An epic story of passion, courage and adventure in ancient Sparta, by the author of the Alexander trilogy. Herodotus tells us that not all of the three hundred Spartan warriors died at the hands of Xerxes, King of the Persians, in the battle of the Thermopylae: two were saved bringing a life-saving message back to the city...This is the saga of a Spartan family, torn apart by a cruel law that forces them to abandon one of their two sons - born lame - to the elements. The elder son, Brithos, is raised in the caste of the warriors, while the other, Talos, is spared a cruel death and is raised by a Helot shepherd, among the peasants. They live out their story in a world dominated by the clash between the Persian empire and the city-states of Greece - a ferocious, relentless conflict - until the voice of their blood and of human solidarity unites them in a thrilling, singular enterprise.
Spartan
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Product Description
Book Description
Herodotus tells us that not all of the three hundred Spartan warriors died at the hands of Xerxes, King of the Persians, in the battle of the Thermopylae: two were saved bringing a life-saving message back to the city... This is the saga of a Spartan family, torn apart by a cruel law that forces them to abandon one of their two sons - born lame - to the elements. The elder son, Brithos, is raised in the caste of the warriors, while the other, Talos, is spared a cruel death and is raised by a Helot shepherd, among the peasants. They live out their story in a world dominated by the clash between the Persian empire and the city-states of Greece - a ferocious, relentless conflict - until the voice of their blood and of human solidarity unites them in a thrilling, singular enterprise.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Valerio Massimo Manfredi is an Italian historian and archaeologist and was voted Man of the Year 1999 by the American Biographical Institute. Manfredi's books have been translated into several lanuages. He is the author of the enormously successful Alexander trilogy..
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 52 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I have literally just finished this book and I am sorry to have done so ... the pleasure that this book brought me is so great that I could easily pick it up again from the beginning.
Altough I suspect that the Italian original must be better than the English translation, as is usually the case, I found no fault in either the language or the story. It is like a breath of fresh air.
I found the way that the story is told so close to how real life is, that the unavoidable historical dicrepancies fade into insignificance. And after all who is there to know exactly how close this story is to the reality of the Ancient world? The pictures it paints are clearly believable and the life messages conveyed are valuable lessons about honesty, loyality, true love and fairness. Thus I highly recommend it to young people.
Its interesting story and the narrative flow keep your interest keen at all times and makes learning about life and customs in Ancient Greece a pleasure!
I look forward to reading the Alexander trilogy and any other book by Valerio Massimo Manfredi.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I must say that I found this book hard to put down. I read 'The Last Legion' (same author) prior to reading 'Spartan' and was suprised by the difference in the two styles the author had used, Spartan was the better book and kept rolling along in such a way it was painful to put it down.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It has been a long time coming, but finally I have found a book I really enjoyed. From reading the first page right up until the end I was fascinated by the period in time that this book was set. The story is one to keep you hooked, needing to know what happens to the characters next! Velerio has done well with this one, and now I go forth to read his Alexander trilogy.
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
great.
Fantastic book and well worth a read I really enjoyed it. Would recommend this book to friends and others who enjoy historical battles.
Published 4 months ago by tyrant1066
5.0 out of 5 stars
entertaining
I thought the best of all the manfredi stories and really strong characters.
It would be wishfull thinking for a second book but thats just wishfull thinking.
It would be wishfull thinking for a second book but thats just wishfull thinking.
Published 7 months ago by easy peasy
4.0 out of 5 stars
didnt quite live up to the hype
overall the book was good the story line was good and so were the battle scenes but whilst readin it i wasnt made to feel how it was to be a spartan or fight against them unlike... Read more
Published 22 months ago by barron10
5.0 out of 5 stars
Manfrdi books
I've startd reading all the books by Manfredi in te order that they are published and after reading the Alexander trilogy i thought it would be impossible to indanother good... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2010 by ant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful read
I had only ever read one of his books before which my boyfriend lent me and found it so well written I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2010 by nice2bout
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spartan by name not by nature
I am currently going through all of Manfredi's catalogue because I am really enjoying reading his work. This is no exception. If you like Cornwell, you will like Manfredi.
Published on 16 Dec 2009 by Mr. Noel Newman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ideal for fans of Mr Manfedi
Overall this was a very good book and I particularly enjoyed the mythological content. However, I do feel that the ending may have been slightly rushed as the final chapter... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2008 by J. Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
Manfredi can be a bit up and down on his books, but this along with the Alexander series is one of the best. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2008 by chuckles
2.0 out of 5 stars
Ran out of Steam
I felt 'The Spartan' started brilliantly, a great epic plot with a classic story (an development of the prodigal son). Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2008 by Mr. John M. Cronin
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Loved This Story
This is a good old fashioned yarn. Superbly written with great pace. The characters are a little comic book but the story is so enjoyable I could forgive this quite easily.
Published on 25 Jan 2008 by Trickle Tree
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