A magnificent finale, and I howled with laughter at the last passage.
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Agent Lavender: The Flight of Harold Wilson
- Thread starter Lord Roem
- Start date
HEATH?! Oh God. The Soviets between 1965 and the fall of Wilson controlled the government and the opposition. 
Oh God. If that comes out, the British political system would collapse.
Oh God. If that comes out, the British political system would collapse.
Oh and this whole TL was a masterpiece. If you feel that a sequel (or an alternate ending) perhaps named Agent Primrose: The Flight of Edward Heath could happen, I would gladly read it, and I'm sure everybody else here would. You two are talented wordsmiths.
I wondered what would happen if Agent Lavender happened in 2014, so I made an ASB thread about it:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=9925365#post9925365
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=9925365#post9925365
Absolutely superb ending. Well done!
I always like it when a TL can arouse real interest in me in the actual period- as this one did with Britain in the 1970s, which I previously assumed did not exist, save to produce some TV comedies.
What I enjoy most about your work, however, is how well written it is! If I can ever construct a phrase as good as "rose like a vast, guild socialist bird", I will die a happy man.
I'll join the chorus of praise: both the final update and the story as a whole are magisterial. Agent Lavender has taken a well-earned place as one of AH.com's standard-setters.
Like some others, I found the scene with Mountbatten and the Queen to be the most affecting. I wonder if he's testing her as he did Enoch, and there's really more than one copy... but that's not his duty anymore, and however intimately he knows her, she's his monarch rather than a politician. I don't know what I'd do if I were her: sense of duty might pull one way, but sense of family would pull another, and royal abstention from politics yet a third.
Once again, absolutely magisterial. Onward into the Primrose Era.
Like some others, I found the scene with Mountbatten and the Queen to be the most affecting. I wonder if he's testing her as he did Enoch, and there's really more than one copy... but that's not his duty anymore, and however intimately he knows her, she's his monarch rather than a politician. I don't know what I'd do if I were her: sense of duty might pull one way, but sense of family would pull another, and royal abstention from politics yet a third.
Once again, absolutely magisterial. Onward into the Primrose Era.
Excellent work, it's truly an inspiration to all of us in both kdea and execution. I loved the twist as much as everything else (and it allows an excellent opportunity for a reread), but it was young Dmitri that was my favorite part of the update. That and "welcome to the party." It's not often the bar for a genre gets raised, but this is one of those times.
Sulemain
Banned
HEATH?! Oh God. The Soviets between 1965 and the fall of Wilson controlled the government and the opposition.
Oh God. If that comes out, the British political system would collapse.
I'm hoping that it's a different Heath, however unlikely that is.
How long have you been running this outfit?
Since the war?
Before the war?
Which war?
A brilliant ending to a quite exceptional timeline, gentlemen! You tied everything up very neatly, not lingering too heavily on any parts (such as Liz II's indecision over whether to burn the papers), but moving on and covering everything.
Bravo, bravo, bravo.
Bravo, bravo, bravo.
Thande
Donor
Ted Heath was in charge of overseeing firing squads concerning Nazi war criminals in the aftermath of WW2 and I remember Drew stating that the OTL Soviets had the idea that he was a 'political officer' type. A lot of material there, though I doubt this will actually be continued, it's perfect to leave it on its hanging note.
In retrospect I think the codename "Agent Primrose" (which was mentioned early on) was a somewhat subtle hint, given that the primrose is associated with the Conservative Party.
In retrospect I think the codename "Agent Primrose" (which was mentioned early on) was a somewhat subtle hint, given that the primrose is associated with the Conservative Party.
OMG ORWELL REFERENCE!
In an article on the Soviet show trails Orwell said that the idea that the old Bolsheviks were working to overthrow the Soviet state was as ridiculous as the Primrose League trying to overthrow the British Empire!
It all makes sense now!
It has been a magnificent ride, a wonderful story, easily up there with the greats of alternate history. The sheer depth of the work, the careful use of period writing, it is stunning.
The little things are the best, the use of Paddick standing as Horatio trying to make sure Wilson goes to trial was classic. I read it three times last night and the sole quibble I could think of was "wouldn't a Russian call Dmitri, Dima".
As for Heath, well, it would explain the 1970's...
Obviously, I look forward to the ASB ending, but I would suggest leaving it after that. It is complete and adding things on might spoil the beauty of the whole.
The little things are the best, the use of Paddick standing as Horatio trying to make sure Wilson goes to trial was classic. I read it three times last night and the sole quibble I could think of was "wouldn't a Russian call Dmitri, Dima".
As for Heath, well, it would explain the 1970's...
Obviously, I look forward to the ASB ending, but I would suggest leaving it after that. It is complete and adding things on might spoil the beauty of the whole.