The Gates of Athens : Book One in the Athenian series

DEVOUR THE LATEST EPIC TALE OF ANCIENT GREECE AND SUNDAY TIMES TOP 5 BESTSELLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF EMPEROR AND WAR OF THE ROSES 'Astonishing, convincing and compelling, with ferocious battles that bring the Ancient World of Greece alive' 5***** Reader Review ______ On the plains of Marathon an army of slaves gathers . . . Under Darius the Great, King of Kings, the mighty Persian army - swollen by 10,000 Immortal warriors - have come to subjugate the Greeks. In their path, vastly outnumbered, stands an army of freeborn Athenians, and among them is clever, fearsome and cunning soldier-statesman, Xanthippus. Knowing defeat means slavery lends keenness to his already sharp blade . . . Yet people soon forget that freedom is bought with blood. Ten years later, Xanthippus watches helplessly as Athens succumbs to the bitter politics of factionalism. Traitors and exiles abound. Trust is at a low ebb. Which is when the Persians cross the Hellespont in ever greater numbers to raze Athens to the ground. Facing overwhelming forces by land and sea, the Athenians call on their Spartan allies for assistance - to delay the Persians at the treacherous pass of Thermopylae . . . Featuring two of the most famous battles of the Ancient World - the Battle of Marathon and the Last Stand at Thermopylae - The Gates of Athens is a bravura piece of storytelling in which a people, driven to preserve their freedom at any cost, committed acts both base and noble. ______ Readers are raving about The Gates of Athens: 'What a brilliantly addictive read' 5***** Reader Review 'This author never fails to deliver!' 5***** Reader Review 'Another brilliant historical novel from the master of the craft' 5***** Reader Review 'It's like being on the battlefield' 5***** Reader Review PRAISE FOR CONN IGGULDEN 'The pace is nail-biting and the set-dressing magnificent' Times 'Pacy . . . and packed with action' Sunday Times 'One of our finest historical novelists' Daily Express 'Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction' Daily Mirror