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Falcon of Sparta
Falcon of Sparta
Falcon of Sparta
Audiobook12 hours

Falcon of Sparta

Written by Conn Iggulden

Narrated by Pete Bradbury

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

Conn Iggulden, the bestselling author of the Emperor, Conqueror and The Wars of the Roses series' returns to the Ancient World with a ferociously bloody epic . . . 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. Though the sons of Sparta are eager to play the game of thrones . . . 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. Based 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.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 5, 2019
ISBN9781980030232
Author

Conn Iggulden

Born in London, Conn Iggulden read English at London University and worked as a teacher for seven years before becoming a full-time writer. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and their children.

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Rating: 3.8947368421052633 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was mesmerized from the outset by this loose construction of the Battle of Cunaxa and the journey to the Black Sea with Xenophon leading Greek mercenaries and baggage train. The Anabasis is still the best recounting of this, in Xenophon's own words. The story first covers the author's interpretation of WHY Cyrus is rebelling against his brother, the Great King, Artaxerxes; details of Xenophon's background in Athens; and the muster of Greeks in Sardis. After the battle in which Cyrus is slain and the betrayal of all the Greek generals where they are murdered in cold blood, the novel slows its pace until Xenophon is chosen to lead everyone. He displays a natural leadership ability. With this trek, the story picks up again. Xenophon and his unofficial second-in-command, the Spartan, Chrisophus, chivvy the people along towards their goal, overcoming many obstacles along the way--Persian army tailing them to the end of their empire, extreme weather, exciting fight with one of the mountain tribes. Author's style has improved a thousand fold since his clunky Roman trilogy! Thinking about the title, I opined the "Falcon of Sparta" most likely was the Spartan, Clearchus, chief general from Sardis through Cunaxa to his demise. Cyrus' banner had been marked with a falcon. I thought the backstories fit in nicely and gave some background and rounding out of Cyrus' and Xenophon's characters. Highly recommended.