Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Compact and not exhaustive, but still a bit tedious in spots
Excellent coverage of the Napoleonic Wars and of World War II, okay on World War I and the interwar years, rather sparse coverage of other periods.The listings of events during World War II become a bit repetitive and dreary.Nowhere in the book did I feel a flash of insight, or that something new had been illustrated, it is more a recitation of events.Dry reading.

The best feature of the book is the excellent historical photos of the Maltese harbors and of visiting warships, going back to the late 19th Century.I'd have enjoyed them more if they were reproduced in larger size, but still fascinating. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
A two volume detailed account of the history of The Knights of Malta including specific accounts of battles within the Great Siege. Facsimile of the original 1728 edition. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: London, New York [etc.] : Longmans, Green, and co.; Publication date: 1909; Subjects: Malta; ... Read more

Product Description
The book chronicles the political history and evolution of Malta's Parliament from 1800 to 2003 and is divided into three sections. Section One (1800-1921) with its study of the workings of the colonial style Council of Government, explores the emergence of a partially elected Chamber and the continuing Maltese struggle for responsible government. Section Two (1921-1964), examines Malta's first responsible government Parliament at work until its dissolution in 1933, when the 1921 Constitution which had created it was first suspended and later withdrawn. It also gives a brief look at the events which followed until responsible government was re-instated in 1947. This section then takes the reader through the issues debated in Parliament and the Parliamentary process, which culminated in Malta's Independence in 1964. Section Three (1964-2003) allows the reader to explore Malta's transition to Republican Government, the closure of the military base and its implications for a Malta free from the last vestiges of colonialism, and the long road to EU membership. The book contains a vast display of photos portraying several personalities including all the Speakers of the House of Representatives, all the Governors, the Presidents of Malta, Prime Ministers, and various Maltese Parliamentarians. Other photos depict important historic events that took place inside as well as outside the House. One also finds full-coloured photos showing the beauty and majesty of the Tapestry Chamber which served as the House of Parliament, the Committee Rooms, State Rooms and details of The Palace, and the present Parliament Chamber. ... Read more

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A major reassessment of a key aspect of British strategy and defence policy in the first half of the twentieth century.

The main contribution of this new study is an investigation of the role of Malta in British military strategy, as planned and as it actually developed, in the period between the mid 1920s and the end of the war in North Africa in May 1943. It demonstrates that the now widely accepted belief that Malta was 'written off as indefensible' before the war was mistaken, and focuses on Malta's actual wartime role in the Mediterranean war, assessing the numerous advantages, many often ignored, that the British derived from retention of the island. The conclusions made challenge recent assertions that Malta's contribution was of limited value and will be of great interest to both students and professionals in the field.

Product Description
In what is now the tenth volume of Giovanni Bonello's highly successful series, the author shows that far from running out of interesting persons, themes or anecdotes to write about, he keeps on finding topics that are more engrossing than ever. These include what is the most sensational chapter of the book, bearing the title "Dun Gaetano Mannarino - false and deceitful idol," in which he tears down the facade of noble patriotism - in place since the 19th century - surrounding a man who, far from being heroic, betrayed in his fear all his fellow-conspirators against the Order of St John in 1775. Even fiercer is his "The internati - and who should be ashamed," where Bonello's indignation at the very grave injustice done in 1942 by the British colonial government in exiling a good number of Maltese with Italian leanings, some of them very eminent, to Uganda for the duration of the war, is made sharper by the fact that the author's father, Vincenzo Bonello, was one of the internees.Two of the chapters show the author writing as enjoyably as ever about warring and mayhem. His chapter on the English pirate John Ward and his exploit with the Order's galleys is rendered specially interesting by a well-argued theory that Ward's alleged capture of a galley in what was claimed to be 1605 probably corresponds to an episode of 1604 where the capture of two galleys of the Order was speedily followed by a crushing defeat of the pirates by the Order's navy. The chapter on knights belonging to the Pagano family, one of whom was publicly beheaded in Naples, is rendered grim by old images of executions."Patronage by the Knights of Malta" will undoubtedly be useful to the art historian but also to the many people of all disciplines who are interested in the buildings and works of art belonging to their town or village. Modern Malta owes many of the fine things it has to grand masters and ordinary knights who, if wealthy, chose to be remembered by embellishing buildings with expensive works of art, commissioning the building of places like the Manoel Theatre, erecting libraries, and encouraging talented musicians and artists.The chapter "A brawl off Strait Street, Valletta, 1828" is a vivid account of episodes involving the Royal Navy and the brothels or music halls in Strait Street. Rare photographs and images of paintings depicting this formerly infamous street should make this chapter of special interest to older readers who still remember Strait Street in colonial times.Chapters on insanity in Malta at the time of the Knights, a well-illustrated chapter on Sliema in pre-War postcards, on castrati singers in Valletta and Mdina, and on the once famous and now all but forgotten prelate Nicholas Bonett, philosopher and Bishop of Malta, are among the remaining chapters of this engrossing and, as ever, richly illustrated, book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Malta. Whispered in dimly lit stone corridors, faintly echoing; said simply; or read, silently: the word suggests volumes. Tales of valor come to mind. And tales of war. Tales of victory, treachery, intrigue, defeat, mystery. Knights in armor man stalwart ramparts that rise up from the roiling sea, as armies crash upon the shore. Fiery corsairs and great admirals pass through its deep harbors. Duels are fought. Outrages committed, glories achieved. If we listen closely, we hear the names of princes commingled with that of Malta; and the names of kings; popes; emperors; and grand masters of the valiant Order of the Knights of St. John. Suleiman the Magnificent and his general Mustapha Pasha are forever held at bay, though their arms be mighty and their will ferocious. Centuries pass. Napoleon steps upon its rocky ground, is bowed to....

At once firmly lodged in the events of history and in the present lives of its people, Malta encompasses yet a greater sphere: it lives within our imaginations, within our minds-- if hidden just beneath the surface, beneath a mottled and dull layer of tarnish, waiting for the polish of our author's hand. This volume, written by Shirley Jackewicz Johnston and illustrated with lavish full color photography by the late Marquess Anthony Cassar de Sain, is an excursion into this sphere. With a soft yet powerful cloth of deliberate and painstaking research, Johnston reveals the glowing embroilment of bishops and grand masters-- one vies to build a fabulous palace reaching towards the heavens, as another seeks to prevent it, an obstruction to his view and an implied infringement on his authority. Indeed, from a consideration of its architecture, of what was built and of what was not built, much of the collective spirit, will, imagination, and history of Malta can be gleaned. We should note, however: "This is not a history book," as the author tells us, "but history is firmly rooted in just about everything in Malta, including its remarkable architecture."

Here, Shirley Jackewicz Johnston takes us into this extraordinary architecture and into the equally extraordinary lives of those who brought it into being-- the Knights of the Order of St. John. Here we are given an intimate glimpse of the Grandmaster's Palace-- a sumptuous residence by any standard, housing one of the world's greatest armories and a collection of priceless works of art; we are taken through Fort St. Angelo, once a critical bastion against the Ottoman onslaught; into the Bishop's Palace, with its lush orange groves, planted, by Bishop Cagliares himself, back in 1622; and we are shown grandeur and beauty, in St. John's Church-- designed by Gerolamo Cassar. In fact, much that we are shown might be called grand and beautiful, but such words can hardly, fully, express what is on offer to our eyes. Indeed, between these covers, we find...the Splendor of Malta.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Good - but not what I thought
I bought the Splendor of Malta thinking it was going to have lots of photos of the country and buildings from the outside etc.It's absolutely packed full of pictures of insides of different buildings and has tons of history and information.It's a very good book, just not what I thought I was getting. ... Read more

Product Description
The epic siege of the island fortress of the Knights Hospitaller by the huge Turkish Army of the Emperor Suliman is one of the most compelling stories in the history of the western world. The Turks amassed an army of 30,000 men, which doubled as the siege dragged on. The knights facing them totalled 500, along with 4,000 Maltese levies and 4,500 other troops. Tim Pickles describes how despite constant pounding by the massive Turkish guns and heavy casualties, the Knights managed to hold out. The siege lasted from the end of May until September, when a Spanish army relieved the island. In scenes of brutal combat, the Turks lost over 24,000 men as they were consistently repulsed from the fortress walls. Both sides accepted no quarter: at one point the Turks nailed the decapitated bodies of their enemies to crosses and let them float over to the Christian side, while in return Malta's defenders executed their Turkish prisoners and fired their heads from cannon. This campaign also witnessed many acts of individual bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, and these are brought to life in the six specially commissioned battlescene plates. Tim Pickles' account of the siege is extremely interesting and readable - an excellent book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Another Mediocre Osprey Campaign Book
I just finished reading Roger Crowley's thrilling account of the 1565 Siege of Malta in "Empires of the Sea".I purchased "Malta 1565" to supplementCrowley's book.True to Osprey's reputation for rich graphics, "Malta 1565" has beautiful maps and interesting images of the uniforms worn during the period.Where the book lost me was in Tim Pickles mediocre retelling of the events surrounding the dramatic siege.

The strength of Osprey Publishing is they publish books about obscure military topics.There is no better source for uniform plates for little known conflicts.Unfortunately, Osprey's problem often times lie in the mediocre quality of the writing. For every talented historian, Osprey publishes the works of the not so gifted enthusiasts.

In this volume, Tim Pickles does a decent job of getting out the facts. He writes clearly but often times his approach is too polemical. In his world view, the Turks are religious fanatics and the Christians are stalwart defenders of Western culture.The Siege of Malta is one of the most compelling and dramatic battles in European history. If there were ever a battle that called for great writing, it is this one. It will take a little bit more time and effort but read Roger Crowley's "Empires of the Sea" or Ernie Bradford's classic "The Great Siege: Malta 1565".

Not impartial.
Mr. Pickles's scholarship aside, the dedication of this book and the afterward reveal a strong bias in favor of the Knights of Malta.The book is dedicated with gushing adoration to Mr. Pickles's father-in-law, who apparently was a modern member of that order.The afterword professes that chivalry lives on in the modern era, epitomized by the charitable works performed by the current members of the order.Mr. Pickles's personal enamour for chivalry in general and the Knights of Malta in particular cast doubt on the impartiality of his conclusions.

Badly researched and badly written
I am a Maltese historian focusing on this period of Mediterranean history. I bought this book because it was cheap, and cheap it was.

Look elsewhere if you want a truthful account of history. The Great Siege: Malta 1565, by Ernle Bradford is one of the best contemporary books around.

What a joke
After yawning through the first few chapters of Mr. Pickles latest attempt, I gratefully fell asleep and never picked Malta up again.Apparently Mr. Pickles fell asleep during his research for the book as well, as the number of inaccuracies in his research are astounding- I advise him to start publishing under the pseudonym "General Doofus".Don't buy this book unless you want to indulge the pocketbooks of a talentless author who spends more time pretending to be a General in lieu getting his facts straight.He should be drafted into service and sent to the front lines of any conflict we can find- then maybe he can learn to author a decent book.

A Well-Told Tale of Heroic Leadership
This is one of the very best of the Osprey Campaign series.The author succinctly describes the strategic background to the campaign, opposing plans, leaders and the forces involved.Order of Battle information is abit sketchy.Once the Turks arrive, it became a bitter fight to the finishbetween two experienced and fanatical forces.This story is veryinteresting for military professionals to study because the outcome of thesiege was close throughout, requiring imaginative use of "combatmultipliers" and sound generalship.Both the heroism and leadershipof La Valette are well told by the author. The maps depicting the keyactions are excellent.Perhaps there are some minor errors (and what workof history is without error or omission?), but in this book there is apathos of a long ago battle that is brought to vivid life by the author. ... Read more

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