Tides of War Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Tides of War Book

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 Read More

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    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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    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.

  • 0553813323
  • 9780553813326
  • Steven Pressfield
  • 5 March 2001
  • Bantam Books (Transworld Publishers a division of the Random House Group)
  • Paperback (Book)
  • 604
  • New edition
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