Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World
Random House - Random House
Release date: 2008-07-01
Hardcover
Author: Roger Crowley
Military History - Medieval, World History, History, History - General History, History - Military / War, History: World, Europe - General, History / Europe / General, Military - Naval, Renaissance, Military - General, 16th century, Christianity, Islam, Naval battles, Naval history, Modern, Relations
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Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World
Date undefinedCrowley does a very good job of putting the struggle for the Mediterranean into its historical context. Reading his book allows you to see how the Christian West struggled against 'the Evil Empire' of a different era. I got this book from audible.com (a division of amazon) as a full-length audio which ws very enjoyably recorded. Still, I could not shake off the feeling that this book was fairly pale in comparison with Col E Bradford's magnificent The Great Siege: Malta 1565. Other reviewers have already referenced that book - it is available on amazon. Look it up - you will be in for a rare treat!
Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World
Date undefinedWow. I could not put it down, but I had to, because I wanted the thrill and taste to last, so I devoured it chapter by chapter. Crowley has done an excellent job, not just as a writer or a historian, but as a movie director where the film is paper this time. He has set the scenes and characters expertly, one can almost smell the powder, and feel the breeze and heat of the fight and the colors and scenery painted so richly. He has not attempted a detailed and reference-laden academic book, but more of a novel. Little details and small events sprinkled throughout emphasizes the film format.
He has given a good feel for the scope and depth of the events. His excellent use of original Turkish references and knowledge of the culture has made it all the more real. Turks are not some distant alien and dangerous creatures, the way so many other Western authors have treated them until recently. A surge in scholarly work focusing on Ottoman history in recent decades has unlocked a very interesting chunk of history for Western readers.
As someone who had to read and study Ottoman history from elementary through high school, I wish Crowley had written a few of those very boring and stale textbooks we had to suffer. I never knew my history was so interesting. Sure I knew about Barbaros, but little else. Even as a student of history, I was surprised by the extent of Ottoman naval expeditions and conquests described here.
Shear size of the egos, the size of the battlefield, the whole of Mediteranean, human toil and attrition is just mind-boggling. Commitment to cause, bravery, treachery, the tactics and will power of both sides at Malta, the drama of it all left me in awe.
Excellent read even if you are not a history buff.
Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World
Date undefinedThis is an excellent piece of very readable military history covering a period often if not universally overlooked in the education of most people.
The author makes excellent uses of the sources available to him and lets the primary sources speak using their own voice whenever possible. This makes for a very reliable and well constructed piece of historical writing. His style is flowing and interesting and he refrains, mercifully, from dwelling too much on the gruesome details that abound in the historical record of the period.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in an overview of the battles between Europe and an ascendant Ottoman empire at the hight of its powers in general or interested in a very detailed account of the absolutely fascinating siege of Malta. Its coverage of the battle of Lepanto is less well done but still competent. A great read.
Finally, the narrator in the audio version of the book is brilliant.
