Holy War

How Vasco da Gama's Epic Voyages Turned the Tide in a Centuries-Old Clash of Civilizations

by Nigel Cliff

On Sale: 09/06/2011

Holy War

How Vasco da Gama's Epic Voyages Turned the Tide in a Centuries-Old Clash of Civilizations

by Nigel Cliff

On Sale: 09/06/2011

Format:

About the Book

HistorianNigel Cliff delivers a sweeping, radical reinterpretation of Vasco da Gama’spioneering voyages, revealing their significance as a decisive turning point inthe struggle between Christianity and Islam—a series of events which foreveraltered the relationship between East and West. Perfect for readers of Endurance:Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, Galileo’sDaughter, and Atlantic, this first-ever completeaccount of da Gama’s voyages includes new information from the recentlydiscovered diaries of his sailors and an extraordinary series of lettersbetween da Gama and the Zamorin, a king of modern-dayKerala, India. Cliff, the author of The Shakespeare Riots, draws uponhis own travels in da Gama’s footsteps to add detail, authenticity, and acontemporary perspective to this riveting, one-of-a-kind historical epic.

Critical Praise

“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

“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

“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 fresh take on the history of the age of discovery . . . Cliff opens new vistas on much-explored territory.” — Publishers Weekly

“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

“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

“A story told with great flair and serious scholarship.” — James Eckardt, The Nation

“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)

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Resources

Product Details

  • ISBN: 9780061735127
  • ISBN 10: 0061735124
  • Imprint: Harper
  • On Sale: 09/06/2011
  • Pages: 560
  • List Price:36.99 CAD
  • BISAC1 : HISTORY / Africa / North
  • BISAC2 : TRAVEL / Africa / General
  • BISAC3 : HISTORY / Expeditions & Discoveries
  • BISAC4 : HISTORY / World

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