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

Tom Holland (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Abacus (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0349117179
• ISBN-13: 978-0349117171
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1.2 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Telling of the Greek and Persian Conflict, March 17, 2011

By 

ironman96 (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West (Paperback)

Ancient history is usually dry, slow, and difficult to relate to, but not this time. In "Persian Fire," Tom Holland does a remarkable job of telling the story of the conflict between the Greeks and the Persian Empire. The book starts with an intro to the Persian Empire and its origins with Cyrus, and then Darius, and Xerxes. The next sections deal with the Spartans and then the Athenians. The book goes on to tell of the multiple conflicts between the Greeks and the Persians as the Persian Empire sought to conquer the West and the Greeks fought for survival. Everything about the book is masterfully done. It is scholarly but at the same time accessible for the average history buff. For a work of history, this book is surprisingly a page turner. If you ever had an interest in reading ancient history, this is a wonderful place to start. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars "300" for grown-ups, October 31, 2010

By 

BVI Diver "BVI Diver" (British Virgin Islands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West (Paperback)

Tom Holland creates an extremely engaging and quick paced narrative through a genuinely fascinating period of early history. I was inspired to read the book by the Frank Miller film "300". Whilst the book is a far more studious portrayal of the remarkable events of the Battle of Thermopylae, the bare facts themselves create much of the same tension and energy.

Holland's book takes us from the start of the great Persian empire (a story quite as improbable and remarkable in itself) from the conquests of Cyrus the great, and through the equally astonishing reign of Darius, to the time of Xerxes, and thence to the Greco-Persian wars. Holland also fills in the back story on the Greeks, but almost assumes that his readers are likely to either know a bit about the Greeks, or be more interested in the compelling story of the Persian empire's rise. But both back stories lead inexorably to the Greco-Persian wars themselves, and the clash of these two remarkable early civilisations.

Whilst probably too superficial for serious historians, an extremely entertaining read for the rest of us.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book !, October 31, 2006

By 

Patrick Corley (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West (Paperback)

Wonderful introduction to ancient Greek and Persian history. Incredibly accessibly, with lots of great pictures of locations, artefacts and maps. The key highlights of this book are really brought to life by the expert writing of Holland. A book everyone should read.