Read Online Tides of War A Novel Steven Pressfield Books
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Brilliant at war, a master of politics, and a charismatic lover, Alcibiades was Athens’ favorite son and the city’s greatest general.
A prodigal follower of Socrates, he embodied both the best and the worst of the Golden Age of Greece. A commander on both land and sea, he led his armies to victory after victory.
But like the heroes in a great Greek tragedy, he was a victim of his own pride, arrogance, excess, and ambition. Accused of crimes against the state, he was banished from his beloved Athens, only to take up arms in the service of his former enemies.
For nearly three decades, Greece burned with war and Alcibiades helped bring victories to both sides — and ended up trusted by neither.
Narrated from death row by Alcibiades’ bodyguard and assassin, a man whose own love and loathing for his former commander mirrors the mixed emotions felt by all Athens,
Tides of War tells an epic saga of an extraordinary century, a war that changed history, and a complex leader who seduced a nation.
Read Online Tides of War A Novel Steven Pressfield Books
"I read this book because not only I am fascinated by historical novels in general (when they are largely accurate, as in this case), but because I am particularly interested in the history of ancient Athens and the role played in it by Alcibiades, the friend of Socrates, general, and eventually fugitive who played on multiple sides of the long conflict involving Athens, Sparta and the Persians. Alcibiades is naturally the major character of the book, though we get to know him only indirectly, through the narration of another soldier who is about the be executed by the Athenian government because he carried out that government's order to kill the former general (don't ask, just read the book). Steven Pressfield knows what he is talking about here, and one does get both a good sense of the historical period and the big picture of the narrated events, as well as a surprisingly personal feeling for what it must have been like to be involved in night battles over land and bloody encounters at sea. Still, the book is uneven, and it slows down to such a crawling pace early on that I simply put it down with no intention of restarting it. Eventually I did, and I'm glad of that decision. Be prepared to march valiantly through some narrative that is too detailed and largely irrelevant, but expect to be rewarded with a novel whose memory lingers for quite a while."
Product details - Paperback 448 pages
- Publisher Bantam; Reprint edition (August 28, 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10 0553381393
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Tides of War A Novel Steven Pressfield Books Reviews :
Tides of War A Novel Steven Pressfield Books Reviews
- Fantastic book. The first Pressfield novel I read, and I still think his best (I've read them all!). Epic in scope, with three distinct "acts" playing out over a 27-year long war. Learned a great deal about the Peloponnesion War and Alcibiades, which I admittedly knew nothing about coming into this (though I have a good deal of classical greek knowledge in general). One of the best historical fiction pieces I've read, and Alcibiades is definitely one of history's greatest and most intriguing men.
- Discovery of the last year has been Pressfield's wonderful array of well written books including
Gates of Fire
Killing Rommel
The Authentic Swing
The War of Art
Tides of War has Pressfield's always present skill as both a writer and storyteller. He has a unique ability to develop characters and take the reader into the action where every word is carefully chosen from a vast and rich vocabulary.
The story is awesome as are the characters. These are stories our young men ( and women) should be reading. The only problem is that he book is so hard to put down. It's rich in history and color of the area and times. Unfortunately it also serves as a reminder of the shallowness of so much of which passes for contemporary culture.
Highly recommended. - I read this book because not only I am fascinated by historical novels in general (when they are largely accurate, as in this case), but because I am particularly interested in the history of ancient Athens and the role played in it by Alcibiades, the friend of Socrates, general, and eventually fugitive who played on multiple sides of the long conflict involving Athens, Sparta and the Persians. Alcibiades is naturally the major character of the book, though we get to know him only indirectly, through the narration of another soldier who is about the be executed by the Athenian government because he carried out that government's order to kill the former general (don't ask, just read the book). Steven Pressfield knows what he is talking about here, and one does get both a good sense of the historical period and the big picture of the narrated events, as well as a surprisingly personal feeling for what it must have been like to be involved in night battles over land and bloody encounters at sea. Still, the book is uneven, and it slows down to such a crawling pace early on that I simply put it down with no intention of restarting it. Eventually I did, and I'm glad of that decision. Be prepared to march valiantly through some narrative that is too detailed and largely irrelevant, but expect to be rewarded with a novel whose memory lingers for quite a while.
- First, as some pointed out, read Gates of Fire. This will introduce you to Pressfield's style of narrative and flavor in that riveting book. This is #4 of his books read, and like his others, we find that his ability to paint a full canvas can sometimes leave people bored with the parts that don't interest them or make uncomfortable.
The setup story is interesting, although a bit distracting at first, as Socrates becomes a sort of bookend to the story. I also believe that by bringing Socrates' execution concurrent with Pomo's Pressfield was able to paint, from beginning to end, the political climate of a declining Athens.
Treat for all. There are some points of oratory that should be recited today. Lysander's speech on boldness vs courage is a concept that will forever change my outlook personally and politically. It is just awesome.
Feast for most. There are some parts that simply don't interest all people. Pressfield details much of normal life in ancient Greece and thus get a bit gritty. Some of this banquet got a bit too 'spicy'.
Granted, there are parts that seem to drag, but these are the faults of me not fully understanding the vastness of Athenian society. Trying to span the almost 30 years of a war that was Athen's to win, but for the rapacious public and venal politic, is difficult to compress into any one volume.
You feel like you are a part of the action, the pain, the boredom, and the terror of death and war. Writing romantically of war is one thing, Pressfield pushes his readers into the sweat and smells of men killing men by whatever means possible. Can't put it down, wish you could. In the end, you've survived and look back on these characters as if you knew them.
