Siege Book

Sweeping historical fiction -- with a liberal dose of adventure -- is one of the most difficult of genres to bring off. Despite the ready-made colour and atmosphere provided by a strong period setting, it isn’t enough merely to describe the world the reader is to be taken into; it must be evoked in all its visual richness, with every sight, sound and smell forcefully present. In Siege, Jack Hight has set himself a daunting task -- to plunge us into the year 1453, as the fabled city of Constantinople relies on its titanic walls to protect the Eastern Roman Empire. But has Jack Hight the clout as a novelist to elevate his novel about the ranks of its many rivals in this overcrowded field? Constantinople reels as legions of Turkish riders mass for a definitive assault on this most remote outpost of Christianity. There seems to be no hope; never before have such prodigious forces been marshalled, and there are fifth-column enemies within the city who will -- given half a chance -- conspire and collaborate in the destruction of the citadel. There are, however, three key players in this dangerous arena: a strong-willed byzantine princess prepared to give her life in the service of the city; a youthful sultan who has spent time abroad and is now keen to demonstrate his mettle; and a soldier-for-hire whose services are available to the highest bidder but who has a particular problem he needs to settle. It is this mercenary, Giovanni Longo, who must undergo the greatest challenge of these protagonists when he discovers that everything he has considered to be certain in life is suddenly up for grabs.Jack Hight is an American historian whose specialist area is the mediaeval world, and he puts his considerable expertise to excellent use in his vast narrative. If at times the copious historical detail threatens to overwhelm the sheer velocity of the storytelling, few will complain given the authenticity of the material on offer. If you feel the need of a trip to a distant and dangerous era, you could do much worse than picking up a copy of Siege. --Barry ForshawRead More