Saturday 6 February 2021

Book recommendations - Vince Cholewa - 03/02/2021

 

Slightly outside the period covered by DBMM but if you are looking for history that tells a gripping story, with human characters and that is a pleasure to read, then I highly recommend “The Great Siege”. Many thanks, Stony, for lending it to me.
Given the primary sources and references used, the history seems well accurate. Although, it is worth noting there is a bias in that the storytelling is from the defenders’ point of view, and 90% of that is from the point of view of the Knights of St John. However, the author clearly has huge admiration for the ordinary men and women of Malta who suffered appallingly and fought on and on, unwaveringly. He highlights their deeds when he can and points out 16th century writers focused on nobles and the aristocratic elite that was the Knights and left little information about the thousands of common people.
An interesting series of factoids, to me anyway, is that within the Order the Knights were divided into eight “Langues” (Tongues), each drawing its members from a particular region of Europe. “The Ancient and Noble Tongue of England” had been devastated by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I in their struggle against the Catholic Church. At the time of the great siege, England was represented by only one knight. He was Sir Oliver Starkey, the Grand Master’s Latin Secretary, close friend and personal advisor during the darkest months of 1565. He is the only man other than a Grand Master buried in the great crypt of the cathedral of St John’s. Graham Starkey, how far back do you trace your family tree?
May be an image of ‎text that says "‎TH GREAT SIEGD MALTA 1565 ﷺ ERNLE BRADFORD WORL BOOKS‎"‎
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  • Greg Jennings
    There's a great Card Driven Board Game called "1565 St. Elmo's Pay" about the Siege of Malta. The same designer has also done one on the Battle of Hastings called "1066, Tears to many mothers". I recommend both.
    May be an image of 1 person and text that says "1565 St. Elmo's Pay Q TRISTAN HALL HISTORICEPIC The Great Siege SYSTEM Malta"
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    • May be an image of text that says "30,000 Knights 1565, existence and history forever... winning successor to Many 1565 St. Elmo's Pay THIS CONTAINS: 166 cards the island Senglea, and the doomed ortress of Kilforth!) wooden tokens blue wooden teardrop 22 attribute modifier tokens B solo play resource dial Will gather the stalwart Maltese people into your outgunned fortresses defend Knights St.John John from certain oblivion? you assemble the greatest armada Mediterranean Malta name of the Ottoman Empire? HISTORIC EPIC BATTL SYSTEM Great Siege of Malta বম চাল ING www.hallornothingproductions.co.uk Hall HaloNond386, Nothing Productions 386 Buxton Stockport, K27BY, United Kingdom Choking MADE CHINA Ages"
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    • Vincent Cholewa
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      Greg Jennings
       the book explains the origin of the term “St Elmo’s pay”. From the smallest of the forts, St Elmo’s, defended for more than a month to the last man, with no quarter from either side.
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  • Kevin McCarthy
    Great book and Malta worth a visit when visiting is on.
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    • Vincent Cholewa
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      Kevin McCarthy
       thank you. Added to the list of post-COVID things to do if we are ever allowed to!
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    • Kevin McCarthy
      Old Town of course. Unless you want to take yourself to the disco and beach zone elsewhere.
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    • Kevin McCarthy
      Oh yeah and wonderful restoration of bunkers underneath the city - where Eisenhower directed sicily invasion and Sir Keith Park ran the fighter defence. And they will have restored the Cold War wing by now.
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    • Allen Yaxley
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      Kevin McCarthy
       , very high on my bucket list. 🥰
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    • Kevin McCarthy
      Nice Hurricane at the museum out of town too.
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  • Eddie Hudspith
    I read a book about the seige while on holiday in Malta about 20 years ago. The seige was an epic struggle and it was Awsome to be in Valetta and see the fortifications where it all took place. I recommend it to anyone if you get the chance.
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  • Graham Starkey
    I suspect I'm as related to Sir Oliver Starkey as I am to Ringo, as in not at all.
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