In this dazzling work, Noel Malcolm presents Venice, Dalmatia, Malta, Madrid, papal Rome and Istanbul in their hour of glory. He ranges over civilisations East and West, and fills the stage with remarkable actors. Among those we easily recognise are Philip II of Spain and Pope Pius V, and Cervantes and Elizabeth I are among those with walk-on parts. But there are also galley-slaves, viziers, Knights of St John, spymasters, Albanian bishops, Polish kings, traders in silk and spices, fighting men, Jesuit schoolmasters and exquisite Turkish brides. The result is a literary and historical triumph, surely destined for prizes and acclaim. Its drama of war, trade and espionage in the early years of the Counter-Reformation features several unforgettable set pieces. Learned church fathers earnestl