This is my fourth alternate history novel, and all have been published by Random House’s Ballantine division. The people at Ballantine realize that alternate history is a growing and very intriguing niche in the world of historical fiction. And, for a writer, it is intellectually stimulating and just great good fun to tweak or twist history and make it come out plausibly and logically.

Along with being grateful for my wife, Diane; my daughter, Maura; and all the friends who have supported me, I’d like to thank Ryan Doherty and Fleetwood Robbins of Ballantine for all their assistance and advice.

Robert Conroy is a semiretired business and economic history teacher living in suburban Detroit.

This is his fourth alternate history novel.

Some of the characters in this novel are fictitious. Any resemblance between these characters and actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The dialogue and specific incidents described are products of the author’s imagination and creativity. They should not be construed as real,