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Tides of War (Paperback)

by Steven Pressfield (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 604 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Books; New edition edition (5 Mar 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0553813323
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553813326
  • Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 10.6 x 4.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 59,060 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #5 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > P > Pressfield, Steven

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

If readers of epic historical fiction are influenced in their literary choices by successful films in the genre, then the timing of Steven Pressfield's Tides of War could not be better, with the cinematic release of Ridley Scott's Gladiator. Ironically, the very qualities that distinguish Scott's movie are here in greater concentration: tremendous historical sweep; strong, well-defined characters and bloody confrontations. The one area in which Pressfield definitely possesses the edge, though, is the fierce intelligence and rigorous authenticity of his remarkable book. As a picture of the ancient world, it is nigh unbeatable but it is the characterisation of the soldier protagonist Alcibiades (who becomes a central figure in the war between Athens and Sparta) that is Pressfield's greatest achievement.

Alcibiades is a brilliantly wrought conflation of ancient and modern sensibilities, the perfect conduit into this savage world. On the battlefield, Alcibiades has never known defeat but his success has created ill feeling among his political opponents in Athens. A trumped-up charge of treason forces him to flee to Sparta, where he engineers a series of military triumphs. However, his heart lies in Athens and, through a series of savage confrontations (both on the battlefield and in the equally dangerous political arena), he moves inexorably towards his unwritten destiny. It will be no surprise to the readers of the equally impressive Gates of Fire that this exuberant panoply of a far-off age is so luminously rendered. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.



Product Description

His name was Alcibiades, kinsman of Pericles and protege of Socrates. Undefeated on the battlefield, Alcibiades fled to Sparta after being forced to leave Athens when a trumped-up charge of treason was made against him. There, he was instrumental in guiding its legendary army to triumph.
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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Mature and moving, 4 Jul 2001
Pressfield's previous book, Gates of Fire, is a ripping yarn. Tides of War is much different. It is a much more mature work, and strangely moving once you learn to empathise with the main characters.

Like in life, Pressfield's characters are varying shades of grey - deeply flawed, making valiant attempts at self-justification.

The background to this tale, the Peloponnesian war, is a difficult conflict to comprehend. In effect a civil war, one doesn't expect outrageous acts of heroism similar to those described in Pressfield's depiction of the Persian wars. Add to this the remarkably complex character of Alcibiades and the uneasy decline of the principal nation states of Athens and Sparta.

What the author has achieved is remarkable: he breathes life into an ancient and distant culture, made the crazy decisions of the Athenian powers seem plausible, and turned the central character into a slightly deluded superstar of his time.

I think this was a difficult work for Pressfied to create, but he has pulled it off.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An ancient subject with modern relevance, 10 April 2002
By ravells (London) - See all my reviews
It is hard to believe that this is the same author who wrote 'Gates of Fire', not for reasons of quality but of style and subject. To compare them would be a fruitless exercise because they are so dissimilar and set out to educate and entertain very differently.

One of Pressfield's outstanding qualities as a writer is his ability to impart a consistent mood to his works; his character depictions and style of writing follow the dominant mood he intends to convey. In this book the mood is one of subversion of virtue to expedience, betrayal, fickleness and political machination. The difference between Doric and Ionian individual values and how those values were subverted to become the handmaidens of expiediency to achieve political ends - to the ultimate political destruction of both sides - underpins the entire work.

One of the value shifts explored was from personal sacrifice for the good of the community to personal gain as more important than the good of the community. This shift has been echoed in recent times by the American Democratic Party and Britain's Labour party finally reaching the realisation that they were unelectable if the centre piece of their policies remained individual sacrifice for the greater community good. For this and many other reasons, such as power projection and 'hearts and minds' politics to prosecute a war, Pressfield's book has an astonishing modern relevance.

Even though Pressfield's narrative contains some archaic constructions to give the book a 'contemporary feel', he uses modern language in dialogue to better allow us to empathise with character who is speaking. The effect is pleasing and works well.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anybody who has an interest in the Pelloponesian wars, or an interet in the study of what makes charismatic people tick.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute satisfying read, 3 Jan 2005
By G. Morgan "Milton Drake" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I love this book for its depiction of Alcibiades and Polemides - Pressfield totally brings them to life. On the one hand you have an exploration of a man who can be best described as the archetypal hero who's looks, fearlessness and military brilliance ultimately lead him to his downfall at the hands of the envious and corrupt. On the other we have a villain, a fallen hero whose paths and decisions lead him to be an assassin and a traitor. Their lives are intwined through the brutality of the Pelopenessian wars which Pressfield breathes life into through scenes of battle so engaging that you become so fully emersed you can feel your own eyes widening.

In short its a great story of ancient warfare, politics and lifestyle and one of my personal favourites.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Tides of War
This book effectively adds character and brings to life the rigid documented history of the period of the Peloponnesian War; the author successfully creates an entirely feasible... Read more
Published 3 months ago by David England

4.0 out of 5 stars A Creative Masterpiece
Having read 'Gates of Fire' I found myself equally impressed by the scholarship and detail of Pressfield's account of the complicated events of the Pelopennesian War and ultimate... Read more
Published 14 months ago by K. Newman

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
I have read many fine historical novels....this one of the finest of those.
Pressfield brings out the character of one of the most enigmatic and capable generals/leaders in... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. Colin Rankin

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise for the Tides of War
It isn't hard for me to say the Tides of War is probably my favorite of Mr Pressfields historical novels and to recommend it as a truly rewarding reading experience... Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2007 by Daryl K. Blake

3.0 out of 5 stars For Me The Tide Has Ebbed a Little
As a great lover of Ancient History books, both fact and fiction, I was recommended to read Gates of Fire. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2006 by J. Chippindale

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
What can i say...after "Gates of Fire" Steven Pressfield became my favorite author and so i was seeking other titles of his. Read more
Published on 27 May 2006 by Marinos Tsimaris

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece
I've read lots of historical novels and this is by far the best. It is not exaggeration to say that as an essay or study in politics and war it ranks, in terms of profundity... Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2006 by J. Coffey

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read if a little disjointed
The book is an interesting read but i found that the move from one narrator to another truncated the book in such a manner that it could not merit 5 stars. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2005 by Mr. M. J. Walmsley

5.0 out of 5 stars Not as accessable as Gates Of Fire, but in the length better
I guess many reviewers have given this book mediocre reviews, because they'd read Steven Pressfield's former masterpiece Gates Of Fire and expected a similar work. Read more
Published on 1 May 2005 by Kasper Michelsen

2.0 out of 5 stars A Disappointment
Having already read Gates of Fire,(a book I could hardly put down)I was more than eager to begin reading Tides of War but quickly found it to be an entirely different animal... Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2003

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