The Last Crusade
The Epic Voyages of Vasco Da Gama
$35.37
- Paperback
560 pages
- Release Date
28 August 2012
Summary
Historian Nigel Cliff delivers a sweeping, radical reinterpretation of Vasco da Gama’s pioneering voyages, revealing their significance as a decisive turning point in the struggle between Christianity and Islam–a series of events which forever altered the relationship between East and West. Perfect for readers of Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, Galileo’s Daughter, and Atlantic. This first-ever complete account of da Gama’s voyages includes new information from the recently discovered diaries of his sailors and an extraordinary series of letters between da Gama and the Zamorin, a king of modern-day Kerala, India. Cliff, the author of The Shakespeare Riots, draws upon his own travels in da Gama’s footsteps to add detail, authenticity, and a contemporary perspective to this riveting, one-of-a-kind historical epic.
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780061735134 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0061735132 |
| Author: | Nigel Cliff |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Publishers Inc |
| Imprint: | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 560 |
| Release Date: | 28 August 2012 |
| Weight: | 467g |
| Dimensions: | 25mm x 131mm x 210mm |
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Critics Review
“Readers who enjoy a yeasty narrative by a skilled storyteller will mark this book as one of their favorites of the year.”
“A useful addition to a continuing lively discussion of Christianity and Islam, situated both in respect of religions and culture, as well as empires and trade.” - Kirkus Reviews
“A fresh take on the history of the age of discovery … Cliff opens new vistas on much-explored territory.” - Publishers Weekly
“Cliff tells an often thrilling tale of adventure … He effectively restores the luster of da Gama’s achievement and provocatively reassesses the goals and significance of his expedition.” - Booklist
“Readers who enjoy a yeasty narrative by a skilled storyteller will mark this book as one of their favorites of the year.” - Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Lively and ambitious … Cliff has a novelist’s gift for depicting character … he brings 16th century Portugal in all its splendor and squalor pungently to life.” - Eric Ormsby, New York Times Book Review
“Epic … a compelling adventure tale, told by Cliff with the right mix of sweep and detail.” - BookPage
“Nigel Cliff’s Holy War is one of the most readable, engaging, and provoking books of the season, hands down … Cliff … writes with considerable energy, humor and narrative skill.” - Kansas City Star
“A stirringly epic book…a thrilling narrative…This is broad-brush history, but it is accurate, and enlivened by splendid spots of color.” - Sunday Times (London)
“A story told with great flair and serious scholarship.” - James Eckardt, The Nation
Nigel Cliff
Nigel Cliff is a historian, biographer, and translator. His first book, The Shakespeare Riots, was a finalist for the National Award for Arts Writing and was chosen as one of the Washington Post’s best books of the year. His second book, The Last Crusade: The Epic Voyages of Vasco da Gama, was a New York Times Notable Book. His most recent book is a translation and edition of The Travels by Marco Polo. A former film and theater critic for the London Times and contributor to The Economist, he writes for a range of publications, including the New York Times Book Review. A Fellow of Harris Manchester College, Oxford, he lives in London.
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