dda9 's review for:

4.0

Crowley's account of the rivalry between the Spanish and Ottoman Empire's for control of the Mediterranean Sea is well told and informative. This is the second of Crowley's books I have read in the last year and I must say I am becoming a fan. Part of why I enjoyed this book so much may be because I have never studied this area of history so much of it was new; however, I still have to say that the way Crowley relates the history is compelling in itself. It comes across as well-researched history, but doesn't feel dense or bogged down like many others. It has the pace and ability to grab your attention like a popular history, without feeling light or frivolous.

My only criticism is that he seemed to get bogged down relating the siege of Malta. I can't tell you how many times in a single chapter he used a variant of the phrase "they were running out of time..."

I look forward to reading more of Roger Crowley's books.