Fortress Malta

11 June 1940. Italian aircraft fly over Malta. The first of more than tree thousand bombing raids The Island is to suffer during the longest siege in British history.

The day before, Mussolini had declared war on Britain, and in that moment, the tiny Island of Malta – slightly smaller than the Isle of Wight – became one of the most important strategic pieces of land in the world.

‘Holland has used survivors’ testimony and unpublished letters and diaries to give us a long overdue and comprehensive account … This is a fine first book from a promising young historian’ John Crossland, Sunday Times.

‘A loving, enthusiastic account … He streers clear of politics, ans concentrates on the breadth of personalities, on the hopes and fears on the extraordinary, ordinary people caught up in the longest siege in British history’ Will Cohu, Daily Telegraph.