Greek Fire: The Fabulous Secret That Saved Europe [Hardcover]

W. H., Jr. Spears (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: W H Spears Jr (July 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0960010637
• ISBN-13: 978-0960010639
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,635,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greek Fire by W.H. Spears Jr., September 7, 2004

By 

S. Redwine III "publius cornelius tacitus" (VA, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Greek Fire: The Fabulous Secret That Saved Europe (Hardcover)

This is the third of three novels in a series by Spears inspired by Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. While it is part of a series, it is perfectly able to stand on it's own. Using historical research and a talent for the literary art, Spears tells the story of two peoples, the Greeks in Constantinople and the Saracens who when we meet them are laying siege to Constantinople, the Capital of the Greek Byzantine Empire.

Storming the walls proves to difficult despite repeated attempts, so a naval blockade to starve the Greeks into submission is launched. The blockading ships encounter a devastating weapon when the Greeks appear. Greek Fire, which is not put out by water, can be sprayed out of giant flame-throwers on Greek ships burning the enemy's fleet.

The first use of Greek Fire causes Ali ibn Abdulla to lose his father and have his life intertwined with that of a Greek Captain and his son born the same day as the battle that takes Ali's father's life.

Delving into alchemy, espionage, religion, Bedouin life, the Pilgrimage to Mecca and naval warfare, among other things, with travels from Constantinople, Mecca, Alexandria and Spain, this book spans two generations and displays Spears talent for storytelling.