When the Jews revolted against Rome in 66 CE, Josephus, a Jerusalem aristocrat, was made a general in his nation’s army. Captured by the Romans, he saved his skin by finding favor with the emperor Vespasian. He then served as an adviser to the Roman legions, running a network of spies inside Jerusalem, in the belief that the Jews’ only hope of survival lay in surrender to Rome.

As a Jewish eyewitness who was given access to Vespasian’s campaign notebooks, Josephus is our only source of information for the war of extermination that ended in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and the amazing times in which he lived. He is of vital importance for anyone interested in the Middle East, Jewish history, and the early history of Christianity.

Few people know of the battle over the Sinai Desert between the Royal Flying Corps and German airmen, part of Britain’s campaign against Turkey in the First World War. Although a smaller conflict than the Western Front, in some ways it was more dramatic, involving the use of cavalry and the Arab revolt led by T.E. Lawrence. This fascinating book is based around the experiences of the author’s father, W.E.L. Seward, MC, who was a pilot with No 14 Squadron RFC. Illustrated with remarkable photographs that have only just come to light, this book provides a unique historical record.