The Siege

Experience the dread and the triumph of a 16th-century siege.

It's 1585 and the Netherlands is in revolt against the Spanish Empire. One Dutch town is all that stands between the Spanish army and its invasion of Holland. Prepare to experience a city under siege.

A composite of several historic battles, The Siege takes readers inside the walls of a besieged community and also behind the battle lines with the attackers. Readers will march with the advancing army and learn the staggering logistics of keeping it fed. They'll join the townspeople in preparing the defense, even demolishing some of their own buildings to deter the enemy. And they'll witness the need for patience as much as power, since victory often depended on outlasting the enemy against disease and starvation.

Brought to life through dramatic storytelling and vivid illustrations, and factually grounded with detailed diagrams, The Siege is a realistic look at Renaissance life during military strife.

Stephen Shapiro is the critically acclaimed author of Battle Stations! Fortifications Through the Ages, Ultra Hush-Hush: Espionage and Special Missions, and Hoodwinked: Deception and Resistance. He is a lifelong aficionado of military history and lives in Columbus, Ohio.

John Mantha is the award-winning illustrator of more than a dozen books, including The Kids Book of Canadian History and The Kids Book of World Religions. He lives in Toronto.