Island fortress : the defence of Great Britain, 1603-1945

The British Isles, it is often believed, have not been invaded for nearly a thousand years. Norman Longmate reveals in this fascinating book that foreign soldiers have landed on British soil on many occasions. This definitive study weaves original sources into an enthralling narrative with facts about weapons, ships, armies, and fortresses—spiced with anecdote and ranging over international, political, military, and naval history. It is an exciting story that shows how, against all odds, the British managed to retain their freedom from the days of James I to those of George VI. The British Isles, it is often believed, have not been invaded for nearly a thousand years. In fact, as Norman Longmate reveals in this highly entertaining book (the successor to his acclaimed Defending the Island), foreign soldiers have landed on British soil on many occasions.In this definitive study of a long-neglected subject Norman Longmate make constant use of original sources, including contemporary eyewitness accounts. These are woven into an enthralling narrative, packed with fact - about weapons, ships, armies and fortresses - spiced with anecdote, and ranging over international and political as well as military and naval history. The result is above all an exciting story, which shows how, against all the odds, the British people managed to retain their freedom from the days of James I to those of George VI. In this study of a long-neglected subject, the author makes constant use of original sources, including contemporary eyewitness accounts. These are woven into a narrative, packed with facts, spiced with anecdote, and ranging over international and political as well as military and navel history. The British Isles, it is often believed, have not been invaded for nearly a thousand years. This title reveals that the foreign soldiers have landed on British soil on many occasions. It makes constant use of sources, including contemporary eyewitness accounts.