Great Siege: Malta 1565 (Wordsworth Military Library.)

Rating:
Summary: Great History of a Monumental Christian Victory over Islam
Review: This is perhaps Ernle Bradford's best known book, it has been continuously in print since its publication in 1971, and it tells one of the most important stories concerning the struggle for power in the Meditteranean between the Christian and Islamic powers, namely the Great Siege of Malta, 1565, in which the Knights Hospitallers successfully repelled a gigantic Turkish armada, presaging the subsequent (and decisive) naval victory at Lepanto in 1570.

Nevertheless, unlike Lepanto, which was a coalition victory, the Siege was won solely by the Knights themselves. The local Maltese population was remarkably sullen; the Papacy and Holy Roman Empire had little time to react, much less provide reinforcements it therefore fell to the polyglot multinational Hospitallers to marshal the necessary defenses and save their island home from the Ottoman. Bradford describes a remarkably sophisticated military operation, spearheaded by the immortal la Valette, the Grand Master of the Knights, supplemented by individual acts of courage, plus, of course, the bravery of St. Elmo, the doomed fortress outpost whose defenders' self-sacrifice bought valuable time and blunted the Turkish advance.

The siege is often referred to in Renaissance history not by its location (Malta) but by its status - the "Great" siege. Yet there a second, great siege of Malta. Bradford wrote this about a quarter of a century after the Germans had assailed Malta throughout 1941 to 1943, without successs. The stoutness of that defense was inspired by the events of 1565, and the parallels were keenly felt. Bradford himself wrote another work on this second siege, so the bravery of this little island it clearly aroused his passions, as did the cause of the Knights, for whom he wrote a history. As a result, "The Great Siege" is infused with his sense of courage and excitement.

Rating:
Summary: wow.
Review: wow. i read the great siege for a critical book review in world history class, and it sure was boring. it may have been the worst book i have skimmed, ever. i suppose it's because it isn't my hobbie or occupation, so i don't find the information compelling. but seriously, i couldn't stand it. i'm sure i got a horrible grade on the review too. i'll admit it looked nothing like this, but i wish it had. don't buy it. if you do, throw it away. you'll thank me. good luck to those finding an alternate, i'm sure this book won't be hard to replace.