Defenders of The Golden Apple

Defenders of The Golden Apple is a book for children.

By Tore Rasmussen, 6th November 2021

“Defenders of the Golden Apple” is an educational book about the Battle of Vienna in 1683 for children aged 8-14. It tells the tale of the desperate struggle of the heroic defenders of Vienna against the invading Ottoman Empire. Lasting two months from July to September 1683, the siege brought the city to the brink of collapse. 

Vienna, or the “Golden Apple” (its Ottoman nickname), was the jewel in the crown of Europe. The capture of this city would not only have been a military victory for the Ottomans, but a crushing spiritual defeat for Austria and all of Christendom.

This book is also a tale of hope and personal courage. It shows how different parts of Europe came together to unite against a common threat. This historical example gives hope that fraternity among the nations of Europe is possible in times of need.

In this story we find the virtues of bravery, personal responsibility and perseverance in the face of grave dangers and great difficulty. We have chosen a writing style for this book that is exciting and engaging for children to read and to listen to. Through this, we hope to stimulate their curiosity about history; to inspire them to read and explore for themselves.

This book is intended as a work of educational entertainment. While older children and teenagers can easily read it on their own, it is recommended that parents and tutors co-read this book together with the child to enhance their learning experience. The book comes with a complimentary glossary that explains new and difficult words that the child may not yet be familiar with.