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Persian Fire

The First World Empire, Battle for the West

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Persian Fire

By: Tom Holland
Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
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Tom Holland's bestselling account of the world's very first clash of civilisations between the Persians and the Greeks in 480BC

'Magisterial... told with great authority and a novelistic colour and verve'
Books of the Year, Independent

'Holland has a rare eye for detail, drama and the telling anecdote'
Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph

'An unequivocal argument for the relevance of ancient history'
Observer

'Holland brings this tumultuous, epoch-making period dazzlingly to life'
William Napier, Independent on Sunday

In the fifth century BC, a global superpower was determined to bring truth and order to what it regarded as two terrorist states. The superpower was Persia, incomparably rich in ambition, gold and men. The terrorist states were Athens and Sparta, eccentric cities in a poor and mountainous backwater: Greece. The story of how their citizens took on the most powerful man on the planet is as heart-stopping as any episode in history.©2005 Tom Holland (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK Ancient Greece Ancient History Royalty Ancient Greece Greek Mythology
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All stars
Most relevant
Well read, well paced. Great story telling.
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Fantastic insight into the story you think you know.

The story you think you know

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Exciting and easily grasp presentation of historical fact. I loved the way Holland gives background detail and perhaps some minor Herodotus like personal perspective in the building of the the drama that was the Persian War. Outstanding.

Loved the retelling of historical fact in an easy listening and exciting manner

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Loved this book, however, I think the title is somewhat misleading. The majority of the book deals with Greek history as it relates to the Persian wars, I would have liked it to deal more with Persian history as it relates to the Greek wars. Subtle, but important difference.

Excellent

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Dramatic reflection of scholarly history. Lively portrait of bygone grandeur, ancient attitudes and foundational actions.

Excellent

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A memorable, enjoyable, and occasionally daring history of of the Greco-Persian War, with several chapters of valuable context spanning the development of Athens, Sparta, and the Persian Empire. Mark Meadows' performance provides everything one could ask for in a reader.

Snappy and Effective Ancient History

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