The Great Siege of Malta
Even before the Great Siege of Malta began in 1565, it was understood by both sides that they were engaged in events of epic proportions. On on side was an assortment of native Maltese, soldiers, and adventurers, and on the other the seemingly all-powerful Ottoman armada. Marcus Bull provides a compelling new account of how two worlds dramatically collided.
Marcus Bull
Allen Lane, hbk, 352pp (£30)
ISBN 978-0241523650
Napoleon’s Undefeated Marshal: Louis Davout and the art of leadership
Forgotten outside France, Louis Davout was one of Napoleon’s finest generals. A hard disciplinarian and ruthless battlefield opponent, Davout was also a loving family man, and – like Napoleon – devoted to his troops. This new study chronicles the life of a complex figure who came to be known as the ‘Iron Marshal’.
Martin Sullivan
Pen & Sword, hbk, 224pp (£25)
ISBN 978-1399053143
Great Battles: Leuthen
Of all the battles of the Seven Years War, Leuthen – in December 1757 – was neither the largest nor the bloodiest. But it was consequential: against the odds, Frederick II’s assured command and superior weaponry entrenched the structure of European politics right up until World War II. T G Otte explores both how the battle played out and the wider impact of its outcome.
