In the Sunday Times bestseller Gates of Fire, Steven Pressfield tells the breathtaking story of the legendary Spartans: the men and women who helped shaped our history and have themselves become as immortal as their gods.

'Breathtakingly brilliant . . . this is a work of rare genius. Savour it!' DAVID GEMMELL

'A tale worthy of Homer, a timeless epic of man and war, exquisitely researched and boldy written. Pressfield has created a new classic' STEPHEN COONTS

'A really impressive book - imaginatively framed, historically detailed and a really gripping narrative' ***** Reader review

'Beautifully written and a great joy to read' ***** Reader review

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Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by,
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.

480 BC: At a bleak pass in a far-flung corner of eastern Greece, three hundred Spartan warriors faced the army of King Xerxes of Persia, a massive force rumoured to be over a million strong.

Their orders were simple: to delay the enemy for as long as possible in order to buy time for the main Greek armies to mobilize. For six days the Spartans held the invaders at bay. In the final hours - their shields broken, swords and spears shattered - they fought with their bare hands before being overwhelmed . . .

It was battle that would become synonymous with extraordinary courage, heroism and self-sacrifice.

It was a battle called Thermopylae.

For many, Pressfield's retelling of the epic story of the Battle of Thermopylae is one of the all time great historical novels.

About the Author
Steven Pressfield is a bestselling historical novelist whose books include the classic Gates of Fire, Tides of War, Alexander: Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign and Killing Rommell. He lives in California. His website is www.stevenpressfield.com

Reviews
Breathtakingly brilliant... there have been many books about Sparta and its warrior code, but none have captured so magnificently the hearts, minds and spirits of the warriors who fought at Thermopylae. This is a work of rare genius. Savour it! -- DAVID GEMMELL
Incredibly gripping, moving and literate... rarely does an author manage to recreate a moment in history with such mastery, authority and psychological insight -- NELSON DeMILLE
Brings the battle of Thermopylae to brilliant life... he does for that war what Charles Frazier did for the Civil War in Cold Mountain. When you finish Pressfield's work, you will feel you have fought side by side with the Spartans. This novel is Homeric -- PAT CONROY
A tale worthy of Homer, a timeless epic of man and war, exquisitely researched and boldy written. Pressfield has created a new classic -- STEPHEN COONTS



Book Information
ISBN 9780553812169
Author Steven Pressfield
Format Paperback
Page Count 528
Imprint Bantam Books (Transworld Publishers a division of the Random House Group)
Publisher Transworld Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 358g