'A fascinating, well-crafted account of a siege that defined Britishness' BBC History Magazine This epic page-turner tells the story of the longest siege in British history, from 1779 to 1783, when the awe-inspiring Rock of Gibraltar was besieged by the overwhelming forces of Spain and France. Thousands of soldiers, sailors, civilians and their families lived through extraordinary events. This is military and social history at its best, a tale of courage, endurance, desperation and ingenuity. New ways of killing were constantly devised, including red-hot shot, shrapnel shells and a barrage from immense floating batteries. Britain's obsession with saving Gibraltar was even blamed for the loss of America in the War of Independence. Gibraltar became the most famous fortress in the world and an iconic symbol of strength and stability.'Highly readable ... The writing is first-rate' History of War Magazine