[sufue]

Two other books by Ernle Bradford have just gone on sale as US Kindle Countdown deals at $0.99 for another 6 1/2 days. I haven't read either of these two, but as I mentioned in another post, I have read and very much enjoyed The Great Seige: Malta 1565, so am going to give these two a chance, especially the Gibraltar one, which has a recommendation from the Economist. (And since I'd love to visit Gibraltar someday...)

Gibraltar: The History of a Fortress
link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ACB7B3K

Spoiler:

Since ships first set sail in the Mediterranean, The Rock of Gibraltar has been the gate of Fortress Europe.

In ancient times, it was known as one of the Pillars of Hercules, and a glance at its formidable mass suggests that it may well have been created by the gods.

Sought after by every nation with territorial ambitions in Europe, Asia, and Africa, Gibraltar was possessed by the Arabs, the Spanish, and ultimately the British, who captured it in the early 1700s and held onto it in a siege of more than three years late in the eighteenth century.

The fact that that was one of more than a dozen sieges exemplifies Gibraltar’s quintessential value as a prize and the desperation of governments to fly their flag above its forbidding ramparts.

Bradford uses his matchless skill and knowledge to take the reader through the history of this great and unique fortress.

From its geological creation to its two-thousand-year influence on politics and war, he crafts the compelling tale of how these few square miles played a major part in history.

Ernle Bradford's books have been widely praised.

'A gripping story' - The Economist.

Ernle Bradford (1922-1986) was an historian who wrote books on naval battles and historical figures. Among his subjects were Lord Nelson, the Mary Rose, Christopher Columbus, Julius Caesar and Hannibal. He also documented his own voyages on the Mediterranean Sea.

A Wind from the North: The Life of Henry the Navigator
link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B7VES4Y

Spoiler:

Before Columbus, before Vespucci, before Drake, there was Henry the Navigator.

Pirate hunter, intrepid explorer, ship designer, and much more, Henry was one of the great innovators in the age of discovery.

Born in 1394, he was the third son of King John I and Queen Philippa. Following his mother’s death, Prince Henry along with his older brothers, Edward and Peter, and their father, set out to conquer Ceuta.

However, King John I and Edward were too grief-stricken to embark upon the expedition. Twenty-one year old Henry was unmoveable. After convincing his father and brother that they should follow their mother’s wishes and set sail, the journey commenced.

Ceuta was successfully attacked and captured. Rendering the pirate haven a useless trading post. However, Ceuta’s capture enable this to become the first European base to be established in Africa.

A period followed where occupation and colonization of the island began. This was the beginning of the discovery of Africa …

The scope of Henry’s contribution to our world is often overshadowed by other figures. But Bradford brings the gripping tale of this pioneer to light, putting into perspective the work of Henry the Navigator.

In his lifetime, Henry helped break the sea barriers that separate the continents. Rising above scorn and ridicule, he initiated an era of audacious exploration to lands most didn’t believe existed. His courage and forward thinking would forever change the course of history.

Ernie Bradford was born in 1921. He joined the Navy on his eighteenth birthday and served in the Mediterranean fleet, and later on Arctic convoys. He was a dedicated writer and sailor, an international authority on antique jewelery, and the author of many books on this subject, and on Mediterranean history. He was also the author of several accomplished biographies. He died in 1986.

Originally Posted by itisbomb

The Great Siege: Malta 1565
by Ernle Bradford

is $1.99 at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Siege-Ma...at+siege+malta

Below is the blurb:
Suleiman the Magnificent, the most powerful ruler in the world, was determined to conquer Europe. Only one thing stood in his way: a dot of an island in the Mediterranean called Malta, occupied by the Knights of St. John, the cream of the warriors of the Holy Roman Empire. A clash of civilizations the likes of which had not been seen since Persia invaded Greece was shaping up. Determined to capture Malta and use its port to launch operations against Europe, Suleiman sent an armada and an overwhelming army. A few thousand defenders in Fort St. Elmo fought to the last man, enduring cruel hardships. When they captured the fort, the Turks took no prisoners and mutilated the defenders’ bodies. Grand Master La Vallette of the Knights reciprocated by decapitating his Turkish prisoners and using their heads to cannonade the enemy. Then the battle for Malta began in earnest: no quarter asked, none given.