Thanks to a tip-off from kev35, I acquired a (much-read) copy of this book a few months ago, and have finally started reading it.
And what a read! Straightaway, you are ABOARD that aircraft carrier with the author – the descriptions of the journey to Malta actually conjure up images of the rolling Atlantic, and ships, despite their immense size, being tossed about on the waves.
The description of being in one of the Spitfires sent to relieve the island’s defences, just about to take off the famed carrier USS Wasp, instantly brings a strange feeling in one’s gut, as if the reader is about to be shot off the end of the deck without knowing whether his plane will struggle into the air….
And then onto Malta. Having never been there, I can’t begin to imagine what it must really be like, but reading Barnham’s description of the war-ravaged island really puts you on the airfields, amongst the bomb craters and gutted airframes.
Superb reading so far – five stars! 🙂
By: DazDaMan - 16th January 2006 at 17:49
Well, in that case:
I’ve got Fortress Malta to read, and from what I’ve heard it’s excellent.
By: Ant.H - 16th January 2006 at 17:05
I’ve almost finished reading “Fortress Malta” by James Holland, an interesting,informative and well balanced work covering the seige of Malta right through from 1940 to the war’s end. It’s a great read and highly recommended. Denis Barnham is one of the veterens who is featured in the book, and many of his diary entries,phtographs & sketches etc are included. I wasn’t aware he’d written anything himself, definately one to add to my shopping list.
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January 16, 2006 at 11:19 am