'Milton has written a grimly memorable book' -- William Dalrymple, Sunday Times 'A master of historical narrative' -- The Sunday Times 'Milton has a terrific eye for the kind of detail that can bring the past vividly to life off the page ... restores an exotic lustre' -- The Spectator 'A magnificent piece of popular history' -- (On NATHANIEL'S NUTMEG) Independent on Sunday 'A grippingly told true adventure story' -- (On BIG CHIEF ELIZABETH) Daily Mail 'Milton's story could scarcely be more action-packed, and its setting and subsidiary characters are as fantastic as its events.' -- (On WHITE GOLD) The Sunday Times 20040704 Giles Milton's narrative races along as he stitches together a story of heroism, sacrifice and misplaced zeal, painstakingly researched from contemporary writing and records' -- (On WHITE GOLD) Observer 20040704 'Giles Milton has a gift for searching out odd and forgotten corners of history and turning them into bestselling books ... this is not a dry history, but a full-blooded narrative closer in style to a historical novel than to an academic study.' -- William Palmer (On WHITE GOLD), Literary Review 20040704 'Giles Milton ... has crafted an inspiration for those of us who believe that history can be exciting and entertaining' -- The Times 20040704 'An extraordinary story which few people will be at all familiar with ... an exciting and sensational account of a really swash-buckling historical episode' -- Philip Hensher (On WHITE GOLD), Spectator 20040704 'Milton is a great storyteller ... he conjures mood from dry parchment' -- Express on Sunday 20040704