Smaller than many cities yet larger than most legends, Malta has quietly shaped the course of Western civilization and now, Assouline reveals the full magnificent story. Malta Heritage invites readers on an immersive journey through five sun-drenched islands where cerulean waters meet ancient limestone, and where Byzantine, British, and Ottoman influences have fused into something entirely, unmistakably its own. Written by British-born journalist and luxury travel authority Mark Ellwood, a contribu ting editor to Condé Nast Traveler and columnist for Bloomberg Luxury, the title moves through Malta's layered identity: a backdrop for cinema, a crucible of culture, a Mediterranean crossroads that has remained, until now, the world's best-kept secret. Structured by the rich tapestry of influences that define the nation, from its seafaring traditions to its contemporary creative renaissance, the book captures a place that looks ancient yet lives entirely in the present. For the curious traveler, the discerning collector, and the lover of cultures that refuse to be easily defined, Malta Heritage is the essential key to an island that has always deserved a closer look.