The Last Crusade: The Epic Voyages of Vasco Da Gama by Cliff, Nigel

In 1498, a Portuguese sea captain discovered a long-hidden secret: the sea route from Europe to the Indies. But while seeking out the fabled wealth of the East, da Gama and his crew faced storms, disease and the threat of attack from Muslim ships at a time when tensions between Islam and Christianity were especially high. In Holy War, Nigel Cliff reveals a radically new interpretation of da Gama's discovery and its impact on world history.

Cliff argues that both da Gama and his archrival Christopher Columbus saw themselves as economic Crusaders, hoping to not only claim the territories they discovered, but also to seize control of the markets in spices and silks that made their Muslim rivals wealthy. This set in motion a turning point in the struggle between Christianity and Islam that would change the fate of three continents. Filled with adventure, intrigue and treachery, Holy War exposes the deep roots of a conflict between West and East that continues to this day.

Nigel Cliff is a historian, biographer, and critic. Born in Manchester, England, he was educated at Oxford University, where he won the Beddington Prize for English Literature. He is a former theater and film critic and feature writer for the London Times and a contributor to The Economist and other publications. His first book, The Shakespeare Riots, was a finalist for the National Award for Arts Writing, and was named by the Washington Post as one of the best nonfiction books of 2007. He lives in London with his wife, the ballerina Viviana Durante.--Kansas City Star