Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
By Steven Pressfield
Read by George Guidall
Unabridged
Format :
Library CD (In Stock)
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2 Formats: CD
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2 Formats: Library CD
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ISBN: 9781664401426
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ISBN: 9781664509252
| Runtime: | 14.93 Hours |
| Category: | Fiction/Historical |
| Audience: | Adult |
| Language: | English |
Summary
Summary
Gates of Fire puts you at the side of valiant Spartan warriors in 480 BC for the bloody, climactic battle at Thermopylae. There, a few hundred of Sparta's finest sacrificed their lives to hold back the invading Persian millions. The time they bought enabled the Greeks to rally-saving, according to ancient historian Herodotus, "Western democracy and freedom from perishing in the cradle." How did the Spartans accomplish this superhuman feat? This is what the King of Persia hopes to learn from the sole Spartan survivor. The squire's story indeed reveals the incredible rigors of Spartan training-and more importantly, how the whole culture fostered the mindset of fearlessness. Steven Pressfield has skillfully combined scholarship and storytelling to bring the whole world of ancient Sparta brilliantly to life. George Guidall's dramatic delivery enhances the richness and feeling of this inspired recreation.Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
“Steven Pressfield brings the battle of Thermopylae to brilliant life, and he does for that war what Charles Frazier did for the Civil War in Cold Mountain.” —Pat Conroy
“An incredibly gripping, moving, and literate work of art. Rarely does an author manage to recreate a moment in history with such mastery, authority, and psychological insight.”
—Nelson DeMille
“Pressfield’s descriptions of war are breathtaking in their immediacy.” —Amazon.com, editorial review
“Rich with historical detail, hot action, and crafty storytelling, Pressfield’s riveting story reveals the social and political framework of Spartan life—ending with the hysteria and brutality of the spear-thrusting, shield-bashing clamor that defined a Spartan’s relationship with his family, community, country, and fellow warriors.” —Publishers Weekly
“Guidall’s voice has an antiquated quality, a timeless weightiness that gives gravity to his readings. All of this makes the historic novel one of his strongest formats, a point amply made in this performance.” —AudioFile
“Fast-paced blending of ethnology, romance, human insight, and military science...Highly recommended.” —Booklist
“Pressfield weaves a fascinating tale of valor, fear, comradeship, and a courage that takes a handful of warriors beyond human frailty into immortality. An unforgettable novel.” —Library Journal
“A triumph in historical fiction.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A timeless epic of man and war...Pressfield has created a new classic deserving of a place beside the very best of the old.” —Stephen Coonts
“Gripping and swashbuckling...an exciting, romantic, star-crossed story.” —New York Times
“An epic novel...the real thing.” —San Francisco Chronicle
“A novel that is intricate and arresting and, once begun, almost impossible to put down.” —New York Daily News
“Monumental...[a story] told with extraordinary authority and insight.” —Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Pressfield’s imaginative and gory rendering of the combat is compelling, and his prose is clear and accessible.”
—Sunday Times (London)
“With a sound grasp of strategy and an ex-infantryman’s understanding of comradeship and its grim wit, Steven Pressfield adds color and a credible cast of soldiers and their wives to the historians’ accounts. I couldn’t put it down.” —Daily Telegraph (London)
“Pressfield’s powerful, historically accurate novel explores Spartan society and the nature of courage without ever losing its narrative momentum.” —New Yorker
Author
Author Bio: Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield is the author of the hugely successful novels Gates of Fire, Tides of War, and Last of the Amazons, among others. His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance, was made into a major motion picture starring Matt Damon and Will Smith in 2000. He lives in California.
Details
Details
| Available Formats : | CD, Library CD |
| Category: | Fiction/Historical |
| Runtime: | 14.93 |
| Audience: | Adult |
| Language: | English |
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