- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (7 Feb 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141391103
- ISBN-13: 978-0141391106
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.9 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 621,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem is the most long-lived military orders of knighthood. Founded in a hospice on the road to Jerusalem, it never numbered more than an active few thousand. In the order's frequent clashes with the expanding power of Islam, we see a microcosm of the conflict between east and west that lasted for centuries. The author describes the order from its first beginnings in the holy land, the increase in its wealth, power and territory, its expulsions from Cyprus and Rhodes culimating in the great siege of Malta in which the knights heroically stemmed the tide of Suleiman the Magnificent's expansion. The knights of St John were master mariners, navigators and builders of their time, and today their work continues in the sending of doctors and medical supplies to troublespots, and the maintenance of hospitals throughout the world.
About the Author
Ernle Bradford is a former Royal Navy officer and the the author of The Great Siege, The Mediterranean published in Classic Penguin History and Cleopatra published in Classic Penguin Biography.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ernle Bradford takes the reader on a journey through the history of the Knights Hospitallar of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta from its inception in Jerusalem in 1099 to its present day activities throughout the world.
It details the order's foundation and early experiences in the Holy Land where it began life as a hospice for pilgrims before developing a more military function as it was granted a series of fortifications to hold against the enemies of Christ. It describes its continued development and flourishing on Rhodes with the siege of Rhodes in 1480 afforded good coverage before its traumatic departure in 1522. It goes on to describe the order's arrival on Malta in 1530 and its departure from Malta in 1798 following the arrival of a French fleet commanded by Napoleon.
The structure of the narrative is chronological with some diversions to describe medical developments and advances in weaponry. It lacks academic rigour of more scholarly accounts but provides a useful and enjoyable introduction to a fascinating subject. The style is pleasing and engaging.
It details the order's foundation and early experiences in the Holy Land where it began life as a hospice for pilgrims before developing a more military function as it was granted a series of fortifications to hold against the enemies of Christ. It describes its continued development and flourishing on Rhodes with the siege of Rhodes in 1480 afforded good coverage before its traumatic departure in 1522. It goes on to describe the order's arrival on Malta in 1530 and its departure from Malta in 1798 following the arrival of a French fleet commanded by Napoleon.
The structure of the narrative is chronological with some diversions to describe medical developments and advances in weaponry. It lacks academic rigour of more scholarly accounts but provides a useful and enjoyable introduction to a fascinating subject. The style is pleasing and engaging.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Best history book I've ever read. Period.
11 Nov 2006
Format:Paperback
This book takes the cake as a history book. It's almost like your reading a novel, but then you flip the pages and see the back cover where it says "history" and you curse, just a little, because you normally have sworn off history after high school but just can't find yourself able to throw the book down. Bradford's enthusiasim for the history part isn't lost though; oh no, by far it's transformed into an endearing and worthwhile tale of the Knights of St. John. His prose is so gentle yet sweeping that he easily delves into and out of side-descriptions and filler information, in fact a lot better than most modern novels do. He gets you to feel the Aegean sun that battered the backs of these superb soldiers and first rate monks when they were at Rhodes, and I can tell you that from word one to word end "The Shield and the Sword" is the book to read for history, whether you like the Crusades, adventure, war-stuff, or heck, you just want a good read. I'd personally recommend it for anyone- the stuffy nosed scholar or the curious child, the wondering joe off the street or the guy who sits at his computer screen reading this review (yes you, oh great and enlightened one!). So yeah, five stars, it's excellent.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
HIGHLY Recommended
20 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
This book covers an amazingly interesting topic and the story is told by a truely great storyteller. It recounts the story of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem from their beginning during the Crucades to the present day with special attention given to pertinant battles that forced them out of Jerusalem, then out of Rhodes, then their victorys in Malta. Very exciting story that anyone would love.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Comprehensive history
30 Jun 2003
Format:Paperback
From its birth in the first Crusade, through the possession of the isle of Rhodes to its lost of the island against the forces of Suleiman the Magnificent, to making a home on Malta; the great siege of Malta by Suleiman again, Mr Bradford is able to make well researched material interesting. After Malta, the Knights were on top, how they dropped to the bottom as they lost Malta to Napoleon, were they are now in the world as a humanitarian organization.
If you have any interest in this subject, this is a good book. It could have used a few more maps (I read the 1973 hard back version), and three times it seemed the author was taking sides with the Knights on some minor old debate. His book "The Great Siege; Malta 1565" is an excellent book.
If you have any interest in this subject, this is a good book. It could have used a few more maps (I read the 1973 hard back version), and three times it seemed the author was taking sides with the Knights on some minor old debate. His book "The Great Siege; Malta 1565" is an excellent book.
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