- Paperback: 255 pages
- Publisher: Da Capo Press Inc; 1st Da Capo Press Ed edition (Sep 1993)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0306805316
- ISBN-13: 978-0306805318
- Product Dimensions: 22.7 x 14.9 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
966,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #87 in Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Chemical > Energy Transfer
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
}The three-day battle for the pass at Thermopylthe Hot Gateswas a critical contest in Xerxess massive invasion of Greece. The bloody stand made there by Leonidas and his small Spartan army in 480 B.C. has been hailed ever since as an outstanding example of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice. The ambitions of King Xerxes were vast. Having amassed a Persian army that was the largest force of men and ships ever assembled, he set out to conquer Greece, at the same time sending an army of Carthaginians to overrun Sicily. Thus the two forces planned to open the gates to the wealth of the western Mediterranean and march upon most of the known world.Ernle Bradfords narrative embraces the entire era of the invasion, from the building of the incredible wooden bridge across the Hellespont to the final crushing defeat of the Persian rear guard at the battle of Plata. There, as before, the Spartans were the decisive force, turning out in massive numbers. It was at Thermopyl, however, that the fate of Xerxess forces was determined by a small band of Spartans. In Thermopyl, Ernle Bradford brings to life the personalities and fantastic battles of this epic period with unmatched skill and verve. }
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THE WHOLE OF THE EAST was on the move. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THE WHOLE OF THE EAST was on the move. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had read elsewhere of how important the Graeco-Persian wars were to western civilisation, but had no real idea why. This
rather good book starts to answer that question. The individual
Greeks,not just the city-states or their leaders, were fighting
for a concept- the freedom and value of a man himself to make his
own destiny. The centralised autocratic Persian edifice was the
antithesis of this.These wars actually decided the future of the
world,splitting it into two cultures. Thermopylae was one of the
key battles but not the decisive one.
The book really deals with the whole second Persian invasion,the
eponymous battle acting as a fulcrum.It is gripping,knowedgeable
and informative.A supposed historical bias towards the Greeks is
redressed with the Persian culture getting a fair telling.It raises many interesting issues quite simply,obviously intended by Ernle Bradford to be elaborated upon in other books.In so doing he has achieved his aim.Anyone who reads "Thermopylae" will seek further, appetite whetted.
Small points detract:as usual,the maps deserve to be better and
more numerous;the battles should be shown with formations and
lines of movement,and diagrams(hoplite armour,Hellespont bridge
etc.)would help.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book which I would defy any non-
scholar to stop before the end.I highly recommend it.
rather good book starts to answer that question. The individual
Greeks,not just the city-states or their leaders, were fighting
for a concept- the freedom and value of a man himself to make his
own destiny. The centralised autocratic Persian edifice was the
antithesis of this.These wars actually decided the future of the
world,splitting it into two cultures. Thermopylae was one of the
key battles but not the decisive one.
The book really deals with the whole second Persian invasion,the
eponymous battle acting as a fulcrum.It is gripping,knowedgeable
and informative.A supposed historical bias towards the Greeks is
redressed with the Persian culture getting a fair telling.It raises many interesting issues quite simply,obviously intended by Ernle Bradford to be elaborated upon in other books.In so doing he has achieved his aim.Anyone who reads "Thermopylae" will seek further, appetite whetted.
Small points detract:as usual,the maps deserve to be better and
more numerous;the battles should be shown with formations and
lines of movement,and diagrams(hoplite armour,Hellespont bridge
etc.)would help.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book which I would defy any non-
scholar to stop before the end.I highly recommend it.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book offers the reader an enjoyable and interesting narrative of that most famous battle at Thermopylae. The author makes it clear that its not going to be a in-depth account but more of an overview of the battle and the Persian campaign against the Greek City States. If you are looking for a more detailed and scholarly book I would suggest Peter Green's book titled 'The Greco-Persian Wars'. Overall, bearing in mind that this book was published in 1980, this is a decent book covering Thermopylae and how the Spartan's fought and why. It made me want to go and hire the old classic video of the 300! Well worth the time to sit down and read.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ernie Bradford attempts to cover the Persian campaign up to and including the aftermath of Salamis but does so in a rather subjective way, where his opinions seem to account for more than historical facts. He does not spend enough time on the actual battle at Thermopylae nor on the central characters but he has a great regard for the Persians and Xerxes himself, something classically educated readers may be missing with their Grrek and Roman bias. The author's enthusiasm comes across well but his knowledge of sailing in the Aegean can become a bit wearing as it is referred to rather too often.
Overall an enjoyable read which stimulated me to seek further more scholarly works on this subject
Overall an enjoyable read which stimulated me to seek further more scholarly works on this subject
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
300
this is a great book.
written by a guy who understnds the logistics of war, especially war at sea
it gives the reader a wider understanding of the conflict, and how the... Read more
written by a guy who understnds the logistics of war, especially war at sea
it gives the reader a wider understanding of the conflict, and how the... Read more
Published 20 months ago by jimmy
Interesting...
After having seen a programme on the History channel about the last stand of the 300 with, of course, their native compatriots at Thermopylae, I thought I'd like to read up on the... Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2009 by Top Cat
The characters come alive.
This is a very fine novel. It is not a scholarly study of ancient Greece or of the Spartan army or for that matter of Persia. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 1999
A overly simplistic view of the Battle of Thermopylae
Bradford is an amateur historian at best, and his work, although well written, lacks true historical merit. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 1998
Excellent reading for anyone interested in Spartan history
Essentially this book filled in quite a lot of gaps in and around the heroic battle of the 300 Spartans against the Persians that numbered in the Tens of Thousands. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 1997
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