This is not just a military history. Nicolle also includes large sections on Ottoman society & culture, the nature of Ottoman towns and villages and even the different styles of art. The book is structured chronologically with digressions onto other topics, so it is possible to follow the course of events, while at the same time getting n idea of the wider context.

historyofwar.org - July 2011

This book offers an overview of the wider historical context of the fall of the Byzantine capital.

David Nicolle, who has published extensively on Medieval warfare, examines numerous aspects of this fascinating period, including artistic, literary, and social trends. It therefore serves as a useful introduction to the world in which the Ottoman Empire developed. Enthusiasts of military history will find full descriptions of the structure, tactics, and deployment of the major forces that fought for or against the emerging Ottoman threat. Religious tension inevitably played a role in the conflict between the IslamicOtoman Turks and the European states they fought. Yet, rather the a 'clash of civilisations', the author makes it clear there was a significant level of continuity between the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Indeed, the latter came to view themselves as the legitimate heirs of the Roman and Byzantine predecessors.

The dramatic fall of Constantinople is described in full, with particular, with particular emphasis on how delays in the responses of allied European states contributed to the momentous defeat of the Byzantine forces. The author excels at describing the various stages in the siege with the pace one would expect in a thriller.

Alongside the narrative, the book provides a series of maps and illustrations. A lengthy glossary is invaluable in interpreting the numerous titles and positions within Byzantine Ottoman armies; and a bibliography provides suggestions for further reading. This latest work by David Nicolle will certainly appeal to anyone with an interest in the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, as well as Medieval warfare in general.

Military Times - April 2011