Roy and Lesley Adkins are husband-and-wife historians and authors of widely acclaimed books on naval and social history, including Jack Tar, Trafalgar, The War for All the Oceans and Eavesdropping on Jane Austen's England, which have been translated into seventeen languages. They are Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Royal Historical Society, as well as Members of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. They live in Devon. See www.adkinshistory.com
The siege that changed the course of British History . . .
Well-researched and briskly written . . . worthy of the most
melodramatic Hollywood blockbuster
*Sunday Times*
The Adkins . . . have captured the tortured and contested story of
this solitary rock with aplomb . . . The Adkins's page-turning
account makes you feel as if you were there amid the smoke, blood
and gunpowder
*Catholic Herald*
A definitive new book . . . it recounts in detail the stirring
story of the conflict and Lord Heathfield's key role in ensuring a
momentous British victory
*Sussex Express*
The Adkins bring the siege vividly to life, especially the everyday
experiences of all those involved in the struggle . . . An epic
page-turner
*Julian Stockwin*
Fascinating and timely
*Daily Mail*
Never loses sight of the human story at the heart of an
extraordinary international incident
*History Revealed*
Fascinating . . . an enthralling and colourful history told with
human stories at its heart
*Family Tree*
Another epic and illuminating look at Britain's past from Roy and
Lesley Adkins, masters of the historical narrative. Ordinary
mortals in extraordinary circumstances leap off the pages
*Quarterdeck*
Highly readable . . . With plenty of drama to draw upon and an
impressive commitment to research, this is a book to delight the
military history enthusiast
*History of War*
A fascinating, well-crafted account of a siege that defined
Britishness
*BBC History Magazine*
Well written history, excitingly told. Why not get yourself a
copy?
*Gibraltar Chronicle*
The husband-and-wife historian team once again exhibit their talent
for enlivening British history . . . Many readers will wonder why
this episode hasn't been made into a movie, with all the heroics of
soldiers, civilians, and, especially, families . . . The story is
as compelling as it is fantastic - page-turning history of one of
the most important eras of Western civilization
*Kirkus Reviews*
This intense account portrays the heroism and sufferings of the
defenders while offering interesting vignettes that cover
intriguing personalities on both sides. The Adkinses have created
an absorbing examination of an important episode in British and
European history
*Booklist*
The authors adeptly place this siege narrative within the larger
context of the war [American War of Independence] in its later
years . . . Roy and Lesley Adkins have given us a gripping,
well-written account . . . It is an excellent reminder to American
readers, especially, that the spread of hostilities beyond the
geographical limits of the thirteen rebellious colonies was a
determining factor in their successful fight for independence
*Jon Ault, H-Net Reviews*
A page-turning tale of one of the era's longest and most
significant sieges, described from the perspective of those who
lived through it . . . a well organized, fast-paced book
*Publishers Weekly*
This detailed account of possibly one of the greatest events in
British maritime history ... as important to Britain as was the
Siege of Stalingrad to the USSR in World War Two ... The authors
... give a superb social history dimension to the official military
archives ... This book is thoroughly recommended
*South West Soundings*
A page turner that vividly recounts the titanic, but little known,
behind-the-scenes struggle between England, France and Spain that
so dramatically influenced world events during the American
Revolution
*History 500*
Gripping, dramatically paced and thoroughly researched history of
the dogged defense of Gibraltar
*Washington Times*
Breaks new ground in almost every page ... the book is difficult to
put down. It reads like a thriller ... This is a book which you
will read and read again
*Gibraltar Heritage Journal*
The Adkins have written a very popular history of the siege . . .
the book is informative, clear, lucid, undemanding, and
attractively written. Readers lacking prior knowledge will learn
much
*The Historian*
Thoroughly researched and very readable, it draws on military and
social history and explains the background to what was endured at
every level of society
*Devon Life*
Splendid . . . As a history of the great siege this work stands out
as a major contribution in bringing the atmosphere and challenges
of late eighteenth-century warfare to the modern reader, and is
highly recommended
*Mariner’s Mirror*
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