The final part covers the life of Miguel de Cervantes in this new empire and is told like a novel. The books comes together cleverly and I was always impressed by the author's ability to play with history. Creativity paired perfectly with ingenuity.

I wanted so badly to love this -- it's right up my alley, and Binet's brand of slipstream alt-history is very much my thing -- but while it starts with a bang, it really sputters out within about the first third. I think the problem is the voice, which is aiming for History but unfortunately that doesn't make for a compelling *novel* read.

The premise of this alternate history was interesting. I enjoyed the norse saga-like first section and the “Columbus explorer’s report” second section and was thinking how they lent themselves to audio book format.

Unfortunately the lengthy third section read like a high school history textbook. I had trouble connecting with the characters, and frankly wasn’t convinced that they had the requisite experience and skills to accomplish what they did in this alternate history. I expected more of a non-Western point of view but if it weren’t for the Incan’s indigenous names I’m not sure I would have been able to tell they weren’t Europeans. While I appreciate the “how one change early on in our history could have resulted in a completely different set of outcomes” premise, this novel (or at least the third section) would have benefitted from a pared-down, more engaging story-telling style.

3 stars

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to review the ARC via Netgalley

Fun and frolicking alternative history told in short, pithy chapters. I enjoyed every page. Will certainly read the author’s backlist.

Thanks to Netgalley and FSG for the ebook. This is a fabulous revisionist history of the Americas and Europe. What if a group of Vikings lands in North America and makes it as far as Panama, where the natives grow immune to the diseases the Vikings bring. What if five hundred years later Columbus arrives and he and his crew are defeated and ultimately killed so that there are no more explorers coming from Europe. And what if Atahualpa, the great Inca leader, escapes a war with his brother by repairing Columbus’ ships and sailing to Spain, where he is able to take advantage of the weakened warring countries of Europe to build his own empire with a small band of countrymen. If this sounds too clever and dry, it’s the exact opposite. Through this radical reimagining is an exciting adventure story set at a breakneck pace with a dozen or more sharply drawn characters.

This is a story of civilizations written from another perspective. It tells a story of times Vikings exploring South America, Columbus failing to terrorize the very same continent in the name of his Queen, Incas hoping on a boat to come to "Old World" (or should we say "New World") to change everything we know about European history and finally Cervantes sailing out to the New World as we know it.

It's amazing to see how things never change even though key players ended up changing. People were still greedy; they were still guided by ambition and need to control others. Human nature does not differ from race to race or by religion or by nationality. After all, everyone wants to be the one who is on the very top of the food chain.

I think this was a very interesting take on world history while main message was about who we are as humans. I liked the fact that it wasn't told from one person's PoV but included different cultures and individuals. If you are interested in counter retellings, you might like this one.