A Midsummer Tempest

About this book

Step into a England that never was, where the Civil War rages and the plays of Shakespeare are simply history. Poul Anderson's A Midsummer Tempest is a witty, swashbuckling blend of historical adventure and fantasy, first published in 1974. The story opens on the stormy eve of the Battle of Marston Moor, as Prince Rupert of the Rhine, the dashing Cavalier commander, readies his Royalist horsemen against the Roundheads and their Covenanter allies. Thunder splits the sky, prayers are muttered, and the cannon speak. But in this alternate world, the old magic of Faerie is real, and the quarrels of kings and parliaments are only one part of a far larger struggle. Anderson, one of the great names of science fiction and fantasy, writes with learning, humor and a poet's ear. Expect cavalry charges, period dialect, literary echoes, and a world where Oberon, Titania and the lore of the Bard are woven into the fabric of the seventeenth century. Fans of alternate history, Shakespeare-inspired fantasy and classic adventure will find plenty to enjoy in this fast-moving, richly imagined novel of about 76,000 words. Buy now and start reading online instantly in your browser, with an optional printed copy available.

Author

Poul Anderson

Length

~277 pages

Reading time

5 h 31 min

Chapters

3

Released

November 11, 2026

Languages

UND · 🇬🇧 EN · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇧🇷 PT-BR · 🇲🇽 ES-MX · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇺🇦 UK · 🇨🇿 CS · 🇸🇰 SK · 🇬🇷 EL · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇧🇬 BG · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇷🇸 SR · 🇸🇮 SL · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇱🇻 LV · 🇪🇪 ET · 🇸🇪 SV · 🇩🇰 DA · 🇳🇴 NB · 🇫🇮 FI · 🇯🇵 JA · 🇰🇷 KO · 🇨🇳 ZH · 🇹🇼 ZH-TW · 🇮🇩 ID · 🇻🇳 VI · 🇹🇭 TH · 🇮🇳 HI · 🇸🇦 AR · 🇮🇱 HE

Formats

eBook

Print format

Paperback, 11 × 17.5 cm, 288 pages

ISBN

0-812-53079-9

Age rating

Teen 13+