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It puts you in the midst of the most inhuman combat, lacking only the putrid smell of battle and death. Wonderful. Words cannot express the power of this book. By its end, you find you want more, but the tale is told, the men you admire have met their doom, and their legacy is all that remains. One of the elite novels worthy of remembrance. Epic, yet human in it's utmost quality. It draws you in; makes you believe in the strength of Sparta; surrounds you with characters you come to know, to admire, to love, and fear for.
A survivor of the battle itself, he is given the chore of communicating to Xerxes, King of Persia, who his opponents were, and how they came to be the kind of men they were. His scenes are urgent drivers of action, and the mood of fateful immediacy and recognition is shared by the reader. Pressfield makes no effort to force a "period" diction into the books' dialogue, but rather concentrates upon plausible conversation that includes actual Greek terms and illuminates Spartan attitudes and thinking.The narrator Xeone is fully integrated into the story's action and purpose. Thermopylae, or the "Hot Gates", remains possibly the best known battle in western history, nearly twenty five centuries after its occurrence. Although Xeone, loyal to his comrades, would rather be dead, this mission to assure their immortality is ostensibly given to him by Apollo when he is at death's door.Such is the book's poignancy, controlled tension, and clarity, one can almost wonder if some god had not given Pressfield the assignment as well. Many ancient authors commented on the battle of Thermopylae, and it was recognized by contemporaries as a supreme example of martial heroism.Pressfield's first novel of historical fiction takes full advantage of the material. From its improbable odds (about 4500, not 300, versus many hundreds of thousands) to its putative inauguration of the Golden Age of Greece, the story naturally has a dramatic arc that is powerful and convincing. His Greeks are authentic characters driven by emotion and necessity.
The book is based on a fictional character who survives the battle, is nursed back by the doctors, and then is asked to recount what Spartan life is like. Insightful not only to their time, but also to today's warriors and their families.The only drawback, on the Kindle version, the maps at the beginning are difficult to read. This is one of my all time favorites. Not only is there in depth discussion of the battle field, but also the fear, courage, and thoughts of both Spartan warriors and their families. But, I just pulled up a similar map on Wikipedia. An extremely well written, page turner of a book. It took me longer to read because I wanted to enjoy every word.
It ceratinly goes to show that, although the technology of war has changed over the centuries, basic methods and the way the common soldier acts on the battlefield. are all evident here.A superb piece of work, Steven Pressfield should be proud. Although I was expecting a more text book style, I was very pleasantly surprised with what I found. Brutality, honour, bravery, disgrace etc. I would recommend this book to anyone who has even a remote interest in military history. It is an extemely well written work that gives the reader an insight of warfare of the period. As a military man myself, I could realte to many of the emotions portrayed.
It was surely one of the most lopsided battles in world history. The only slight criticism I have is Pressfield's placing of contemporary vulgar terms in the mouths of these ancient warriors.You will note that my book reviews do not summarize the events or chapters of a book. Okay, okay, I'm of Greek origin, but I admit I'm a softie---nothing remotely like these Spartan warriors. A small band of Greeks pitted against the largest and most powerful military force of that era. I appreciate reviewers who do so, but when I check reviews I look for, first, whether a book comes highly recommended, and, second, a few reasons why or why not. But, still, I can fantasize, can't I. Pressfield is a great historical writer and he has captured the epic battle with the Babylonian forces with accuracy and vivid detail.
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