Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West

Once again, Holland produces another exciting and readable history of the ancient world. This book covers the period of the early 400s BC, although it provides useful background on the Persian empire, Sparta, and Athens. While Holland rightly claims the battle was crucial in preserving Western civilization, he does try to allow the reader into the Persian mind. His introduction highlights the Persian empire's multi-ethnic nature and superpower status, making it somewhat analogous to America (as opposed to the chauvinistic, petty Greeks). One of the things Holland does well is use modern terms to describe ancient politics, making them more accessible to the modern reader. For example, in the introduction he describes the Greeks, from the Persian point of view, as terrorist states. He also accepts that the protagonists on both sides held certain religious/philosophical beliefs that cannot be left out of the narrative. For example, he incorporates the Gods into his story when it is clear Greek soldiers viewed the Gods as a source of woe or fortune. A cautionary note: if you tend to be bored by history, this book is not for you. Some of the other reviewers complained about the abundance of names and dates. However, this is necessary as Holland has a complicated story to tell spanning decades. On the other hand, if you are curious about history but bored by standard history textbooks or more academic pieces, this is a good, readable synthesis of the history. I should also caution that I am only a casual student of history, so I cannot verify that all of the facts in the book are true. Holland probably could not either since records of history during this time are so sketchy anyway. There is legitimate debate over other historical facts. Even if one or two tiny details are historically debatable (and so far as I can tell they are not), this book will hopefully educate more readers about the ancient world and an important war that shaped Western civilization.

Tom Holland scored some major points with Rubicon, a terrific, narrative account of the fall of the Roman Republic. His clear prose, entertaining characterization and solid research and diverse use of sources can be apppreciated by all levels of readers. Holland may not have improved between his two books, but he certainly hasn't lost a step either. In Persian Fire, he recounts the rise of the Persian Empire and the revolutionary changes in Greek life, focusing on the late Archaic age in Sparta and Athens. I'm sure the point has been made before, but I like Holland's insistence that Marathon proved to be the first real test of the democracy of Athens. Holland traces their subsequent rise in prestige and the spread of democracy to this great victory over the hegemonic superpower of Persia. Holland's narrative is sleek, the various Athenian factions are (thankfully) clarified and the representation of the Persians is quite good. He tends to over-do his comparisons to the contemporary world, but overall, Holland treats my favorite historical event with his unique touch and has written a wonderfully accessible account of a stodgy, academic conflict. Well done, Tom.

A word of warning to readers of fiction who want to try popular history: This is not a good sample. Even as an experienced reader of history, I had to occasionally slow down and repeat a sentence to comprehend it. Why? PERSIAN FIRE has an overabundance of long awkwardly constructed sentences. And it is verbose. I understand that ancient history presents a problem. Because source materials are scant, how can an author fill up enough pages to make a publishable book? Still, I prefer a short book that is to the point, over a long one with decorative words that clutter the mind. Unfortunately I cannot recommend something that is easier to read and equally informative of the subject. But if you can sift through Tom Holland's ostentatious prose, you will take home some shiny baubles. The three main characters are not persons, they are states: Persia, Sparta, and Athens, chronicled from birth to maturity. From the white horses and Great King Xerxes of Persia, to the polished shields and King Leonides of Sparta, to Themistocles and the democratic people of Athens--this is a variegated, fleshed-out epic. You have probably already heard at least a little about two of this story's legendary fields of play: Marathon and Thermopylae. Now Mr. Holland can invigorate you with the details. For extras, he provides an ample selection of photos, plenty of footnotes, and a long bibliography. His maps are tight with the text, though for quick reference you may want to paperclip the page with the "List of Maps." This can be a rewarding book for the determined reader. But unless you are specifically interested in the Greco-Persian wars, popular history is better exemplified by other works. I mean works that are easier to read. You could try something by David McCullough, Robert K. Massie, or Barbara W. Tuchman. Less reputable but even easier to read are works by John Toland, Stephen E. Ambrose, and Diana Preston. PERSIAN FIRE proves that a good subject is not enough for five stars, which I would have awarded if the style had been simpler and more humble.

I was looking for an easy read for the greco persian wars, and this certainly was it. I struggled with herodotus, but this like a simpler version. So I can highly recommend it!

Any fan of Ancient History and avid reader will enjoy it.

How did a relatively small band of Greeks halt the expansion of the mighty Persian empire and, subsequently, change the history of the western world forever? This is the question to ponder on whilst you read this fascinating work. Firstly, a quick note on the author, Holland has a brilliant knack for disseminating the classical past in an engaging way. From his descriptions of the brutal schooling of the Spartans, the fiercest warriors of Greece, to his portrayals of the political manipulation of Themistocles in the Athenian ecclesia – his beautiful prose makes for swift reading of complex procedures. Speaking as a history student, the past is not always as straightforward as we would like it to be. However, writers like Holland showcase classical history at its best by exercising scepticism alongside true representations of the myths, as they were supposed to be told, to give wonderfully coherent accounts. For the first half of the book, Holland focuses on the origins of the Persian Empire, Athens and Sparta to assign a context to the battle for the west. Initially, Holland portrays the Medes as an insignificant, nomadic tribe on the fringes of established civilisation and then traces their rise to pre-eminence to the point of Eastern domination. The Persian story, both mystical and cynical, places the Great King in a semi-divine light with the purpose of annihilating the Lie in the name of Ahura Mazda, the omnipotent Persian god, and therefore gives the Great King an ideological, and undoubtedly pragmatic, motive for expansion. This background proves vital in setting the scene for the resulting conflicts and for luring the reader away from simplistic Greek perceptions of the Persians as effeminate, “trousered barbarians”. The chapters on the development of Athens and Sparta demonstrate to the reader that the war was not just a matter of the Greeks versus the Persians. Classical Greece was, in fact, a very diverse place and the polis (city-state) next door could be a completely alien world; as a result, ‘Greekness’ was not fixed or defined. Holland reinforces this point with exemplary style as he handles the narrative of the precarious beginnings of Athenian democracy, whilst stage-managing the multitude historical actors, with ease and contrasts this with the austere and rustic development of Sparta. It soon becomes apparent throughout Persian Fire that the war was, perhaps, more about vested interests and demagoguery than it was about liberty or Hellenistic fervour. Holland is in his element when describing the intense battle scenes towards the end of the book. The author creates vivid pictures in the imagination of disciplined Spartans taking comfort in their witticisms in the face of imminent death at Thermopylae. In addition to this the grim portrayals of the battle at Marathon, as a small Greek force first locked swords – or triremes – with the Persian invader, make for fascinating reading. However, the anticipation for these moments and the rich context provided are what make them truly satisfying to read. However, with the positives aside, the reader should be prepared to find this work a challenging read. The study is obviously very well researched and can leave the reader feeling a tad overwhelmed at times. Anglicised versions of Greek names are not the easiest to read for someone in the infancy of their interest in the Greek world. But, as with all great works, if the reader perseveres and grasps the rudiments of the narrative they will be rewarded and will, most likely, build their vocabulary alongside enjoying a sensational story of the clash between east and west. Eloquent and erudite, articulate and assiduous; Holland brings the classical past to life with sober judgment and novelistic flair. I would recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in classical Greece, but be prepared to find it challenging due to the prodigious amount of detail provided.

Great narrative History. A delight.

Tom Holland Does it again. A unique perspective on a history on which so much was written. As usual, Tom Holland begins at the source by allocating a section to each of the three main protagonists of the Medic Wars: Athens, Sparta, and the Persian empire. All three sections evolve toward the main events of the two Medic Wars which are covered in the latter part of the book. You don't only end up knowing what happened during the Medic Wars and how they happened but why the events happened as almost a natural conclusion of the evolution of the three players toward the conflagrations. Tom Holland is an exceptional historian and he proved it again in this book.

The books about the Persian Greece wars. Brilliantly written. Makes not just the wars but also the politics of Athens and Peloponnisi come alive. Very readable. Highly recommended.