Persian Fire: The First World Empire, Battle for the West
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Review
'Tom Holland is a born storyteller' GUARDIAN 'Meticulous about literary and historical accuracy - scarily bright' DAILY TELEGRAPH
Sunday Times
‘Excellent’
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Last summer I was carried away to the far distant Roman republic in Holland's 'Rubicon', and enthralling as that book was, the author has excelled himself with 'Persian Fire'. This is partly because, unlike 'Rubicon', where he compressed centuries of events in to one modest book, 'Persian Fire' is far more narrow in scope, and hence moves forward with much greater narrative thrust.
If, like me, your knowledge of the titanic battles between Persia and Greece in 5th Century BC is scanty then you are in for a treat. I found myself unable to put this book down, greedily devouring chapters as if it were a novel. In 'Rubicon', the sheer breadth of the book meant it was easy to become lost in the labyrinthine twists and turns of Roman politics, and often I had to remind myself of the identity of a character. In 'Persian Fire' however, the key events are dictated by a much smaller cast, and are all balanced around a central fulcrum: the great invasion of the west by the east. This gives the book incredible dynamism.
If I were to make one minor cavil, it would be that occasionally Holland tries too hard to make the story relevant to contemporary concerns. The book is littered with modish language and modern references which it would be much better without. Anyone with a passing interest in the subject will be enthralled with this narrative, without constant, obvious comparisons to the functioning of modern superpowers. And can we really be sure that buzzwords like 'spin' and 'bling' will make any more sense to future generations than anachronistic slang from the 1920s does to us? I think not, but that is only a slight blemish on an otherwise outstanding work.
If, like me, your knowledge of the titanic battles between Persia and Greece in 5th Century BC is scanty then you are in for a treat. I found myself unable to put this book down, greedily devouring chapters as if it were a novel. In 'Rubicon', the sheer breadth of the book meant it was easy to become lost in the labyrinthine twists and turns of Roman politics, and often I had to remind myself of the identity of a character. In 'Persian Fire' however, the key events are dictated by a much smaller cast, and are all balanced around a central fulcrum: the great invasion of the west by the east. This gives the book incredible dynamism.
If I were to make one minor cavil, it would be that occasionally Holland tries too hard to make the story relevant to contemporary concerns. The book is littered with modish language and modern references which it would be much better without. Anyone with a passing interest in the subject will be enthralled with this narrative, without constant, obvious comparisons to the functioning of modern superpowers. And can we really be sure that buzzwords like 'spin' and 'bling' will make any more sense to future generations than anachronistic slang from the 1920s does to us? I think not, but that is only a slight blemish on an otherwise outstanding work.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I could not put this book down. It's all here: the towering influence of the Iliad on daily life after 600 years, the arguing Athenians and how democracy happened almost by chance, the first Marathon, the curious habits of the Spartans such as educating girls, Leonidas's hesitation before Thermopolae, the rising tension of the Hitler-like threat from the east, and of course by implication, why Bush is loosing in Iraq, what is behind Iran making the bomb and how Putin has recast modern Russia on the model of Xerxes's Persian empire. It's well told, relevant today and truly facinating.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In contrast to Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire, which often lurches toward the more vicarious macho thrills afforded by blood-and-guts descriptive writing, this is well-written, thought-provoking history which is accessible for non-history buffs. It deals in equal measure with the origins of Persian expansion in the middle east, and how the nascent Greek societies were, in contrast to their foes, politically riven, frequently at war with each other, but brilliantly inventive when it came to military tactics.
Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea - the four major actions which put paid to the Persian plan to invade Europe - are described in major detail, and thankfully the Spartans' last stand only warrants a paragraph or so, giving the reader more scope to examine the wider Greek strategy for the entire 480/479 campaign. Great stuff.
Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea - the four major actions which put paid to the Persian plan to invade Europe - are described in major detail, and thankfully the Spartans' last stand only warrants a paragraph or so, giving the reader more scope to examine the wider Greek strategy for the entire 480/479 campaign. Great stuff.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great book!
I enjoyed every page. If you enjoy history and you enjoyed Rubicon then you'll certainly like this as well. It covers a part of history I knew so little about which is always good. Read more
Published 1 month ago by DavesTheName
flowing narrative chock full of fascinating ideas
Holland is one of the best popular historians writing: while up to first rate scholarly standards, he can speak to lay readers with graceful clarity and intelligence. Read more
Published 2 months ago by rob crawford
Fantastic!
Whether you're studying Greek and Persian affairs as a student or have simply expressed interest in this era you will not be disappointed. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kimberly Davis
Good, but more about Greece than Persia
This book is fantastically written. I enjoyed ever word from start to finish. However, i was under the impression i was going to read about the Persian Empire. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Xarada
History made accessible
Holland has a readable style that doesn't fall into the stuffy, dull accounts of many ancient and classical historians. And that is this book's biggest selling point. Read more
Published 8 months ago by History Geek
A book about the Greeks not the Persians!!!
Having read 'Rubicon' by the same author (which I avidly recccomend) I decided to brush up on my Persian history so bought this book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Laura
Proper narrative of the Persian Wars
The inimitable Tom Holland provides a treat of accessible ancient History with this book. He provides a brisk narrative of the rise of the Persians and the Greek efforts to keep... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Philip Ashby
War...War never changes
In the long military history of mankind it has become quite a cliched yet true saying that war never changes. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Darryn
As good as Rubicon
I read this after having read and thoroughly enjoyed Holland's excellent book, Rubicon about the fall of Julius Caesar. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
Persian Fire
Fascinating and pacey account of an era which which hugely influenced the evolution of politics and nations to the present day.
Published 10 months ago by Richardof bangor
Listmania!
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