Scan barcode
andrewgeha's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Brilliantly written and informative account of the fall of Constantinople. Crowley did a great job of laying out the state of both sides in the conflict, painting a rich and complex picture of the state of affairs before, during, and after the siege. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
rexsavior's review against another edition
5.0
Someday I will stroll along Istanbul's Theodosian wall and in my mind recreate the scenes of the siege of 1453--the Ottomans camped outside the city with their pennants flying and the Greeks and Latins inside, feverishly repairing their beleaguered wall--all thanks to this wonderful, thrilling book. I'm off to seek out Mr Crowley's other works. The man can tell a story.
thebanhammer's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderfully written account of the holy was for Constantinople. You do not have to be a history buff to enjoy this, and it brings to life such a hugely impactful event in world history. Well worth the read.
thejdizzler's review against another edition
4.0
Before this book, I thought of the fall of Constantinople as an inevitable thing. However, this book shows, that despite the relative weakness of the Byzantine state in 1453, things were far from inevitable. Overall a gripping account of the battle and the events that led up to it.
kctowski's review against another edition
5.0
Probably one of the most epic, dramatic, and entertaining history book I've read. Being an avid reader about this point in history, the style of the book definitely fit the subject. As good as any fiction book I've read, but made more exciting because it actually happened. Well done!
s_fairweather's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
If you only read one book about the Fall of Constantinople, make it this one. Not exaggerating to say it changed my perception of a lot of things—history, culture, and Western vs near-Eastern relations. Reads like a freaking adventure novel.
aminta's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.5
A fun read with quite evocative writing. Both the author and the primary works he cite create a tremendous sense of atmosphere. Very well written
jack_w16's review against another edition
3.0
Well written history of the siege of Constantinople (truly a turning point in worldwide history, specifically religious history). Just the right amount of literary detail. Not the best history book I’ve ever read, but def does the job, especially if this is an interesting topic for the reader.