Iron Maiden: An Alternate History of the German Empire by J.T. Maicke
Publisher: DX Varos Publishing, Inc. (October 31, 2023)
Category: Historical fiction, Alternate History
Tour Dates January17-February 23, 2024
ISBN: 978-1955065917
Available in Print and ebook, 411 pages
Description Iron Maiden by J.T. Maicke
What if a woman ruled Germany in 1914? This alternate history explores that very question. An elaborate attempt to rid Germany of the Hohenzollerns has left a young sole heiress, Christiana, to take the throne of the German Empire. But this is no typical princess, hidden away in a gilded cage. This college educated, expert fencer, and accomplished equestrienne is not the meek little girl the politicians think they will be able to control. She has her own ideas how to rule!
Praise for J.T. Maicke’s First Novel The Humble Courier
“A great story of an unlikely hero during an awful time. J.T. Maicke has crafted a compelling story of an unlikely hero during a most troubling time, the rise of Nazi Germany.
This is a compelling book to read, whether you are a fan of historic fiction or simply seeking a terrific narrative and story. Maicke has created compelling and realistic characters that one can identify with, and truly care about. It is a story that will last with you long after the book is completed, and leaves one longing for new works from this author.”-John, Amazon Review
“This was an engaging read. The years between the ending of WWI and the start of WWII set the stage for events that would completely change the world. Normally when we think of the world wars, we think of Germany occupying other countries, and not other countries occupying Germany. This book takes the reader to a point in time often overlooked, and lets us step into the story through the eyes of a Catholic priest who wishes for justice, and the freedom to practice his religion and minister to his parishioners. I loved Father Harti as a character, and thought Maicke did a wonderful job bringing him to life. It was easy to get lost in the story. A great book for historical fiction lovers.”- Liliyana Shadowlyn, The Faerie Review
“I have greatly enjoyed this book. I am impressed with the historical accuracy which makes the story even more compelling. The reader is draw into the story as if they were right there.”- J. Larkin, Amazon Review
“A humble village, loving community caring Catholic priest. Sounds perfect, but then it centers in Germany in the 1930’s. The idyllic life of the priest and others is turned around affecting not only the grownups but children as well. I especially liked the references at the back of the book to places and people. At the end of the story, I had tears in my eyes.”- Christine Mueller, Goodreads Review
“An intriguing story set in Germany mainly during the early WWII era leading to thought provoking events!
Harti is a Catholic priest of the small village where he was born. Sounds like a boring life? Oh, no, not for Harti! He is consumed by a deep sense of justice… That’s only the beginning of Harti’s trail of thoughts…. What I particularly enjoyed in this novel, lies in the writing style. All along the plot, the author gives a summarized account of the political situation in Germany along with the reactions of the Allies from the end of WWI on (French occupation after the Versailles Contract had been signed). I learned details I was not aware of, particularly about the role of the Catholic church at this time. Harti referred many times to the Bible (though not overwhelmingly) in order to find a way to find justice. That was for me very interesting and definitely thought provoking! The characters are fictional, some events and real people made fitting the story, but all made sense. A compelling novel!”-Christine, Amazon Review
Interview J. T. Maicke, Author of Iron Maiden
TR: Please tell us something about Iron Maiden that is not in the summary. (About the book, character you particularly enjoyed writing etc.)
J.T.: I find the most interesting characters in stories to be the supporting cast. The interaction between the heroine—in this story, the Princess Christiana—and the secondary characters, both good guys and bad, not only moves the plot forward but also creates the opportunity for readers to develop an understanding of and a relationship with the protagonist. How can a reader care about the fate of the heroine if the writer has surrounded her with wooden, two-dimensional characters lacking in personality? My favorite characters in Iron Maiden are not Princess Christiana, her love interest Rudi von Alvensleben, or even her principal foes. They are Christiana’s advisers who play important but secondary roles in the story, including General von Heeringen (my personal favorite!), Gerhard Schwartzwalder, Colonel Nicolai, and Colonel Koch. I even enjoy the brief appearances by noteworthy historical persons, such as Queen Victoria, King George V, Theodore Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill.
While I enjoy producing interesting heroes, heroines, and secondary characters, what I really love is creating villains! My stories usually feature several bad guys that range in character from the simple, mean, and stupid—such as Prince Henry in Iron Maiden—to the more intelligent and complex, like August Bibermann and Chancellor Manfred von Eichenburg.
TR: How did you come up with the premise that Christina would take the German throne instead of Wilhelm II? Thanks for re-writing that history, he was dreadful!
J.T.: Several years ago, I read an excellent biography of Wilhelm II called The Kaiser and His Times by the English historian Michael L. G. Balfour. This outstanding book provoked the principal idea for Iron Maiden. How might the history of the 20th century have developed if Germany had been ruled by a monarch equipped with a more mature and integrated personality than Wilhelm II?
In my original plan for this novel, Wilhelm was to be succeeded by an obscure Prussian prince. After further thought, however, I asked myself “Why a man? Why not a woman?” Indeed, why not a princess, armed with intelligence and insight, an appreciation for the power and potential of democracy and modern technology, and equipped with a long-range vision of peace and prosperity, not only for Germany but for the whole of Europe? Moreover, what better way to initiate a break from the paternalism and overbearing masculinity that characterized Wilhelmine society than to put a woman on the Prussian and imperial German thrones?
TR: I always enjoy looking at the names that authors choose to give their characters. Where do you derive the names of your characters? Are they based on real people you knew or now know in real life? How do you create names for your characters?
J.T.: In many cases, I took the names of prominent German families from the period and simply added fictional family members. For example, many members of Christiana’s cabinet are fictional characters who were portrayed as scions of famous families, including Rudolf von Alvensleben, Ludwig von der Marwitz, Klaus Thyssen, and Eduard Warburg.
Of course, Christiana herself is a fictional character. I have portrayed her as the sixth and youngest child of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia—an actual cousin of Wilhelm II’s father—and his wife, Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau. In reality, Prince Friedrich Karl and Princess Maria Anna had only five children: four elder daughters and a son, Leopold.
TR: Where did you get the inspiration for your cover?
J.T.: I suggested to my publisher, Daniel Willis of DX Varos Publishing, to have Christiana portrayed on the cover standing in front of a famous Berlin monument, such as the Brandenburg Gate or the Victory Column. Daniel selected instead the Berlin Cathedral, which I think works very well. The cover was designed by Ellie Bockert Augsburger of Creative Digital Studios. She did an outstanding job! The depiction of Princess Christiana is almost exactly how I envisioned her when writing the story.
TR: Which actors would you like to see play Christiana, if the book were to become a movie, play, or mini series. (you are welcome to choose actors for other characters as well)
J.T.: For a movie version of Iron Maiden, Scarlett Johansson would be my first choice to play Christiana. She’s incredibly talented and, at 39, the same age as Christiana in 1914. Moreover, Scarlett displayed a pretty good German accent playing Rosie Betzler in the movie Jo Jo Rabbit.
TR: What kind of messages do you try to instill in your writing?
J.T.: I usually do not try to aggressively push any sort of message or point in my books. I’m simply trying to tell an interesting and, hopefully, novel story set in a historical period. However, the theme of good people fighting against odds to prevail over evil is a theme that appears in most of my stories.
TR: What draws you to this genre?
J.T.: I love writing historical fiction that takes place in Germany or among German-American communities in the Midwest where I grew up. I’ve spent my entire adult life studying German history, geography, language, culture, customs, and cuisine. I’ve also spent several years living in and traveling throughout Central Europe and I’ve visited many of the locations depicted in my stories. Conducting the historical, social, and geographic research for a book is almost as much fun for me as writing the actual stories. I love creating characters, having them interact with real historic persons, and, occasionally, re-writing history.
I first fell in love with historical fiction during my youth reading James Michener’s books, especially Texas, Alaska, and Poland, as well as James Clavell’s Shogun, Tai Pan, Noble House, and King Rat. I still read historical fiction regularly. Aside from Michener and Clavell, I enjoy books by Ken Follett, Bernard Cornwell, Robert Harris, George MacDonald Fraser, and Morris West.
TR: Do you have any writing projects that you are currently working on?
J.T.: I’m currently working on a sequel to my first novel The Humble Courier, which is the story of Father Hartmann Bottger, a German Benedictine monk and priest who resorts to violence to oppose the terror of the Gestapo and the SS. The sequel continues the story with the American branch of the Bottger family in Chicago and St. Louis during the 1950s. I hope to have a completed draft later this year.
TR: Thanks so much for this interview.
About J. T. Maicke
A self-described Germanophile, J.T. Maicke writes historical fiction novels that take place in Germany or among German-American communities in the Midwest. He has spent most of his life studying German history, geography, language, culture, customs, and cuisine. Maicke also spent several years living in and traveling throughout Central Europe, and he has visited many of the locations depicted in his novels. Maicke’s debut novel was ‘The Humble Courier.’
Website: https://www.jtmaicke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jt.maicke/
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