Customer Reviews

The Olympic Charioteer

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4 star:		(3)
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The Olympic Charioteer takes the reader back to the Archaic Age of Greece, an era when the city-states were ruled by aristocrats, then by tyrants--everywhere except Sparta. Helena Shrader has taken mostly fictional characters and wrapped them around real events, making for an extremely entertaining novel. Anyone interested in exploring the years prior to the Persian invasion--the alliances and the intrigues, especially between Sparta and her future ally Tegea--will enjoy this novel.

I loved Are they singign in sparta and now here is another gem to polish and keep in my bookcase when i want a look back to Greece! This ws another three part story. Its about A slave named Phillip, His Tegean master Antyllus and a Spartan Teleklos! they all cross paths in ways you wouldnt believe when you first pick this book up. i must say there are also minor characters who are major in my opinion that made this book even more of a pleasure. I hope Ms. Schrader keeps writing on Sparta. good job!!!

Historical novels are such a nice way to grasp history. Helena Schrader's meticulous research makes the reading exceptionally educational. I love that she has made this series of novels about Sparta available. It is a subject that has not been explored fully or accurately to a great extent. This book in her series I especially enjoyed, her character development is excelent.

THE OLYMPIC CHARIOTEER by Helena P. Schrader is an interesting historical fiction set in Archaic Greece. It is well written with depth and details. It is a tale of one slave,two men with Olympic ambitions, two cities at war and the finest charioteer in Greece. It has tragedy,olpympic triumph,romance, slavery, intrigue,alliances,struggles, Archaic Spartan society, love won and lost.It is about the struggle of one slave who will become the greatest Olympic charioteer of all and his sacrifices,triumphs and the first non-aggression pact: the Peloponnesian League. This is a very intense story with many facet characters. It expands on the Spartan culture and shows much research was done in order to write this story. It is packed full of action, adventure,tragedy, and is fast paced. If you enjoy learning more on the Spartan culture,their trials,triumphs,slavery and be transported to a different time and place this is the book for you. It is a great read and is fast paced. This book was received for the purpose of review from AME Virtual Author Tours and details can be found at iUniverse and My Book Addiction and More.

Reviewed by Linda Benninghoff for Reader Views (12/06)

This excellent historical novel about two ancient Greek city-states, Sparta and Tegea, seems to deal with the question of identity. The hero, Lysandradis, is sold as a slave after Sparta is defeated by Tegea. Having won the Olympic victory in the games for Sparta, will he wind up a Spartan citizen or a citizen of the country who once made him a slave, where he now has found a home? Who is Lysandradis? Is he more than a charioteer, more than a Spartan citizen?

This well-researched novel traces Lysandridas' progress as he travels from city to city. It also details the Spartan democracy and contrasts Sparta with Tegea. The characters are as believable as in any novel set in modern-times, and the world they live in is filled-in, wonderfully detailed and vivid. The novel is as much an adventure story as a story about the question of identity--what makes Lysandradis who he is?

The novel is also about horses, riders and charioteers, and politics. Although it uses fictional characters, it traces actual events leading up to the first non-aggression pact in recorded history. Lysandridas becomes involved in the world of politics, as does his friend, Ambelos, the club-footed son of one of the Tegean leaders. One of the meaningful parts of this book for me was to read about Ambelos as he develops political savvy and gains respect despite being crippled.

As Lysandridas also gains skill, he realizes he is something more than a charioteer, more than either a Spartan or a Tegean. One of the wonderful things about reading the book is to watch him pursue his quest for identity and for a true home while sometimes fearing for his life or fearing that an Olympic victory, on which the country's fate is hinged, won't necessarily be won.

Scene followed scene and the action unfolded. "The Olympic Charioteer" kept me very interested and I learned about ancient history in the process.

Book received free of charge.