Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of Theworld

Description: In 1521, Suleiman the Magnificent, Muslim ruler of the Ottoman Empire, dispatched an invasion fleet to the Christian island of Rhodes. This would prove to be the opening shot in an epic struggle between rival empires and faiths for control of the Mediterranean and the center of the world.

Review Quotes: "[Crowley] offers exquisitely delicate insights and undulating descriptive passages. Yet in his descriptions of the battles, his prose is so taut and tense, it is impossible not to be caught up in the harrowing action."--Christian Science Monitor

"A masterly narrative that captures the religious fervor, brutality and mayhem of this intensive contest."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Gripping . . . This is a rare combination of a history book that reads with the detail, insight and pace of a novel."--Tampa Tribune

"Crowley has an astonishing gift for narration; his account is as exciting as any thriller."--Wall Street Journal

"Crowley's page-turner history . . . deserves to be this [season's] most recommended nonfiction book. . . . Rich in character, action, surprise, what transpired in those few desperate weeks is one of history's best and most thrilling stories."--Dallas Morning News