The tape media adds the dimension of keeping you going and at the same time lets you think. You may still need a printed copy to see how certain words and names are spelled. On the surface this looks like just such a novel. It even has the standard formula of princes and castles and what not. Why would I have even attempted this novel? My wife insisted that Caroline Harvey; Joanna Trollope was not mindless. O.K. so I was challenged to red this one.
Ha! I spotted the formula and as soon as Lila Cunningham hit Malta I figured out pretty much how it was going to end. A curious thing happened. By then I was hooked and had to go on. There were many details that I did not guess. Unlike most formula books that try to hook you on romance or those ones that have endless nonsensical descriptions, this book had the feel that it was going somewhere and only described what was necessary to tell the story.
After I finished the book I said "See it was a formula book." Why would someone want to read about some girl in Malta? It was pointed out that the setting is to depict a different lifestyle. This is not so much of an escape from reality, but a diversion of a different reality. Later you see that the castle and prince and even the Perrimans are the backdrop of real people that we run across everyday. Lila's situations and decisions are ones we may have to make. The real story is about Lila, her choices and consequences. The story implies that she grows up. Personally I think she changed but that does not constitute growing up.
Ayn Rand says that love is a reflection of your values as seen in the other person. You can see this as Lila's values changed, so has the target of her love. Ayn Rand also says that you should not just live for love. You should have a career and or a purpose beyond love. Lila and others discover this throughout the novel. So this novel leaves you with many after thoughts.
Well done Caroline Harvey.

For the past three years, Lila Cunningham has dreamed of leaving her small village to live in London. However, almost twenty-one, Lila realizes her hopes seem out of reach due to her Pa's bungling that has left the family near financial ruin. A desperate Lila turns to her employer, the Perriams for guidance. The elderly couple offers Lila a deal. Lila and Pa can serve as caretakers of their home on the island of Malta.

Lila and Pa find the Perriman mansion in terrible shape with a peasant family squatting inside the home. As Hitler turns his attention on the island, so do some of the residents turn their eyes towards Lila. Schoolteacher Angelo Saliba wants the Englishwoman as his own. However, Lila ignores the native islander in favor of the exciting Anton, nephew to Count Tabia. Anton goes off to war with Lila vowing to wait for his return. As the war hits home, Lila begins to realize that substance is more important than a few luxuries, but is it too late for the transplanted Englishwoman?

The first Caroline Harvey novel published in America is a joy for fans of World War II romances. THE BRASS DOLPHIN is an exciting tale whose non-stop story line centers on what truly matters in life. The characters are intelligent and make the early stages of WW II seem as if it's on the TV. Internationally renowned for her works under the name of Joanna Trollope, Ms. Harvey will leave her admiring readers demanding the release of her other Harvey novels previously published in England.

Harriet Klausner

Passages from the books (with the author's permission) can be found on my site.

This is an excellent book for an person who intends visiting Malta for a holiday. I think the reader should read the other three books in the series. If after having read these books, you would like to learn the Maltese language, I recommend Merhba 2 - Maltese Language Conversation Course. This course is bilingual ie English/Maltese and it consists of audio tapes and reader. For more information contact karatt@ozemail.com.au

I recently used a copy to find my way around Malta and Gozo. The entries are concise and focused. No unnecessary detail. I enjoyed the historical basics about the places I visited - just what I needed to know. The entries are precisely indexed - a really easy guide book to find your way around! My uncle has been living on Gozo for the last year and has decided that a copy of Baedeker's Malta is just what he needs.

This book gives you history!! One of the books to read this century. It made me laugh and made me cry and the little stories in this book were wonderful!!! If in doubt about this book, DON'T BE!!! One book not to be missed

Christopher Marlowe is a genius. This thorough, Oxfordiancompilation of his best known plays contains Tamburlaine the Great parts one and two, the Tragical History of Doctor Faustus in its original A-text and its later B-text, The Jew of Malta, and Edward II. The beauty of these dramas lies in the fact that they're short but powerful reading pieces. In five acts Marlowe was able to generate a story complete with action, classical allusions, and a bawdy humor one might not expect from otherwise generally classified stuffy English Renaissance drama. This book contains an exhaustive introduction that explains many details of the publication dates of the plays and the differences between versions (Faustus). It also contains a thorough section for notes that further explain the texts. Finally, it contains a glossary of the commonly used words from the texts. The bottom line? This book is a great read--it's funny (I can't begin to stress that enough), and you will appreciate Marlowe's wit and talent just as much as William Shakespeare did. Buy it today!

If 100 anos left you mesmorize, Don Goyo will give you an inside on the inspiration Garcia-Marquez might have received after reading the book. It has all the wives-tales, all the fantasy as 100 anos.

In the spring of 1565, two great armies met on the battlefield of an island in the heart of the Mediterranean. This war came to be known as the Great Siege of Malta. I consider it to be the great battle of the Cross and the Koran, and a victory for either side would preserve Christianity or open Europe to the infidels of Islam. It was an encounter that saw a fierce three-month battle with the greatest military force in the history of mankind, the Ottoman Empire.

I am a college student at Indiana State University and writing a paper on the Great Siege of Malta can be nevery difficult without primary sources. Cassola's book fills in the gap, if you can not fly to Malta and visit the library. I highly recommend the book to anyone wanting to know more about the Great Siege of Malta, which halted the advancement of the Ottoman Empire and preserved Christianity in 'the soft under-belly of Europe.'

It is a small boring book of information, but a "must" for primary sources.

Even if you know the historical facts behind the story, you may be on the edge of your seat. With great detail to the action, Prata brings the Knights of Malta to life once again.
It is perhaps ironic that it does give some insight into the mind of Islam, given current world events. If you, like me, find tales of heroism in the face of unimaginable odds to be irresistable, this book fits the bill.
One thing I would have liked to have seen was more background on the knights and their motivations. (Read it and you will see what I mean!) Very good historical fiction, nonetheless.

This is a fantastic read! I loved every minute of it. I am astonished it's not a movie yet.

This book has a ton of great information and is an awesome adventure! Read it, you won't be sorry!

Ernle Bradford brings together an amazing historie of valor and heroes in the amazing siege of Malta, many believe in their time that the attack of the Turks would destroy the home of one of the last military orders, the house of the Warrior Monks, the Knights Hospitaller but they subestimated the faith and fanatism of their legendary and influential Leader La Valette.

After the lost of Rhodes the Knights move to the island of Malta which they make of the best fortress and start their naval attack against the Ottoman Empire, at the beginning it was saw by the Turks as minor raids but as the year pass the problem grow and the small community of crazy fanatics in Malta begin to create trouble to the powerfull Emperor Suliman, an amazing amry was prepare to destroy this small island but Christians Hold the powerfull attack of the Artillery and the the Janissary corps.

Well done work, a unique glimpse into warfare in the RENAISSANCE. Also check The Shield and the Sword:The Knights of St. John by Ernle Bradford and for more reference the books of Tim Pickles describes in a small way the epic siege with alot of nice maps and illustration but is my sincere opinion that the book of Mr. Bradford is one of the best resource.
From Osprey also check The Janissaries (Elite,No 58)by David Nicolle, for a deeper work on the Warfare in the Mediterranean The Barbary Corsairs of Jacques Heers is a Excellent book.

I just don't know how this story has escaped the clutches of Hollywood. The Great Siege of Malta has to be one of the most amazing conflicts of military history. The might of the Ottoman Empire thrown against a miniscule band of ageing knights of the Order of St John. How could Malta ever hope to hold for even a week?

Ernle Bradford gives a clear and informative account of the events of the siege, based on good research. There is no need for him to dramatise the story. This is compelling reading and a story that tells itself.

If you don't know this story you have to read it. No excuses, believe me, you want to read this story. History never was as good as this in school.

This book does not have five stars for nothing. Listen to me, you have to read it. (anyone would think I was on commission here).

Bradford had an amazing talent for telling stories, a talent which shines in this work on the Siege of Malta. Voltaire called it the most famous event in history, and yet it is relatively unknown in our time. Bradford, having sailed the Mediterranean for much of his adult life, put that experience to good work recounting the siege of this island held against an overwhelming force. His writing style is lucid and addictive, making this book difficult to put down.

Vera Brittain is not always easy to like. She's frequently disagreeable, usually opinionated, always challenging. But she also has more courage, strength and vision than most people you will ever encounter. As part of the first generation of women to achieve a university education in England, she put her studies aside to volunteer as a nurse on the front lines of World War I. This seminal event in world history profoundly altered her philosophy as she suffered the heartbreak of losing the two men she loved most in the world. Her triumph over tragedy should be inspiring to anyone who has ever lost a loved one, as she turned her grief and anger at the war into a lifelong committment to the cause of pacifism. Brittain is a beautiful writer with a sharp wit and an incisive mind. Her portrayal of the brutality of war and the tragic consequences of "God and country before all" makes for perhaps the most powerful anti-war book ever created. This is not only a testament to youth, but also to the courage and resiliancy of the human spirit.

This is the only book that upon finishing, I turned back to the
first page and started reading again. I am currently reading it
for the fifth time. It is a unique story by one who suffered a
most unbelievable tragedy. It is also a picture ot the world just
prior to the cataclysm of 1914, duirng and after. It is actually
a book in three parts. Part 1 deals with the role and status of
English women prior to 1914. Part 2 details the 1st World War
tragedy from a woman's perspective. Vera Brittain lost her fiancee,
brother and the only two other male friends she had. Part 3
details how she regained a life after the war and how she
became involved in English political and social issues. She was
a most remarkable woman and in my opinion not given the credit
she truly deserves. "Testament of Youth" is the most incredible,
unique masterpiece imaginable.

As I have set myself the topic "War in English literature" for my final examination you can imagine that I have to read quite a lot of books dealing with warfare. So far, this is undeniably the best. Brittain's book really is a testament to future generations about the "Great War". The content is far too diverse to summarize in a few sentences; let us just say that Brittain managed to capture the spirit of a whole generation.

I might add that I think that World War One is the perfect showcase of a futile conflict. Those dealing with world war literature would do well not just to read the literature of one side. For the American reader I can recommend Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" or (less known) Kraus' "The last days of mankind."

In fact, many of these authors (and also many of the war poets) voice the sentiment that the real enemy wasn't the soldier in the opposite trench - it was one's own general staff.