Although the martial nature of this book makes blood, guts and foul language seem appropriate, an edited copy might be in line here for the young or tender. That said, the story is absolutely captivating. I feel like I was there. Not only has Pressfield painted an accurate picture of Herodotus' account, he has filled in the lines with a realistic story line that forces the reader to think deeply about love, courage, patriotism and freedom. This is not just a war story, it is a penetrating look into our humanity. It is an inspiring novel that makes one wonder at ones own dedication to freedom, family and fraternity.

Gates of Fire is the tale of the heroic 300 Spartans who made their stand at Thermopylae through the eyes of a fictitious by-stander.

This book is fairly engaging though many parts do drag and take some time and dedication to get through.

If you're interested in Greek history and don't mind this not being a full blown history book it is definitely worth reading.

Before I bought this I said to myself, "What more can be said about the brave 300?" Now I realize, plenty! This is a very well-written book and offers a total immersion in the sounds and sights of ancient history. You will receive an education and also be enthralled at the same time. This one is really worth getting!

The story is focused around the Persian invasion of Greece and the battle of Thermopylae. I found that this book brought me closer to the main characters more than any other book I have ever read. Stephen Pressfield has mastered character creation and has captured the essence of Spartan lifestyle. After reading this book it became obvious to me that Steven Pressfield did his homework, this is no fanciful tale and is likely one of the most accurate depictions of Spartan warfare and close quarter combat. I would recommend this book to anyone who is minutely interested in ancient history, military, culture, or warfare. However, this book is not for the faint of heart is very gritty, violent, bloody and vulgar as warfare at that time was. I give this book five out of five stars. Although this isn't the greatest book I've ever read it is certainly in my top 10.

Gates of Fire takes you along on the Spartan's march on the Persian Empire. The book is reminiscent of the Greek Epic Fates by Georgiou Tino, or vice versa. Steven Pressfield does a marvelous job recreating this lost civilization and the historic and cultural aspects of these great empires. The battles are done with such realism that you might as well dawn the shield and sword and be in the midst of it. The battles, the journey and the path these heroes march are all brought back in vivid detail that was painstakingly research and recreated. This is a must for all fans of this ancient culture.

I loved the story, I loved the writing. Very vivid. I liked it much more than the movie 300, although they aren't based on each other specifically. Others have shared details of the book, so I won't. I'll just say that I enjoyed it tons!

Gates of Fire takes you along on the Spartan's march on the Persian Empire. The book is reminiscent of the Greek Epic Fates by Georgiou Tino, or vice versa. Steven Pressfield does a marvelous job recreating this lost civilization and the historic and cultural aspects of these great empires. The battles are done with such realism that you might as well dawn the shield and sword and be in the midst of it. The battles, the journey and the path these heroes march are all brought back in vivid detail that was painstakingly research and recreated. This is a must for all fans of this ancient culture.

I'd also recommend reading Fates by Georgiou Tino for another great tale on this lost civilization.

I have never seen a delivery that was so damaged as this book was when i received it. It was nicked and perforated in several places.

Don't buy from Amazon, that's my suggestion.

I haven't read hundreds of books (I'm only twenty one) but for what it's worth this is without a doubt my favorite one. I was enveloped right from the start, which is important to me. I have always loved history and Pressfield teaches much while still keeping an exciting story. Often my biggest complaint with books is that the author is too descriptive; not so here. I like how Pressfield describes the characters in terms of demeanor and status and personality rather than creating an image of everyone's nose. Anywho, i love this book and bought another pressfield (Killing Rommel) because of it.

This is a top notch historical novel, among the best. I usually have some nits about the writing, plotting, emphasis, pacing and/or accuracy. But I have nothing negative to say about this fascinating, often lyrical, work.

The narrative is a flashback from the only Greek survivor of the battle, Xeones, a refugee adopted (as a semi-slave) by the Spartans while still a boy. He relates the story of his time with the Spartans to Xerxes, the Persian King who defeated the 300 at Thermopylae and was intensely interested in what made the Spartans tick. You learn about Spartan culture, values, discipline, sense of honor, weapons and war strategy. Pressfield weaves all of that into absorbing character studies marked by sparkling dialogue and surprising plot twists. His descriptions of the battles (there are several besides Thermopylae) are vivid and frightening.

I prefer nonfiction, mostly Western history, biography and current events. A few years ago, I was captivated by Patrick O'Brian's Royal Navy novels from the Napoleonic Era. Since then have been searching, mostly unsuccessfully, for an author of historical fiction approaching O'Brian. Pressfield is the closest I have found to date. I immediately purchased two of his other Greek novels to see whether he can replicate Gates of Fire. I doubt it.

This is a top notch historical novel, among the best. I usually have some nits about the writing, plotting, emphasis, pacing and/or accuracy. But I have nothing negative to say about this fascinating, often lyrical, work.

The narrative is a flashback from the only Greek survivor of the battle, Xeones, a refugee adopted (as a semi-slave) by the Spartans while still a boy. He relates the story of his time with the Spartans to Xerxes, the Persian King who defeated the 300 at Thermopylae and was intensely interested in what made the Spartans tick. You learn about Spartan culture, values, discipline, sense of honor, weapons and war strategy. Pressfield weaves all of that into absorbing character studies marked by sparkling dialogue and surprising twists. His descriptions of the battles (there are several besides Thermopylae) are vivid and frightening.

I prefer nonfiction, mostly Western history, biography and current events. A few years ago, I was captivated by Patrick O'Brian's Royal Navy novels from the Napoleonic Era. Since then have been searching, mostly unsuccessfully, for an author of historical fiction approaching O'Brian. Pressfield is the closest I have found to date. I immediately purchased two of his other Greek novels to see whether he can replicate Gates of Fire.

This is a top notch historical novel, among the best I have ever read. I usually have some nits about the writing, the plotting, the emphasis, the pacing or the accuracy. But I have nothing negative to say about this fascinating, often lyrical, work.

The narrative is a flashback from the only Greek survivor of the battle, Xeones, a refugee from a destroyed village in Western Greece who is adopted (as a semi-slave) by the Spartans while still a boy. He relates the story of his time with the Spartans to Xerxes, the Persian King who defeated the 300 at Thermopylae and was intensely interested in what made the Spartans tick. You learn about Spartan culture, values, discipline, sense of honor, weapons and war strategy. Pressfield weaves all of that into absorbing character studies marked by sparkling dialogue and surprising twists. His descriptions of the battles (there are several besides Thermopylae) are vivid and frightening.

I have always preferred nonfiction, mostly Western history, biography and current events. A few years ago, I became captivated with Patrick O'Brian's Royal Navy novels from the Napoleonic Era. Since then have been searching, mostly unsuccessfully, for an author of historical fiction approaching O'Brian's talent. Pressfield is the closest I have found to date. I immediately purchased his other novels and can't wait to dive in.

I found Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire hard to place, yet just as hard to stop reading. It's a paradox because the prose swamps in telling and not showing, passive voice, and dry passages throughout work. Others mentioned this truth in the first half, and it bears repeating, but the lyrical voice and characters develop beyond simple characters.

You believe in them.

I'm rarely moved to tears with any character. Yet when a certain character dies near the end, I felt the sting in my eyes. It's that powerful. The ending more than makes up for the slow beginning, and the story linger long after you close the book. These saving graces force me to give Gates of Fire four stars.

Recommended.

Wolfe

If there is anyone out there who would like to become a connoisseur of historical fiction, look no further than Pressfield's 'Gates of Fire'.

The characters are written so convincingly you can almost feel them standing behind your shoulder. Xeo, Alexandros, Polynikes, Dienekes---all of them bring their own charm to the tale, giving a voice to the pages of history. The battles are described so masterfully you can feel the shock of clashing shield lines and smell the leather, sweat, and blood. The author unfolds the landscape and clime of Greece with his compelling prose and infuses a impressive amount of historical fact into the text.

Pressfield brings the Spartans to life. Skip '300'. Pick up 'Gates of Fire.'

This book was purchased after seeing the movie 'The 300'. It offers a wealth of detail, which no movie can incorporate, on ancient Greek history, culture and attitudes. In the tradition of Mary Renault, this book makes ancient Greek history accessible by means of well researched novelization.

This is certainly one of my very favorite books of all time. Pressfield's style has even influenced my own works. Anytime an author can make you one a small group of elite heroes--feel their determination; smell their sweat; lock your shield with theirs; thrust your spear into the soft bodies of the enemy; feel the desolation when your battle line is ultimately flanked--then the author has done a great job. You too can be a hero and you don't even have to die.

But they did die--to the man--and the world is a better place for it. The Alamo was the Texas' Thermopolae. Both battles were important for similar reasons. They gave their countrymen the time to prepare their defenses. There were major differences, though. The Spartans were highly trained combatants--and--the Spartans could have retreated at almost any time and saved their lives. The Texans were military novices who deliberately let themselves get bottled up so that they would have no option but to fight to the death.

Still both events were glorious beyond imagination and both events changed the world. The line where Leonidas asks, "How many of the enemy are there?" The spy answers, "All I can tell you is that they are so numerous that when they fire their arrows, they blot out the sun." Leonidas replies in what has to be the most famous battle-line in history. "Good. Then we fight in the shade."

I don't know if these words are apocryphal but I'd like to think they are true. When William Barret Travis wrote to Houston, "I'll never surrender. I'll never retreat..." It was exactly the same thing.

It's also interesting to consider that both Xerxes and Santa Ana had the same man-saving option. Xerxes had the men and firepower to pelt the Spartans from a distance with arrows and slingshots. It would have taken awhile but, despite the Spartan's great organization, the occasional missile would have gotten through and the Greek force would have been whittled down. Xerxes, after a brief bombardment, elected for a frontal assault. Was this because he didn't want to be slowed down or was it because of his personal sense of honor?

Santa Ana could have waited until his cannons were brought up and then he could have pulverized Alamo from a distance without the loss of a single soldier. He didn't do it. He ordered a frontal assault. Contempt for the Texans? Or was he operating from personal honor?

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Conquest of Mexico

To the extent that a battle to the death can be enjoyed, this novel carries you away. The characters are alive and their deaths are tragic, but hope-giving. The plot and characters are intricate, so... concentrate. It's a very satisfying novel.

Through the generous encouragement of my many warrior friends, and their recommendation of books I should read, I am slowly giving myself an education in the history of warfare. Eric Kapitulik strongly urged me to read "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield. It is an epic novel of the storied Battle of Thermopylae. Although written as a fictional account as told with great artistry through the voice of a narrator who survived the battle, the book is meticulously researched and stunning in its scope and depth of insight.

Pressfield is a painter with words in the way in which he sets up the telling of the story. The Spartan squire, Xeones, was found barely clinging to life after the legendary 300 finally perished after dispatching tens of thousands of Persians in the narrow pass known as "The Gates of Fire" at Thermopylae. Brought from the battlefield barely breathing, he was nursed back to health and taken before the Persian King, Xerxes. The king wanted to hear in detail how the Spartans had trained and fought against overwhelming odds and in the face of vastly superior numbers.

Xeones' telling of the story is the heart and soul of Pressfield's epic novel. His comments about the arduous training of the Spartans reminds me of tales I have heard and read of Navy SEAL training or the rigors of Army Ranger screening.

"The purpose of an eight-nighter [training exercise] is to drive the individuals of the division, and the unit itself, beyond the point of humor. It is when the jokes stop, they say, that the real lessons are learned and each man, and the mora as a whole, makes those incremental advances which pay off in the ultimate crucible. The hardship of the exercises is intended less to strengthen the back than to toughen the mind. The Spartans say that any army may win while it still has its legs under it; the real test comes when all strength is fled and the men must produce victory on will alone." (Page 69)

The author, through the voice of Xeones, philosophizes about the traits that make an effective officer in battle:

"This, I realized now watching Dienekes rally and tend to his men, was the role of the officer: to prevent those under his command , at all stages of battle - before, during and after - from becoming `possessed.' To fire their valor when it flagged and rein in their fury when it threatened to take them out of hand. That was Dienekes' job. That was why he wore the transverse-crested helmet of an officer." (Page 112)

As the Spartans prepare for battle, King Leonidas speaks eloquently of the divided loyalties and sensibilities of the warrior:

"When a man seats before his eyes the bronze face of his helmet and steps off from the line of departure, he divides himself, as he divides his `ticket' [the Spartan version of dog tags] in two parts. One part he leaves behind. That part which takes delight in his children, which lifts his voice in the chorus, which clasps his wife to him in the sweet darkness of their bed.

That half of him, the best part, a man sets aside and leaves behind. He banishes from his heart all feelings of tenderness and mercy, all compassion and kindness, all thought or concept of the enemy as a man, a human being like himself. He marches into battle bearing only the second portion of himself, the baser measure, that half which knows slaughter and butchery and turns the blind eye to quarter. He could not fight at all if he did not do this.'

. . . Then this man returns, alive, out of the slaughter. He hears his name called and comes forward to take his ticket. He reclaims that part of himself which he had earlier set aside.

This is a holy moment. A sacramental moment. A moment in which a man feels the gods as close as his own breath.

What unknowable mercy has spared us this day? What clemency of the divine has turned the enemy's spear one handbreadth from our throat and driven it fatally in to the breast of the beloved comrade at our side? Why are we still here above the earth, we who are no better, no braver, who reverenced heaven no more than these our brothers whom the gods have dispatched to hell?

When a man joins the two pieces of his ticket and sees the weld in union together, he feels that part of him, the part that knows love and mercy and compassion, come flooding back over him. This is what unstrings his knees.

What else can a man feel at that moment than the most grave and profound thanksgiving to the gods who, for reasons unknowable, have spared his life this day? Tomorrow their whim may alter. Next week, next year. But this day the sun still shines upon him, he feels its warmth upon his shoulders, he beholds about him the faces of his comrades whom he loves and he rejoices in their deliverance and his own." (Pages 115-6)

I would offer the observation that perhaps the essence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the failure of these two bisected halves of the warrior's ticket - his sense of "self" - to reunite seamlessly after returning from the battlefield.

Pressfield's vivid and fetid word pictures of the horrors of close combat parallel the cinematic imagery of such masterpieces as "Saving Private Ryan" or "Band of Brothers":

"Only the dirt itself possessed clemency. Alone the stinking soup beneath the warrior's tread proffered surcease and succor. The men's feet churned it into broth ankle-deep; their driving legs furrowed it to the depth of the calf, then they themselves fell upon it on their knees and fought from there. Fingers clawed at the blood-blackened muck, toes strained against it for purchase, the teeth of dying men bit into it as if to excavate their own graves with the clamp of their jaws. Farmers whose hands were taken up with the pleasure of the dark clods of their native fields, crumbling between their fingers the rich earth which brings forth the harvest, now crawled on their bellies in this sterner soil, clawed at it with the nubs of their busted fingers and writhed without shame, seeking to immure themselves within the earth's mantle and preserve their backs from the pitiless steel. (Page 306)

With elegant strokes of his pen Pressfield offers a sense of historical perspective on the heroism that characterized the band of 300 who stood and fell before the onslaught of the Persian forces at Thermopylae:

"Instead he [King Leonidas] spoke, in words few and plain, of the valley of the Eurotas, of Parnon and Taygetos and the cluster of five unwalled villages which alone comprise that polis and commonwealth which the world calls Sparta. A thousand years from now, Leonidas declared, two thousand, three thousand years hence, men a hundred generations yet unborn may for their private purposes make journey to our country.

`They will come, scholars perhaps, or travelers from beyond the sea, prompted by curiosity regarding the past or appetite for knowledge of the ancients. They will peer out across our plain and probe among the stone and rubble of our nation. What will they learn of us? Their shovels will unearth neither brilliant palaces nor temples; their picks will prise forth no everlasting architecture or art. What will remain of the Spartans? Not monuments of marble or bronze, but this, what we do here today.'" (Page 356)

So, on this Memorial Day weekend, as we consider the courage displayed at "The Gates of Hell" so long ago, let us also remember with gratitude and affection our own warriors - grandfathers, fathers, brothers, sons and daughters - who fought valiantly on our behalf in recent wars.

Al

Combined with such poetic literary style and rhetorics, this remarkable story of history's greatest battle and of its warriors, both fearless and human, is truly a classic. Each sentence, at times poignant and clever, witty and gruesom, holds significance in some way or another.
This is not just another typical story of petty sword-fights, eye-gouging bloodshed and etc; it's a masterpiece.

Before I read this book, I had heard of the Battle of Thermopylae, but had little idea of the significance or history of it. After reading this book I became fascinated by it and I've learned a lot more about it. Even though this is historical fiction, it still gets the history correct.

If you want gritty hardcore fiction this is it, at its best! Go Spartans !

I highly enjoy historical novels such as the Gates Of Fire, At first I found the author's rhythm a bit awkward, almost as if it were a translation from the original Greek with some present day slang/vulgarity thrown in for good measure. However, the story was extremely compelling and I came to understand, and even appreciate, the language of the novel. This is not a completely historical telling of the battle at Thermopylae, although there are many facts and events accurately portrayed. Historical novels, especially this one, endeavor to put a human face and human emotions on events that people may or may not be familiar with - in this Mr. Pressfield has done a superb job. In addition, the battle and the politics of the time have much to say about present history in the making. I highly recommend this book.

Puts life into the tale of the Spartans and their ways,at the most pivotal days of their civilization; being challenged by overwhelming force to submit their liberty to a foreign enemy. For those interested in this era for study; the view provided by the author will certainly give you a view of the times with excellent detail. Some comparisons I drew from contrasting our times with theirs are startling. You'll find your own I'm sure.

This book is amazing and left me wanting more. Although you know how the battle concludes (anyone who knows of this historic battle knows it doesn't end happy), you can't help but hope that the characters you come to know will be victorious and live to tell the tale. The author makes ancient Greece, in particular the famed Spartans, come alive on the pages.

This story is narrated through the eyes of a freeborn Spartan squire, Xeones, captured after the battle at Thermopylae, and brought forth to the Persian king Xerxes. Xerxes, wanting to know more about these fearsome Lacedaemonian warriors, commands the Greek to tell him about how this small band of warriors, and their small allied contingent, could last as long as they did against the might of his empire and army. What kind of people are these Spartans, that they could keep on fighting in the face of futility?

Thus, we are privy to Xeones' story, in which he explains through flash-backs and slowly given a glimpse into the society and culture of Sparta. He is a refugee from a city-state destroyed and left homeless as a child. Hearing of heroic and fierce Sparta, he makes the decision to adopt this city as his home, as he still burns with vengeance against the Argos that killed his family and destroyed his home.

The first half of the book describes in meticulous detail the life of a Spartan, in particular the men, and the mentality behind such a strict way of life. You get glimpses into the rigid hierarchy of Sparta, from those with full citizenships the Peers, to the lowest classes those of the slaves, the helots who are the backbone of Spartan society. It was quite fascinating to read, and it's apparent that the author did his homework.

The action doesn't really pick up the pace until the second half of the book at the famed battle of Thermopylae, but when it does occur, the battle scenes were described so well I felt I was right there. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, it was gripping and so engrossing, I felt Pressfield did a superb job of describing the chaos, terror, and bloodshed that ultimately surrounds such a battle.

I did find one quibble with the book, and that was the flash-back style of telling the tale. The story isn't told chronologically, it leaps back and forth between different times of Xeones' life, so it was a bit disconcerting for me to suddenly be jerked back (or forward) in time, whether it was a year or three. Xeones will recall some bit of information in the midst of his story-telling, and proceed to go into more detail on that one point, afterwards going back to where he was when he went off on this tangent. These side-trips could become frustrating at times, and I found myself having to re-orient myself back to the story and where and when it was taking place, before I could continue reading.

If you can get over this negative, the book overall is still very enjoyable to read and I felt it was a great fictional account of this famous ancient military battle. If you're interested in learning more about ancient Greece, I suggest starting with The Histories by Herodotus or The Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

Riveting novel based on one of the critical moments in the history of Western Civilization. I am a Dentist in Denver Colorado, but it becomes apparent that Western Civilization would never have sprung from the cradle of Greece if the Persians had been sucessful during their campaign and invasion of southern Europe. Pressfield brilliantly captures many aspect of Spartan, Athenian, and Persian culture through the eyes of a servant. This is a difficult book to place down.

The book was an excellent read. I enjoyed the writer's approach by telling the story from the perspective of a captured and wounded warrior. It was well done. Do not confuse this novel with a historically acccurate rendition of the event. Many details were clearly fabricated but remained entertaining.

I got the title of this book from reading Lone Survivor. One of the Navy SEALS carried it with him. This is a similar story in that it is filled with bloody depictions of preparing for war and of fighting a losing cause. I read this book using an Atlas to find the places he was talking about. (Does anybody else do this?) You can learn a lot of geography that way. It brought back memories of a previous trip to Greece. The narrator is the lone survivor of the Battle of Thermoplae in 804 B.C. He is telling the tale to Xerxes, the king of Persia. Well-written and captivating reading.

If you are interested in the Spartans and ancient Greece, buy this book. It's well worth the money. It will leave you wanting to know more about these amazing warriors.

Gates of Fire is an epic novel detailing on of the most successful military engagements of all times. It is written in the spirit of the Greek stories of old. The author does an amazing job of making an event from thousands of years in the past seem so real and relevant. It is a great novel and should appeal to those who love military history and the Greek empire or the casual reading looking for something just off the beaten path.

This is an incredible novel. A friend in the Marines recommended this book to me. I did not think I would enjoy it since I do not usually enjoy reading "war" books.

This book is not only about the heroism of the Spartans at the Battle of Thermoplae but about Spartin life and the training which began at such a young age.

I would definitely recommend

If you read this book after you read "300", you will notice a huge difference in quality.

My friend Pastor John Renken of Xtremeministries recommended Gates of Fire to me. It's a good book for men though some men will have a hard time with the strong imagry & military context. All the same it will challenge men to come alongside each other as fellow warriors & brothers in Christ.

I reread this book every year as part of my mental conditioning for my job. Every year I learn a new lesson from it as well. I have recommended it to many of my team mates and others in the field. Every single one of them has raved about it. They all feel like Mr. Pressfield was speaking to them; that he knew how they felt.

This is, by far, the best book I've ever read about the spirit and bonds built between soldiers. Ever. The highs, the lows, the bitching and moaning, the glory and the sacrifice. It's all in there. And it's told beautifully. I only wish this book would have been made into a movie before 300.

Thermopylae is generally told as a tale of the Spartans (and neglects to mention or passes over the contributions of Themistocles and crew at Salamis). This book is really no different in that regard, but it's not claiming to be a historic book. It's claiming to be a possible peek into the lives and minds of a group of men at one of the most pivotal battles in history, and that's no exaggeration. Gates of Fire speaks to that age old question about warriors - why do they do it? What drives them to fight, to keep going, long after they should have folded up.

And it may well answer what the opposite of fear is. And the answer is somewhat surprising.

Get this book and read it and you will never look at war, or the people who wage it, exactly the same again.

I reread this book every year as part of my mental conditioning for my job. Every year I learn a new lesson from it as well. I have recommended it to many of my team mates and others in the field.

This is, by far, the best book I've ever read about the spirit and bonds built between soldiers. Ever. The highs, the lows, the bitching and moaning, the glory and the sacrifice. It's all in there. And it's told beautifully.

Thermopylae is generally told as a tale of the Spartans (and neglecting to mention or passing over the contributions Themistocles and crew at Salamis). This book is really no different in that regard, but it's not claiming to be a historic book. It is claiming to be a possible peek into the lives and minds of a group of men at one of the most pivotal battles in history, and that's no exaggeration. Gates of Fire speaks to that age old question about warriors - why do they do it? And it may well answer what the opposite of fear is.

The answer is somewhat surprising.

The book was excellent and cleared up a lot of questions I had after seeing the film

This book is not a boring history text book. It is written in first person from the perspective of a soildier in the spartan army. I believe it is fiction that is based on historical fact.

Absolutely LOVED IT! This is a fantastic book, Pressfield did a wonderful job on his research and historical accuracy. Frank Miller's 300 initially sparked my interest in the Spartans. As I was reading Pressfield's book I noticed a lot of instances and influences his writings had on Miller's depiction. Now, I will have to say the sequencing in this book is a bit different than what I am used to; as the perspective is being told first hand to Xeres personal historian by a revived helot of the Spartan army. Nonetheless, the dialogue is well written and the battle scenes engulf you as if you were there, you will feel their pain and torment. If I did not know any better I would have sworn Pressfield seen all of this first hand.

Steven Pressfield beautifully depicts Sparta and the men and women who died for her. He shows what life was like in ancient times without going Hollywood with his descriptions. He gives the reader just enough history to quell the critics and a story line that rivals that of any warrior epic that is out today.

The story revolves around Xeo a Greek who's home was pillaged and raped in a raid destroying everything he had ever held dear. It shows his progression from begger-thief to Hunter-brigand to a Spartan Squire. His adventures take him far and wide and show him a world he would have never dreamed of, as a second squire to Dieneke's he was taken on many political missions and learned much of the outside area.

Pressfield brilliantly portrays the battle of Thermoplyae at the climax of his book, its not as though he showed no battle up unto this point, on the contrary but his depiction of the Spartans stand against the Persian horde is poetic to say the least. It expressed in vivid detail the passion and love the spartans and their squires had for one another, as well as their Country...This love Is captured in the quote from one of the squires, Suicide after being dragged back to camp after being disemboweled, he had bound himself and put on his armor and when his master told him to lay back down he told him, "I cant $%#& but I can sure as hell Fight!"

These men that were portrayed captured the true essence of Sparta. They sacrificed themselves for the greater good of the society and Fought for one another with a love that Men of this age will never know nor understand. Pressfield did a beautiful job in an ode to all soldiers everywhere and deserves every award that is given to him.

Absolutely one of the best books, not just as an historical fiction, I have ever read. I could not have expected a military culture with its seeming brutality be described with such finesse and beauty.
Written beautifully as a narrative.
The narrator is the lone survivor of the battle at Thermopylae who recounts in detail the battle as one who fought with the Spartans by request from the conquering Xerxes. He begins by telling his life story, the loss of his family and how he came to know the soldiers of Sparta and King Leonidas. He describes their culture in detail, the individual men and women that he knew peripherally and personally and the build up to and the battle of Thermopylae; why he loved these people and why the Spartans were his heroes. The author wraps it up beautifully. Historical events accurate as far as I could tell.
Excellent read, I couldn't put it down.

I want to be a Spartan! It was exciting and inspiring and though the author took a few small liberties with historical facts, it was a most excellent read. I highly recommend getting lost in Sparta! Worth the time, the money, outstanding!

After seeing the movie "300", I had to learn more about the magnitude of Battle of Thermopyle and Spartan culture. Facing the armies of Asia and the complete destruction of your city/civilization is something few could comprehend today. Pressfield describes the hardship of Spartan life and the warrior ethos in great detail. He's bringing the characters to life instead of making this just a history lesson.

Although this book is Historical fiction, it is still a worthy telling of one of the greatest martial undertakings. Today's faced paced culture has little interest for history books filled with what some would call boring facts. However, Steven Pressfeild has given to those who would normally avoid history a reason to read. I feel his creative embellishments were tasteful in order to make the book interesting. A person unfamiliar with the Ancient world can learn much from this faced paced and interesting book. As a student of military history, I have read several books on the Spartan Warrior Culture, and this novel follows historical fact very closely. I have recommended this book for many of the other Soldiers in my company, for both military development, and to foster the warrior brotherhood of which the Spartans lived and died.

I just finished Gates of Fire this morning. As I set it down, my son walked in the room, and I said, "That's one of the best books I've ever read." And then I reached for my kleenex, because, well, you know, they all die. And by the end of the book, I cared about each and every one of the characters. As you will, too, unless you have a heart of stone!

I must confess, my interest in this time period began after my son insisted on watching the movie "300". Wow. So then I got the graphic novel on which the movie is based. And though it's a great book, it was over all too soon and told me nothing new. So, then I bought this book along with a half-dozen other, more academic, books.

And while the movie ignited my interest, it is Gates of Fire that ignited my passion.

It begins with a fictional character, Xeones, who, having been captured as the sole survivor of the Battle of Thermopylae, begins to tell his captors the story of his life in Sparta. Xerxes, you see, wants to know more about these valiant Spartans who fought beyond anything he had ever known.

Xeo begins with his life in a city far from Sparta, which is captured and burned, leaving Xeo and his cousin and their servant (more of an uncle, really) to run to safety in the hills. Here they survive, barely, for two years until circumstances force Xeo and his cousin to part ways. Xeo heads for Sparta.

This is where our education begins. As I've been reading other texts, Paul Cartledge's among them, I've been learning a fair amount about the Spartans. So I was impressed to see how much actual history is in this novel. A few things have been shifted around, such as when Xerxes actually said his men had become women and his women men. I suppose some trivial details can be sacrificed to keep the flow of the story. You probably won't mind. There is a fascinating amount of detail about Spartan everyday life, enough that you can picture yourself there. And there is enough detail about agoge life that you'll not want to picture yourself there!

You follow Xeo growing through adolescence in the rigorous life the Spartan servants led. He eventually becomes squire to a Peer (an officer in the Spartan army) and we follow him into battle and eventually to Thermopylae.

On the 7th day at the Hot Gates, the 3rd of battle, 500 men, Spartans and Thespians, chose to stay. They knew full well they would certainly die. And yet they stayed and fought. Steven Pressfield's imagined dialogue does an incredible job of portraying what these men must have been thinking and feeling. You will truly feel connected, across space and time, with these noble men. I don't know how else to say it, you will feel like you are there, but you will be damn glad you aren't!

Because they made their stand, they allowed the rest of the Greek allies to organize, ultimately convening at the Battle of Salamis - the battle many historians argue is the most important battle in our history, the one which preserved democracy in its infancy. Had the Greeks failed, we would almost certainly be living a very, very different life.

The book is well-written, accurate, entertaining, and, believe me, you will be so glad you read it. Just remember, when you get to the last few chapters, keep some kleenex nearby! (hey, i'm a girl!)

I just finished Gates of Fire this morning. As I set it down, my son walked in the room, and I said, "That's one of the best books I've ever read." And then I reached for my kleenex, because, well, you know, they all die. And by the end of the book, I cared about each and every one of the characters. As you will, too, unless you have a heart of stone!

I must confess, my interest in this time period began after my son insisted on watching the movie "300". Wow. So then I got the graphic novel on which the movie is based. And though it's a great book, it was over all too soon and told me nothing new. So, then I bought this book along with a half-dozen other, more academic, books.

And while the movie ignited my interest, it is Gates of Fire that ignited my passion.

It begins with a fictional character, Xeones, who, having been captured as the sole survivor of the Battle of Thermopylae, begins to tell his captors the story of his life in Sparta. Xerxes, you see, wants to know more about these valiant Spartans who fought beyond anything he had ever known.

Xeo begins with his life in a city far from Sparta, which is captured and burned, leaving Xeo and his cousin and their servant (more of an uncle, really) to run to safety in the hills. Here they survive, barely, for two years until circumstances force Xeo and his cousin to part ways. Xeo heads for Sparta.

This is where our education begins. As I've been reading other texts, Paul Cartledge's among them, I've been learning a fair amount about the Spartans. So I was impressed to see how much actual history is in this novel. A few things have been shifted around, such as when Xerxes actually said his men had become women and his women men. I suppose some trivial details can be sacrificed to keep the flow of the story. You probably won't mind. There is a fascinating amount of detail about Spartan everyday life, enough that you can picture yourself there. And there is enough detail about agoge life that you will not want to picture yourself there!

You follow Xeo growing through adolescence in the rigorous life the Spartan servants led. He eventually becomes squire to a Peer (an officer in the Spartan army) and we follow him into battle and eventually to Thermopylae.

On the 7th day at the Hot Gates, the 3rd of battle, 500 men, Spartans and Thespians, chose to stay. They knew full well they would certainly die. And yet they stayed and fought. Steven Pressfield's imagined dialogue does an incredible job of portraying what these men must have been thinking and feeling. You will truly feel connected, across space and time, with these noble men. I don't know how else to say it, you will feel like you are there, but you will be damn glad you aren't!

Because they made their stand, they allowed the rest of the Greek allies to organize, ultimately convening at the Battle of Salamis - the battle many historians argue is the most important battle in our history, the one which preserved democracy in its infancy. Had the Greeks failed, we would almost certainly be living a very, very different life.

The book is well-written, accurate, entertaining, and, believe me, you will be so glad you read it. Just remember, when you get to the last few chapters, keep some kleenex nearby!

Gates of Fire Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae is one of the best books I have read in a long time. If you are any kind of history buff, war buff, or just an average person looking for a good book to read, you need to read this. The writer has an amazing way with words to make you feel like you are right there with the Spartans. I watched the movie 300 and thought it was a fantastic movie until I read this book. They should have based the movie off of Pressfields version.

The language is thick, the story structure is thin, but pound for pound, Pressfield's Fire is the standard by which all other historical fiction is measured. A Must Buy Manbook.

Saw Pressfield's comments on Thermopylae in the History Channel's "Last Stand of the 300" and was impressed by his obvious knowledge of the history of the Persian invasions of Greece and of Sparten attitudes and customs. The novel proved to be even better than I expected, giving the reader both a sense of how strange to us was the life, and war, of Greek antiquity and a sense of wonder for the people of those long-ago little cities and for their achievements: exactly the reactions which uncommonly good historical fiction arouses in its reader. This is the most authentic fiction about Greek-Roman antiquity which I've read since ColleenMcCollough's series on the Late Roman Republic.

If you enjoy this time era and especially The Spartans, you will not go wrong with this book.

I don't read much fiction, but a friend of mine bought this book for me. I read it and was impressed by how well written this historical fiction is. Anyone interested in warfare, modern or ancient, should look into this book. Pressfield gives such an authentic account of how Spartans would have acted on a day-to-day basis.

This book is absolutely amazing. One of the best reads ever. Not only does it describe the battle but it also details the life of a Spartan. I wish 300 was based on the story presented here