Crowley draws extensively from primary source documents and highlights many of the captivating subplots that were part of the greater drama of the siege. Crowley provides the reader with a meticulous exploration of the final days of Constantinople as well as the social, religious, and political forces behind its demise. Even though there was a wealth of information, the reader was never weighed down in minutiae. Crowley is able to unfold the big picture clearly without sacrificing key elements about the various armies and personalities involved. Crowley immerses the reader into the book and makes it personal. The reader can feel the death of Constantine XI at the wall. The detail is overwhelming, but it does not stifle the reader. Crowley is the epitome of a great historian, because he successfully brings one of the most interesting battles in history to life. Compared to Anna Comnena’s, The Alexiad, Crowley presents his findings in a more objective manner. The Siege of 1453 was a watershed of
Crowley draws extensively from primary source documents and highlights many of the captivating subplots that were part of the greater drama of the siege. Crowley provides the reader with a meticulous exploration of the final days of Constantinople as well as the social, religious, and political forces behind its demise. Even though there was a wealth of information, the reader was never weighed down in minutiae. Crowley is able to unfold the big picture clearly without sacrificing key elements about the various armies and personalities involved. Crowley immerses the reader into the book and makes it personal. The reader can feel the death of Constantine XI at the wall. The detail is overwhelming, but it does not stifle the reader. Crowley is the epitome of a great historian, because he successfully brings one of the most interesting battles in history to life. Compared to Anna Comnena’s, The Alexiad, Crowley presents his findings in a more objective manner. The Siege of 1453 was a watershed of