Rolf Devinci

 Finally picked up this historical account of the naval battle of Salamis by Barry Strauss. It was on my "must read" list for some time and was not a disappointment. Often overshadowed by the Spartans at Thermopylae this critical naval battle in 480 BC by a combined Greek fleet against the Persians prevented Xerxes from conquering Greece and effectively destroyed Persian naval dominance of the Eastern Mediterranean. Stauss is easy to read,  extremely knowledgeable and examines the timelines, characters, outcomes and strategies of both sides in detail with insights into the naval technology of the ancient world

The histories of the Crusades are such an expansive topic it can feel daunting deciding on where to start. I stumbled up this biography of Saladin by John Man when surfing the internet and was intrigued enough to make the purchase. It is an excellent accounting of the life of Salah-Ad-Din and by extension that of the Crusades. Man's writing style is enjoyable and I enjoyed the read of one of history's most important characters. If you have seen Scott's movie The Kingdom of Heaven I suggest you give this biography a look.  Highly recommended.