Rating: 
Summary: Epic
Review: An epic tale accurately told with recounting based on manuscripts and diaries of those there, interspersed with the tales from the natives, lightly spiced with the author's understanding of life at that time, so it all comes together in a fascinating true story of the Muslem forces of Suleyman the Magnificent setting out in great strength to seize the island of Malta, in order to establish a base in the western Mediterrainian, with the purpose of pushing his empire up into the underside of Europe. The island is held by The Knights of St. John, the Hospitallers, honest-to-goodness knights in shinning armour, who carry one of the hands of the disciple John with them as a divine relic.
The story is Muslem against Christian, both dedicated to fight to the death, the attackers in flowing robes that caught fire easily when the defenders, who were wearing armour and chain mail in sweltering heat and sun, rolled hoops of fire into their midst. It is seige warfare, psychological warfare, religion vs religion, men vs men, and men vs germs. Polictical betrayal, bravery, heroics, bad strategys and brilliant tactics.
The author has done excellent research, the core of the book is a scholarly work with references and sources, but done in such a way as to become a great story, not a boring read. Brings it all to life and death, an easy and interesting read at 232 pages of story. This is not just for military history buffs, but for anyone who likes a good story.
Rating:
Summary: The Great Siege: Malta 1565
Review: Bradford had an amazing talent for telling stories, a talent which shines in this work on the Siege of Malta. Voltaire called it the most famous event in history, and yet it is relatively unknown in our time. Bradford, having sailed the Mediterranean for much of his adult life, put that experience to good work recounting the siege of this island held against an overwhelming force. His writing style is lucid and addictive, making this book difficult to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Ernle Bradford is masterly!
Review: Bradford is so clear, concise, accurate, truthful, human and humane that he never seizes to amaze. His books cannot be put down; they have to be read in one seating. Only Runciman is comparable.
Surely, he is a Britton who honours and redeems his country's character through his own amazing qualities.
Read him or miss out on a unique experience!
Rating: 
Summary: Unparalleled guide to the Last Battle of the Crusades
Review: Ernle Bradford brings together an amazing historie of valor and heroes in the amazing siege of Malta, many believe in their time that the attack of the Turks would destroy the home of one of the last military orders, the house of the Warrior Monks, the Knights Hospitaller but they subestimated the faith and fanatism of their legendary and influential Leader La Valette.After the lost of Rhodes the Knights move to the island of Malta which they make of the best fortress and start their naval attack against the Ottoman Empire, at the beginning it was saw by the Turks as minor raids but as the year pass the problem grow and the small community of crazy fanatics in Malta begin to create trouble to the powerfull Emperor Suliman, an amazing amry was prepare to destroy this small island but Christians Hold the powerfull attack of the Artillery and the the Janissary corps. Well done work, a unique glimpse into warfare in the RENAISSANCE. Also check The Shield and the Sword:The Knights of St. John by Ernle Bradford and for more reference the books of Tim Pickles describes in a small way the epic siege with alot of nice maps and illustration but is my sincere opinion that the book of Mr. Bradford is one of the best resource.
From Osprey also check The Janissaries (Elite,No 58)by David Nicolle, for a deeper work on the Warfare in the Mediterranean The Barbary Corsairs of Jacques Heers is a Excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Siege = great story!
Review: Great Siege: Malta 1565 is simply one of the those books you cannot put down. The pace is frenetic. It gallops the entire way through. Malta, the home of the Knights of St. John after their loss of Rhodes, is beset by the Ottomans fed up with their predatory maritime practices. From the moment the Turkish fleet arrives to the moment of it's departure, Ernle Bradford provides a yarn that renders the reader his captive. The Knights were severely outnumbered, but the Turk force's command was divided. Between the courage of the former and the ineptitude of the latter lies a story of miraculous proportions. And, as if more fuel were required to a story so stunning in itself, Bradford's rapid-fire writing style ups the adrenalin even further. Concise, addictive, and thrilling, the Great Siege is one of the better histories of any event I've read in some time. Buy it, borrow it, read it, love it: Only the most romantic pacifist would think to set this book down.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning read, brilliant story, absolutely compelling!
Review: I just don't know how this story has escaped the clutches of Hollywood. The Great Siege of Malta has to be one of the most amazing conflicts of military history. The might of the Ottoman Empire thrown against a miniscule band of ageing knights of the Order of St John. How could Malta ever hope to hold for even a week? Ernle Bradford gives a clear and informative account of the events of the siege, based on good research. There is no need for him to dramatise the story. This is compelling reading and a story that tells itself. If you don't know this story you have to read it. No excuses, believe me, you want to read this story. History never was as good as this in school. This book does not have five stars for nothing. Listen to me, you have to read it. (anyone would think I was on commission here).
Rating:
Summary: Determined Attack, Dauntless Defense
Review: In the mid 1500's the Ottoman Turk Suleiman the Magnificent was a septagenarian, but he still was the most powerful ruler in the world. He had carved out an empire in the Middle East, and he wanted to expand it into Europe. A small group of men on a miniscule island in the Mediterranean didn't exactly stand in his way, but they were a bloody nuisance. They were the Knights of St. John of the Hospital, a relic of the Crusades. Driven from the Holy Land, they had settled in Rhodes and become pirates preying on Moslem shipping. The Turks had twice beseiged Rhodes and finally driven out the pesky Knights, but the Knights took refuge on Malta and continued to be a thorn in Suleiman's flesh. Suleiman decided to destroy them, capture Malta, and use its port as a base of operations against Europe. He sent an armada and an army to do the job, and a few thousand defenders faced off against tens of thousands of invaders. The Turks decided to capture the harbor first so that their ships would have a safe haven against possible storms. A small fort called Fort St. Elmo stood in their way. They figured they could overwhelm the Fort in less than a week, occupy the harbor, and the rest of the island would soon fall to their attack. When we think of famous last stands, we think of the Alamo and Thermopylae. The Spartans withstood the Persians for 3 days at Thermopylae. The Texans withstood the Mexicans for 13 at the Alamo. Fort St. Elmo stood for an entire month before it finally succumbed. The defenders of Fort St. Elmo fought stubbornly and to the last man, enduring unimaginable hardship, and they wrought terrible slaughter on the Turks. When the fort fell, the Turks took no prisoners and mutilated the bodies of the fallen defenders. Grand Master La Vallette of the Knights responded by decapitating all his Turkish POW's and using the severed heads as cannonballs to bombard the enemy. Then the battle for Malta began in earnest, with no quarter asked and none given. The seige of Malta is a gripping tale of brutality, courage, and tenacity peopled with larger-than-life protagonists like Suleiman the Magnificent, Grand Master La Vallette, and Dragut the Barbary Coast pirate.
Rating:
Summary: Determined Attack, Dauntless Defense
Review: In the mid 1500's the Ottoman Turk Suleiman the Magnificent was a septagenarian, but he still was the most powerful ruler in the world. He had carved out an empire in the Middle East, and he wanted to expand it into Europe. A small group of men on a miniscule island in the Mediterranean didn't exactly stand in his way, but they were a bloody nuisance. They were the Knights of St. John of the Hospital, a relic of the Crusades. Driven from the Holy Land, they had settled in Rhodes and become pirates preying on Moslem shipping. The Turks had twice beseiged Rhodes and finally driven out the pesky Knights, but the Knights took refuge on Malta and continued to be a thorn in Suleiman's flesh. Suleiman decided to destroy them, capture Malta, and use its port as a base of operations against Europe. He sent an armada and an army to do the job, and a few thousand defenders faced off against tens of thousands of invaders. The Turks decided to capture the harbor first so that their ships would have a safe haven against possible storms. A small fort called Fort St. Elmo stood in their way. They figured they could overwhelm the Fort in less than a week, occupy the harbor, and the rest of the island would soon fall to their attack. When we think of famous last stands, we think of the Alamo and Thermopylae. The Spartans withstood the Persians for 3 days at Thermopylae. The Texans withstood the Mexicans for 13 at the Alamo. Fort St. Elmo stood for an entire month before it finally succumbed. The defenders of Fort St. Elmo fought stubbornly and to the last man, enduring unimaginable hardship, and they wrought terrible slaughter on the Turks. When the fort fell, the Turks took no prisoners and mutilated the bodies of the fallen defenders. Grand Master La Vallette of the Knights responded by decapitating all his Turkish POW's and using the severed heads as cannonballs to bombard the enemy. Then the battle for Malta began in earnest, with no quarter asked and none given. The seige of Malta is a gripping tale of brutality, courage, and tenacity peopled with larger-than-life protagonists like Suleiman the Magnificent, Grand Master La Vallette, and Dragut the Barbary Coast pirate.
Rating:
Summary: The siege that halted the advancement of the Ottoman Empire
Review: In the spring of 1565, two great armies met on the battlefield of an island in the heart of the Mediterranean. This war came to be known as the Great Siege of Malta. I consider it to be the great battle of the Cross and the Koran, and a victory for either side would preserve Christianity or open Europe to the infidels of Islam. It was an encounter that saw a fierce three-month battle with the greatest military force in the history of mankind, the Ottoman Empire. Bradford gives a very informative account of the events of the great siege and offers it all inside a simplistic book to read. I give it five stars because it the most informative book on the topic. ...
Rating:
Summary: Well written, meticulously researeched, incredible history!
Review: Rushdoony called it the most significant battle in all of history. How a group of knights devoted to God and aware of their pivotal role in stemming the tide of Islam, withstood the siege of Suleiman's army and navy in 1565 against overwhelming odds. Thier leader, Grand Master de la Valette, 70, was undoubtedly on of the greatest military commanders of history. His courage, foresight, and ability to see the greater picture rather than each specific incident, are all astouding. Any student of war and especially of dealing with Islam can see attitudes and behavior that are relevant for today.
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