About this book
Persian Fire begins not in Athens or Sparta but in Persia, with the rise of Cyrus the Great and the creation of the first empire to stretch across much of the known world. Only then does it turn to the Greek city-states and the invasions that brought them into conflict with the Great King, culminating in Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea.
Tom Holland's choice to give Persia its full weight is what sets this book apart. Rather than treating the Persians as faceless villains, he explains how their empire was organised and what its rulers believed, which makes the Greek victory feel all the more surprising. The Greek side is just as vivid, with the rivalry between Athens and Sparta and the political experiments that shaped them.
Holland draws heavily on Herodotus, so readers who enjoy this will find it rewarding to go back to The Histories themselves. The book works equally well as an introduction to the period and as a stirring retelling for those who already know the outline.
Who it’s for
A great choice for anyone drawn to ancient Greece or Persia; dramatic and readable, with a large cast to keep track of.
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