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The Falcon of Sparta

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The Falcon of Sparta

By: Conn Iggulden
Narrated by: Michael Fox
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Falcon of Sparta by Conn Iggulden, read by Michael Fox.

In the Ancient World, one army was feared above all others.

401 BC. The Persian king Artaxerxes rules an empire stretching from the Aegean to northern India. As many as fifty million people are his subjects. His rule is absolute.

The sons of Sparta, those whose fathers and grandfathers fell at Thermopylae and perished in the Peloponnesian Wars, work as mercenaries for Persian princes eager to play the game of thrones. When Cyrus the younger, brother to the Great King, lays claim to his father's crown, he does so with an elite army of Spartans at his side.

Yet battles can be won - or lost - with a single blow. Princes fall. And when the dust of civil war settles, the Spartans are left stranded in the heart of an enemy's empire, without support, without food and without water. Far from home, surrounded by foes, it falls to the young soldier Xenophon to lead the survivors against Artaxerxes' legendary Persian warriors.

Drawing on one of history's most epic stories of adventure, The Falcon of Sparta masterfully depicts the ferocity, heroism, and savage bloodshed that was the ancient World.

 Action & Adventure Ancient Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Science Fiction War & Military Fiction Ancient History Ancient Greece

Critic Reviews

His finest novel to date, brings alive the extraordinary world of ancient Persia, as well as the ruthless nobility of the Spartans. The battle scenes are thrilling and the men who fight in them are impeccably portrayed
Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction
Iggulden tells an absolutely cracking story. The pace is nail-biting and the set dressing magnificent
One of our finest historical novelists
Pacey and juicy, and packed with action
All stars
Most relevant
A wonderfully performed historical novel. Prince Cyrus of Persia leads Greek mercenaries against his brother the king of the huge Persian empire and almost succeeded in winning the throne. This is the story of his campaign, his defeat in battle and the struggle of the Greeks to retreat to their homes, against terrible odds.

Excellent tale of the Spartan warriors .

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Not quite as good as the wolves of the plain, but enjoyed being taken back in time ... great build ups, but a little anti-climatic at times ...

That said, I do recommend it and am already wanting to get into the next in the series ...

A fun read

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This book is amazing. I listened to it on holidays and took a page of brief notes to remember the strange names and places. It is an incredible story and the reader just nails it. Super immersive.

Phenomenal story and so well read

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The cover was a view of the 300 not good but the story was excellent

The death of the hiro

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loved the story. i felt the narrator was not the right choice. not enough depth to his voice.

another great story by con iggulden.

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