Reviews (19)

The Great Siege
This is a truly great book. Mr Bradford is so passionate about his subject, so vivid in his detail, that it's all you can do not to book a plane ticket to go and see for yourself. The detail is staggering - he recreates the past with the love and care of an artist. It is a book about the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and their struggle against the Turks of the Ottoman empire - and it's a ripping good read. Just pick it up - you'll enjoy it.

Amazing siege, amazing story, amazing book...
What I read: An amazingly heroic defense of the knights and the Maltese against an amazing siege of the navy of the Magnificient and his generals. When I read in my middle school history class, this siege just was an unsuccessful one-sentence event in the hundreds of pages of the Ottoman Empire, but, while reading this book, I felt like I watched and lived the siege minute by minute. And I felt like this was the most important siege of all times (it truly might be!). My respects to especially Dragut (Turgut) and to La Vallette increased, since both were great leaders. I also learned how little things can change the result of the war. Questions in my mind after reading the book are: What would be the result like if Suleiman attended the siege? What would be the result like if Admiral Piali Pasha listened to Mustafa Pasha so that they would secure the north before the siege? What would it be like if Dragut wasn't hit by a stone and die during the siege? What would the result be like if the Don Garcia waited for two more days? What would the history be like after that?
Magificent tale of courage, duty and iron discipline
Outstanding story of the true events on Malta in 1565 in a struggle between the Turks and the small band of Knights of St John. Terrific research, compelling characters and some truly horrific and gruesome battle when most battles were fought at close range and with edged weaponry. The author has captured the mood of the garrison and the Turks and their allies like no other book I have read. Powerful characters who were so convinced to stand against overwhelming odds for months on end is remarkable and true. What an epic film this would make as some of the events ring true to this day.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Malta    6. Military - General    7. Siege, 1565    8. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    9. Italy    10. War & defence operations    11. c 1500 to c 1600   

Reviews (5)

THE BOOK ON THE ROLE OF THE SPITFIRE IN THE BATTLE OF MALTA!
Christopher Shores et al. have produced a first-rate book on the contributions made by the Spitfire in the defense of Malta against a determined Axis assault. THE BOOK ON THE SPITFIRE'S ROLE IN THE DEFENSE OF MALTA
Christopher Shores et al. have produced a first-rate book on the contributions made by the Spitfire in the defense of Malta against a determined Axis assault. THE BOOK ON THE SPITFIRE'S ROLE IN THE BATTLE OF MALTA!!!
Christopher Shores et al. have produced a first-rate book on the contributions made by the Spitfire in the defense of Malta against a determined Axis assault. Read more

Subjects:  1. Aerial operations    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Malta    6. Military - World War II    7. Military Aircraft - World War II    8. Siege, 1940-1943    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. Air forces & warfare    11. Battles & campaigns    12. European history: Second World War    13. History / Military / Aviation    14. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (2)

Microstates deserve more analysis of this kind
This fascinating compendium fills an important gap in the area of political and cultural geography.One hopes for a further augmented second edition that covers in more detail the Order of Malta (a sovereign entity), the Channel Islands (which are personal dependencies of the British Crown, not part of the UK and EU - and beyond the jurisdiction of the UK Parliament) and perhaps such unusual European enclaves as Campione d'Italia (a piece of Italy within Switzerland that functions as a quasi-Swiss jurisdiction).
A Masterful Geographical and Historical Work
In researching sources for information on Malta for a forthcoming excursion after the Universala Kongreso de Esperanto next year, I came across Tom Eccardt's "Secrets of the Seven Smallest States of Europe."I not only found everything I needed to know about Malta, but was fascinated by his treatment of the other six small states. This is an excellently researched work, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in geography or history.
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Subjects:  1. Europe    2. Europe - General    3. Guidebooks    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. States, Small    8. Western Europe - General    9. World - General    10. Andorra    11. European studies    12. Liechtenstein    13. Luxembourg    14. Malta    15. Monaco    16. San Marino    17. Vatican   

Subjects:  1. Aviation - General    2. History    3. Military    4. Military - Aviation    5. Military - World War II    6. Transportation    7. Air forces & warfare    8. History / Military / World War II    9. Malta    10. Second World War, 1939-1945    11. World history: Second World War   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - Naval    5. Military - World War II    6. History / Military / Naval    7. Malta    8. Maritime history    9. Naval forces & warfare    10. Russia    11. Second World War, 1939-1945    12. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (1)

Badger G.P.
I am interested in buying this book if available. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History / Europe / General    2. tradition,customs of nations,society,ceremony,rite,Europe,Malta,Gozo,description,travel,historical guide,GeorgePercy Badger   

Reviews (1)

The Knights Hospitaller - Chivalry at its Best
Nicholson, Helen. The Knights Hospitaller. (Woodbridge, UK: The Boydell Press, 2001).
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - General    2. History    3. History: World    4. Institutions & Organizations    5. Knights of Malta.    6. Medieval    7. Religion - Church Life    8. ASIA    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history    10. Christianity    11. Europe    12. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    13. History of religion    14. Holy war    15. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    16. Religion / History    17. Religious groups    18. c 1000 CE to c 1500    19. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War II    5. 20th century    6. European history: Second World War    7. History / Military / World War II    8. Malta    9. Warfare & Defence   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. History: World    4. Military - General    5. Military - World War II    6. European history: Second World War    7. History / Military / World War II    8. Malta    9. Maritime history    10. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (1)

The Knights of Malta
In 1096, when the first Crusaders arrived in Jerusalem, they discovered the Hospital of St. John, which healed the wounds of the heroic knights.It would be this encounter that led the hospitallers to rally around their leader Brother Gerard de Saxo and created the Order of St. John.The knights returned to Europe, but they never forgot the kindness of the hospital that healed their wounded.After the first Crusade, the Order grew in importance and received many appreciative donations that helped solidify the future for the Order. The activities of the Order of St. John throughout its history assumed the role as the defenders of Christianity.The Order gained importance and power because the knights of the order fought bravely against the vigorous Islamic world.The knights defended the Holy Land for a long time, but were finally expelled at their last stronghold at Acre in 1291. The Order of St. John moved to Cyprus for fifteen years, then Rhodes, and lastly Malta.Read more

Subjects:  1. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    2. Italy    3. Local history    4. Malta    5. Places & peoples: general interest   

Reviews (1)

Comprehensive history
From its birth in the first Crusade, through the possession of the isle of Rhodes to its lost of the island against the forces of Suleiman the Magnificent, to making a home on Malta; the great siege of Malta by Suleiman again, Mr Bradford is able to make well researched material interesting.After Malta, the Knights were on top, how they dropped to the bottom as they lost Malta to Napoleon, were they are now in the world as a humanitarian organization. Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - General    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Institutions & Organizations    5. Knights of Malta    6. Military    7. Military - General    8. Military - World War II    9. ASIA    10. Asian / Middle Eastern history    11. Christian communities & monasticism    12. History / General   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Europe - Italy    3. General    4. Malta    5. Palaces    6. Photography    7. Pictorial works    8. Public buildings    9. Scenic Photo Collections    10. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    11. Travel - Foreign    12. Vernacular Architecture    13. Local history    14. Photography / Travel    15. Travel / Europe / Western    16. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Europe - Italy    5. History    6. Malta    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Siege, 1565    9. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    10. Essays, journals, letters & other prose works    11. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    12. c 1500 to c 1600   

Reviews (7)

HISTORYCOMINGALIVE
I HAVE LISTENED TO MY FATHER-IN-LAW, WHO WORKED AS A MECHANIC FOR THE RAF, WAS MALTESE AND LIVED THROUGH THE WAR ON THE ISLAND, TELL STORIES STORIES ABOUT THE BOMBINGS AND THE DAMAGE INFLICTED ON THE ISLAND BACK THEN.MY WIFE, AS A YOUNG GIRL, CONFIRMED HIS STORIES, AS SHE TOO LIVED ON MALTA DURING THE WAR.
Not a bomb, but a blast!
Fortress Malta by James Holland tells the story of the battle for Malta from 1940 thru 1943. Mr. Holland nicely merges personal remembrances with the historical events around the siege. He opens the story by telling us about the British defenses (or the lack there of) and the opening moves of the war in the Mediterranean.Italian aircraft raiding the island and the defenders trying to cope with the attacks.Two topics during the 1940 portion of the book that were interesting were Faith, Hope, and Charity (the Gloster Gladiators that defended the island) and the British attack on Taranto and how Malta contributed to the attack.Other sections of the book deal with the German intervention over Malta (actually twice) and the Pedestal Convoy.
A Battle History giving voice to those who endured
As some other reviewers have noted, Holland's focus is on the civilians and the warriors who endured the horror that was Malta, 1940-43.In a time of 'embedded' reporters and 'computer games' warfare, it is vital that we hear from those who have lived the actual horror that is war.Too many war books and 'armchair warriors' forget the ordinary people who actually experience "Shock and Awe" as it is now called.Wars always start with cheers but end in tears.Courage comes in many forms.We should honour those who offer their lives to defend freedom but we must give full acknowledgement of what war means for civilians.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Malta    4. Military    5. Military - World War II    6. Siege, 1940-1943    7. World War, 1939-1945    8. History / General   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. History - General History    3. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    4. Italy    5. Malta   

Reviews (5)

Knights of Malta Has Plenty of Detail
If you are interested in an indepth history of this ancient religious order and its impact on Europe and the Catholic Church then this book is a good bet for you.Sire provides tons of historical data and you can tell that this text was very well researched.Having said that, Knights of Malta was a somewhat difficult read for me.The author assumes the reader has some fluency in Latin and in French as there are no translations of certain passages of text.Likewise the writing style is more reminiscent of a college text book.I can't fault Sire in providing so much historical detail but in so doing, the overall feel of this book is very dry.

The Knights of Malta
In 1096, when the first Crusaders arrived in Jerusalem, they discovered the Hospital of St. John, which healed the wounds of the heroic knights.It would be this encounter that led the hospitallers to rally around their leader Brother Gerard de Saxo and created the Order of St. John.The knights returned to Europe, but they never forgot the kindness of the hospital that healed their wounded.After the first Crusade, the Order grew in importance and received many appreciative donations that helped solidify the future for the Order. The activities of the Order of St. John throughout its history assumed the role as the defenders of Christianity.The Order gained importance and power because the knights of the order fought bravely against the vigorous Islamic world.The knights defended the Holy Land for a long time, but were finally expelled at their last stronghold at Acre in 1291. The Order of St. John moved to Cyprus for fifteen years, then Rhodes, and lastly Malta. defenders of the faith, and all that
Well, this work is certainly comprehensive, not to say exhaustive, so I give it three stars in deference to that.However, this is a recent piece of history writing, and it really doesn't show.Like the many 19th century histories you can find at your local library, Sire's book is conspicuously lacking in distance from the subject.He frequently displays a partisanship (I think) unsuitable for a historian, lacing his writing with condemnation of the "dishonorable" actions of the French knights and the paints a winning portrait of the SPanish. (I am particularly thinking of the section on Juan de Homedes, 1550's.)He presents his arguement as a 'debunking' of de Homedes' bad press, but never really addresses the issue.In short, I think the author is more interested in dreaming of the days of chivalry than seriously re-examining the controvertial role of the Knights. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Institutions & Organizations    5. Christianity    6. History / Europe / General    7. Malta    8. Social history   

Subjects:  1. Aerial operations, Canadian    2. Beurling, George F    3. Biography    4. Canada    5. Europe - Great Britain - General    6. Fighter pilots    7. History    8. History - Military / War    9. Malta    10. Military    11. Military - General    12. Military - World War II    13. World War, 1939-1945    14. European history: Second World War    15. History / Military / Aviation    16. Second World War, 1939-1945    17. True war stories   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Medieval    4. Military    5. Military - General    6. Western Europe - General    7. Defence strategy, planning & research    8. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    9. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    10. European history: from c 1900 -    11. History / Military / General    12. Malta    13. Modern period, c 1500 onwards   

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Bible - Study - New Testament    3. Religion    4. Religion - Biblical Studies    5. Christian pilgrimage    6. Crete    7. Cyprus    8. Early Church    9. Greece    10. Italy    11. Malta    12. Museum, historic sites, gallery & art guides    13. New Testament    14. Turkey   

Subjects:  1. Aerial operations, British    2. Aerial operations, German    3. Aerial operations, Italian    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. History: World    7. Malta    8. Military - Aviation    9. Military - World War II    10. Military Aircraft - World War II    11. Military History - World War II    12. Siege, 1940-1943    13. World War, 1939-1945    14. Air forces & warfare    15. British & Irish history: Second World War    16. British Isles    17. European history: Second World War    18. Second World War, 1939-1945