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Tides of War: A Novel
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.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 This edition contains an excerpt from Steven Pressfield's The Profession.Praise for Tides of War“Pressfield’s battlefield scenes rank with the most convincing ever written.”—USA Today“Pressfield serves up not just hair-raising battle scenes . . . but many moments of valor and cowardice, lust and bawdy humor. . . . Even more impressively, he delivers a nuanced portrait of ancient athens.”—Esquire“Unabashedly brilliant, epic, intelligent, and moving.”—Kirkus Reviews“Pressfield’s attention to historic detail is exquisite. . . . This novel will remain with the reader long after the final chapter is finished.”—Library Journal“Astounding, historically accurate tale . . . Pressfield is a master storyteller, especially adept in his graphic and embracing descriptions of the land and naval battles, political intrigues and colorful personalities, which come together in an intense and credible portrait of war-torn Greece.”—Publishers Weekly
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2000
554 people are currently reading
4904 people want to read
About the author
Steven Pressfield
85 books5,745 followersI was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1943 to a Navy father and mother.
I graduated from Duke University in 1965.
In January of 1966, when I was on the bus leaving Parris Island as a freshly-minted Marine, I looked back and thought there was at least one good thing about this departure. "No matter what happens to me for the rest of my life, no one can ever send me back to this freakin' place again."
Forty years later, to my surprise and gratification, I am far more closely bound to the young men of the Marine Corps and to all other dirt-eating, ground-pounding outfits than I could ever have imagined.
GATES OF FIRE is one reason. Dog-eared paperbacks of this tale of the ancient Spartans have circulated throughout platoons of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since the first days of the invasions. E-mails come in by hundreds. GATES OF FIRE is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Reading list. It is taught at West Point and Annapolis and at the Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico. TIDES OF WAR is on the curriculum of the Naval War College.
From 2nd Battalion/6th Marines, which calls itself "the Spartans," to ODA 316 of the Special Forces, whose forearms are tattooed with the lambda of Lakedaemon, today's young warriors find a bond to their ancient precursors in the historical narratives of these novels.
My struggles to earn a living as a writer (it took seventeen years to get the first paycheck) are detailed in my 2002 book, THE WAR OF ART.
I have worked as an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout and attendant in a mental hospital. I have picked fruit in Washington state and written screenplays in Tinseltown.
With the publication of THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE in 1995, I became a writer of books once and for all.
My writing philosophy is, not surprisingly, a kind of warrior code — internal rather than external — in which the enemy is identified as those forms of self-sabotage that I have labeled "Resistance" with a capital R (in THE WAR OF ART) and the technique for combatting these foes can be described as "turning pro."
I believe in previous lives.
I believe in the Muse.
I believe that books and music exist before they are written and that they are propelled into material being by their own imperative to be born, via the offices of those willing servants of discipline, imagination and inspiration, whom we call artists. My conception of the artist's role is a combination of reverence for the unknowable nature of "where it all comes from" and a no-nonsense, blue-collar demystification of the process by which this mystery is approached. In other words, a paradox.
There's a recurring character in my books named Telamon, a mercenary of ancient days. Telamon doesn't say much. He rarely gets hurt or wounded. And he never seems to age. His view of the profession of arms is a lot like my conception of art and the artist:
"It is one thing to study war, and another to live the warrior's life."
I graduated from Duke University in 1965.
In January of 1966, when I was on the bus leaving Parris Island as a freshly-minted Marine, I looked back and thought there was at least one good thing about this departure. "No matter what happens to me for the rest of my life, no one can ever send me back to this freakin' place again."
Forty years later, to my surprise and gratification, I am far more closely bound to the young men of the Marine Corps and to all other dirt-eating, ground-pounding outfits than I could ever have imagined.
GATES OF FIRE is one reason. Dog-eared paperbacks of this tale of the ancient Spartans have circulated throughout platoons of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since the first days of the invasions. E-mails come in by hundreds. GATES OF FIRE is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Reading list. It is taught at West Point and Annapolis and at the Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico. TIDES OF WAR is on the curriculum of the Naval War College.
From 2nd Battalion/6th Marines, which calls itself "the Spartans," to ODA 316 of the Special Forces, whose forearms are tattooed with the lambda of Lakedaemon, today's young warriors find a bond to their ancient precursors in the historical narratives of these novels.
My struggles to earn a living as a writer (it took seventeen years to get the first paycheck) are detailed in my 2002 book, THE WAR OF ART.
I have worked as an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout and attendant in a mental hospital. I have picked fruit in Washington state and written screenplays in Tinseltown.
With the publication of THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE in 1995, I became a writer of books once and for all.
My writing philosophy is, not surprisingly, a kind of warrior code — internal rather than external — in which the enemy is identified as those forms of self-sabotage that I have labeled "Resistance" with a capital R (in THE WAR OF ART) and the technique for combatting these foes can be described as "turning pro."
I believe in previous lives.
I believe in the Muse.
I believe that books and music exist before they are written and that they are propelled into material being by their own imperative to be born, via the offices of those willing servants of discipline, imagination and inspiration, whom we call artists. My conception of the artist's role is a combination of reverence for the unknowable nature of "where it all comes from" and a no-nonsense, blue-collar demystification of the process by which this mystery is approached. In other words, a paradox.
There's a recurring character in my books named Telamon, a mercenary of ancient days. Telamon doesn't say much. He rarely gets hurt or wounded. And he never seems to age. His view of the profession of arms is a lot like my conception of art and the artist:
"It is one thing to study war, and another to live the warrior's life."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
October 14, 2018
The story is framed by Grandfather Jason's narration. His grandson asks who he thinks is the noblest of the Greeks.
"Alcibiades," Grandfather answers immediately.
Grandson asks who he thinks is his 'most unforgettable character'.
"Polemides, the son of Nicias...the man who assassinated Alcibiades," Grandfather replies.
Thus begins Grandfather's narration, which is italicized. It alternates with Polemides's narration, which is set in a regular serif typeface. Polemides, erstwhile captain of marines, is in prison awaiting execution: not for the murder of Alcibiades, but for treason and the trumped-up charge of a boatswain's murder. Polemides tells both his own life's story and that of Alcibiades, commander of the Athenian fleet. The novel tells of the "thrice times nine year" Peloponnesian War; the rise of both men; Alcibiades's defections; defeat at Notium; final fall from grace; exile to Phrygia; and assassination.
Polemides states, "...Necessity would bring him low...but it was my hand which drove the fatal blade."
Later, a mercenary soldier, Telamon, gives Grandfather Jason a gold coin from Phrygia. The soldier calls it an 'alcibiadic'. The coin is good throughout all Asia. So we see people still remember and admire Alcibiades.
The sections explaining the different armies, the navy, and tactics were very well done. Because of Pressfield's vivid descriptions, I felt as though I had put on my kit and was an ordinary soldier or sailor back in the ancient world. Pressfield has a special knack for writing about military life and both land and sea battles. I liked Pressfield's contrasting the soldier's life with the farmer's life. I liked his description of Spartan society. There was a torture scene, as well as description of the manner of Polemides's execution, both of which I felt were too gruesome.
Alcibiades is commander of the Athenian fleet and an excellent tactician. He's also arrogant, lustful, ambitious, vain, impatient, and exploitative. He's charismatic but can also be demagogic or Machiavellian. Some of his ideas expressed in various letters could be straight out of The Prince. The women are colorless except Eunice, the only one showing any gumption and personality. Polemides functions mainly as a foil to Alcibiades.
I learned something more of the Peloponnesian War, which I studied long ago in school and only remembered vaguely. Alcibiades was only a dusty name until I read this novel.
Highly recommended for all who like ancient world military fiction!
"Alcibiades," Grandfather answers immediately.
Grandson asks who he thinks is his 'most unforgettable character'.
"Polemides, the son of Nicias...the man who assassinated Alcibiades," Grandfather replies.
Thus begins Grandfather's narration, which is italicized. It alternates with Polemides's narration, which is set in a regular serif typeface. Polemides, erstwhile captain of marines, is in prison awaiting execution: not for the murder of Alcibiades, but for treason and the trumped-up charge of a boatswain's murder. Polemides tells both his own life's story and that of Alcibiades, commander of the Athenian fleet. The novel tells of the "thrice times nine year" Peloponnesian War; the rise of both men; Alcibiades's defections; defeat at Notium; final fall from grace; exile to Phrygia; and assassination.
Polemides states, "...Necessity would bring him low...but it was my hand which drove the fatal blade."
Later, a mercenary soldier, Telamon, gives Grandfather Jason a gold coin from Phrygia. The soldier calls it an 'alcibiadic'. The coin is good throughout all Asia. So we see people still remember and admire Alcibiades.
The sections explaining the different armies, the navy, and tactics were very well done. Because of Pressfield's vivid descriptions, I felt as though I had put on my kit and was an ordinary soldier or sailor back in the ancient world. Pressfield has a special knack for writing about military life and both land and sea battles. I liked Pressfield's contrasting the soldier's life with the farmer's life. I liked his description of Spartan society. There was a torture scene, as well as description of the manner of Polemides's execution, both of which I felt were too gruesome.
Alcibiades is commander of the Athenian fleet and an excellent tactician. He's also arrogant, lustful, ambitious, vain, impatient, and exploitative. He's charismatic but can also be demagogic or Machiavellian. Some of his ideas expressed in various letters could be straight out of The Prince. The women are colorless except Eunice, the only one showing any gumption and personality. Polemides functions mainly as a foil to Alcibiades.
I learned something more of the Peloponnesian War, which I studied long ago in school and only remembered vaguely. Alcibiades was only a dusty name until I read this novel.
Highly recommended for all who like ancient world military fiction!
April 26, 2018
Having recently read about the classical age of Europe I found a gap in my knowledge of Ancient Greece, that of the Peloponnese wars that raged over a few decades in Greece & the surrounding Aegean Sea. The author Steven Pressfield has also been on my radar for a while too so a perfect combo?
Oh dear..... my first dnf of the year at around 90 pages.
The endless narrative (from two different persons) is jus not for me & was bored beyond believe with no dialogue/interaction......... I actually didn't feel like I was in Ancient Greece nor did i have any information about the war or its people of the time, no characterisation of the main players, an endless list of names with no faces....... totally lost...... I can't think of one positive for it...
Oh dear..... my first dnf of the year at around 90 pages.
The endless narrative (from two different persons) is jus not for me & was bored beyond believe with no dialogue/interaction......... I actually didn't feel like I was in Ancient Greece nor did i have any information about the war or its people of the time, no characterisation of the main players, an endless list of names with no faces....... totally lost...... I can't think of one positive for it...
March 14, 2008
Tides of War is a good historical novel. However, it's for readers that can tolerate a complex narrative that describes events over the 27 year span of the Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BCE). The story is told through three narrators; a man interviewing his grandfather Jason who in turn was a lawyer who many years earlier represented Polymides who was a close confidant of Alcibiades. In other words, it's a description of an interview in which an older person is describing earlier conversations with still another person who told him about many still earlier conversations and events. These three narrators are fictional characters, however Alcaibiades was an actual historical soldier extraordinaire. Who was Alcibiades? Well, if you make it through this book you will never forget the name. The question I'm asking after this book is why is Alcibiades so relatively unknown?
I find that the book's format allows the various narrators as they pass along the story to ponder the meaning of life and history during a time of war. In doing this the book gives a look into the thinking of the era. But to understand the book the reader needs to keep reminding him/herself who's doing the talking and when the current conversation being described took place. But the reader who becomes immersed in the story will be rewarded with a description of a time and place (the end of the classical period of ancient Greek history) that has the ring of authenticity. Socrates makes a number of appearances in the book. As a matter of fact, the climax of the story occurs on the same day that Socrates takes the hemlock.
One can find many scary parallels with current international relations and domestic politics. In case you're not up on the details of the Peloponnesian War, the historic cradle of democracy, Athens, lost the war.
I find that the book's format allows the various narrators as they pass along the story to ponder the meaning of life and history during a time of war. In doing this the book gives a look into the thinking of the era. But to understand the book the reader needs to keep reminding him/herself who's doing the talking and when the current conversation being described took place. But the reader who becomes immersed in the story will be rewarded with a description of a time and place (the end of the classical period of ancient Greek history) that has the ring of authenticity. Socrates makes a number of appearances in the book. As a matter of fact, the climax of the story occurs on the same day that Socrates takes the hemlock.
One can find many scary parallels with current international relations and domestic politics. In case you're not up on the details of the Peloponnesian War, the historic cradle of democracy, Athens, lost the war.
July 22, 2022
Non è al livello di quella meraviglia di Le porte di fuoco. Contiente diverse pagine splendide, ma anche lunghe parti noiosette. Il colpo di scena finale (forse atteso, ma non in questo modo?) è proprio ben riuscito.
December 24, 2021
Read this book in 2011, and its another terrific standalone book , this time about the Athenian Greek, Alcibiades.
Set between the year 431 until 404 BC it will tell us the triumphs on land and sea in the Peloponnesian War, his ultimate downfall and banishment, followed in the end by subsequent exile in the Achaemenid Empire.
All battles he fought for Athens he won, but as a Statesman, orator and General and during the Peloponnesian War he has defected several times, from Athens to Sparta, from Sparta to Persia, and from Persia back to Athens.
Alcibiades, a genius in fighting but also a man with a huge aristocratic hubris that will bring him at first many friends and followers within the Aristocratic alliance, but that will change when his defections will bring him many enemies among the Athenians and the Spartans.
All in all a tremendous tale about a complex man, who was a genius when it came to fighting enemies and doing battles, but when it came to loyalty he had no problem in jumping ship from one empire towards another, as long as they offered him the most financially and in power.
Although undefeated in battle within the Peloponnesian War, his defections will be his downfall and in the end the Spartans will put a price on his head, and with the assistance of the Achaemenid Empire of King Artaxerxes.
Highly recommended, for this is a splendid retelling of the aristocratic Alcibiades of Athens, and that's why I like to call this superb Greek outing: "An Astounding Alcibiades"!
Set between the year 431 until 404 BC it will tell us the triumphs on land and sea in the Peloponnesian War, his ultimate downfall and banishment, followed in the end by subsequent exile in the Achaemenid Empire.
All battles he fought for Athens he won, but as a Statesman, orator and General and during the Peloponnesian War he has defected several times, from Athens to Sparta, from Sparta to Persia, and from Persia back to Athens.
Alcibiades, a genius in fighting but also a man with a huge aristocratic hubris that will bring him at first many friends and followers within the Aristocratic alliance, but that will change when his defections will bring him many enemies among the Athenians and the Spartans.
All in all a tremendous tale about a complex man, who was a genius when it came to fighting enemies and doing battles, but when it came to loyalty he had no problem in jumping ship from one empire towards another, as long as they offered him the most financially and in power.
Although undefeated in battle within the Peloponnesian War, his defections will be his downfall and in the end the Spartans will put a price on his head, and with the assistance of the Achaemenid Empire of King Artaxerxes.
Highly recommended, for this is a splendid retelling of the aristocratic Alcibiades of Athens, and that's why I like to call this superb Greek outing: "An Astounding Alcibiades"!
May 26, 2016
This is an inspiring book. It's also a great big sloppy train wreck of a book!
Normally it's fun to trash a book as awful as this one, but TIDES OF WAR is a very special case. Steven Pressfield wrote GATES OF FIRE first, and it's a classic. GATES OF FIRE is all about Spartans, while TIDES OF WAR is all about Athenians. It's not hard to see why a conservative Vietnam War veteran like Pressfield intuitively grasps Spartan discipline and totally fails to capture the greatness of Athenian democracy.
But there are other problems. GATES OF FIRE is about a single battle, Thermopylae. And it covers many years of the hero's life, yet the climax is one explosive battle. TIDES OF WAR drags on for years, as the Athenians fight the Persians (and the Spartans) in a long, inconclusive naval war that see saws back and forth. There's no one lovable hero, and there are many, many villains. And while the women characters of GATES OF FIRE are amazingly strong and well defined, the women in TIDES OF WAR are silly and weak-willed even by the standards of right wing war novels.
It's inspiring to see that one author can write a classic novel and a disaster back to back. You never know who might come up with a masterpiece!
Normally it's fun to trash a book as awful as this one, but TIDES OF WAR is a very special case. Steven Pressfield wrote GATES OF FIRE first, and it's a classic. GATES OF FIRE is all about Spartans, while TIDES OF WAR is all about Athenians. It's not hard to see why a conservative Vietnam War veteran like Pressfield intuitively grasps Spartan discipline and totally fails to capture the greatness of Athenian democracy.
But there are other problems. GATES OF FIRE is about a single battle, Thermopylae. And it covers many years of the hero's life, yet the climax is one explosive battle. TIDES OF WAR drags on for years, as the Athenians fight the Persians (and the Spartans) in a long, inconclusive naval war that see saws back and forth. There's no one lovable hero, and there are many, many villains. And while the women characters of GATES OF FIRE are amazingly strong and well defined, the women in TIDES OF WAR are silly and weak-willed even by the standards of right wing war novels.
It's inspiring to see that one author can write a classic novel and a disaster back to back. You never know who might come up with a masterpiece!
August 5, 2008
This requires one to be a little bit of a history geek. It's an epic set in the Peloponnesian War. The narration style can be a bit confusing, and some momentum is lost by the end, but the characters are intriguing, and Pressfield's writing style falls somewhere comfortably between classical and modern. The chapter detailing the disastrous Athenian invasion of Sicily is mesmerizing, and pretty much worth the whole read.
October 1, 2020
"Κατά την άποψή του, η Αθήνα δεν ήταν μια πόλη που έπρεπε να υπηρετήσει αλλά μια σύζυγος που ήθελε να κερδίσει"
"Δεν είμαι εγώ αυτός που θα ζητήσει την εξόντωση του φίλου μας , Πολεμίδα, αλλά η μοναχική θεά την οποία ο ίδιος λατρεύει"
"Και ποια είναι αυτή η θεά;
"Η ανάγκη"
"Η τόλμη γεννά την ύβρη. Η ύβρη προκαλεί τη νέμεση. Και η νέμεση τιμωρεί την τόλμη"
March 25, 2021
Historical fiction, It brought an era to life, and provided an alternative insight. I love reading the historical genre because it gives me a base of knowledge about the history that has formed the world we're stuck in. I don't enjoy textbooks or dry non-fiction, so I turn to writers like Steven to personify history for me. I've found it enlightening to read books like Tides of War, then read about the historical accuracies and inaccuracies in them. A well written historical novel can be as entertaining as a well written piece of contemporary fiction, and Pressfield was very good at weaving his character(s) into actual historical events. You get a great story and learn a bit about history all at the same time. In essence, historical fiction gives you access to learn about interesting times in history, but also blends elements of entertainment and story telling, often not found in pure historical books. Think Band of Brothers rather than a D-Day Documentary. Both have merit, but one can be more entertaining, and I find that makes them a gateway to wanting to learn more about history for me.
Pressfield was the best in this Genre (Ancient Historical Fiction). He was a historian and he has done the leg work and research and it showed in his books. When he made reference to a military unit from like 80 BC, you can bet that such a military unit existed at the time. For Instance, in his book about Alexander the Great (Fortunes of War) he talked about how Alexander used his renowned Champion Cavalry to out maneuver and flank his opponents. They did not expect this, because they were used to fighting in dense phalanx formation. The thing that I liked most about his books, there was always a character or two that I felt like me. I felt almost as though as he was writing about me (in a past life kind of way).
I regret to say, as well written as this novel is, the premise was an outright justification for war, based on a misguided notion of glory. The Tides of War, I wanted to learn more about the Peloponnesian War and the Greek leader, Alcibiades. I really enjoyed the book which centered around Alcibiades and his part in the war, which was told by his bodyguard. You learn about how great of a general he was throughout history, but I think Pressfield made him out as kind of glory hound which he might have been. I enjoy history. I think we understand who we are by understanding where we've come from. Also, biographical history is interesting in its exploration of human nature. Pressfield explored one of the most intriguing figures of Greek history, Alcibiades, who was constantly changing sides and trading loyalties. I think his premise was to explore how such a person justified such treachery to oneself. The book also introduced me to an area of history I was not familiar with, the Peloponnesian War. In the book, I got an education and was provoked to think about the justifications we use for our behavior.
Like many books on war it was violent in places and also explored the longing for peace of warriors who saw so much bloodshed. [Maybe it can help some of our vets coming home from contemporary wars.] In that respect the book is not a fun or pleasant read, but it certainly can stretch your perspective.
Pressfield was the best in this Genre (Ancient Historical Fiction). He was a historian and he has done the leg work and research and it showed in his books. When he made reference to a military unit from like 80 BC, you can bet that such a military unit existed at the time. For Instance, in his book about Alexander the Great (Fortunes of War) he talked about how Alexander used his renowned Champion Cavalry to out maneuver and flank his opponents. They did not expect this, because they were used to fighting in dense phalanx formation. The thing that I liked most about his books, there was always a character or two that I felt like me. I felt almost as though as he was writing about me (in a past life kind of way).
I regret to say, as well written as this novel is, the premise was an outright justification for war, based on a misguided notion of glory. The Tides of War, I wanted to learn more about the Peloponnesian War and the Greek leader, Alcibiades. I really enjoyed the book which centered around Alcibiades and his part in the war, which was told by his bodyguard. You learn about how great of a general he was throughout history, but I think Pressfield made him out as kind of glory hound which he might have been. I enjoy history. I think we understand who we are by understanding where we've come from. Also, biographical history is interesting in its exploration of human nature. Pressfield explored one of the most intriguing figures of Greek history, Alcibiades, who was constantly changing sides and trading loyalties. I think his premise was to explore how such a person justified such treachery to oneself. The book also introduced me to an area of history I was not familiar with, the Peloponnesian War. In the book, I got an education and was provoked to think about the justifications we use for our behavior.
Like many books on war it was violent in places and also explored the longing for peace of warriors who saw so much bloodshed. [Maybe it can help some of our vets coming home from contemporary wars.] In that respect the book is not a fun or pleasant read, but it certainly can stretch your perspective.
February 4, 2015
Τι εκπληκτικό ανάγνωσμα! Τι τέλεια ατμόσφαιρα, τι χαρακτήρες, τι πάθος! Και μέσα στις 600 τόσες υπέροχες σελίδες του, μπραφ! σκάει μύτη μία παράγραφος, μία, ανάθεμα το κεφάλι μου, και τα καταστρέφει όλα.
Όταν επί 600 σελίδες η ιστορική σου ακρίβεια είναι απίστευτα λεπτομερής και αποφασίζεις να στριμώξεις ανάμεσά τους έξι σειρές με την πιο απίστευτη μπούρδα που άκουσα ποτέ (κοντολογίς ότι οι Αθηναίοι δεν ήταν αρκετοί για να επανδρώσουν το ναυτικό τους, αλλά δεν πειράζει γιατί υπάρχουν τόσοι εξαιρετικοί Εβραίοι ναυτικοί για να τους αντικαταστήσουν ως μισθοφόροι, κι όλο αυτό δια στόματος Αλκιβιάδη) ε, τότε τι να πω, δεν αξίζεις τα πέντε αστεράκια. Απλά δεν τα αξίζεις.
Μιλάμε για την πρακτική της μορταδέλας εδώ. Αντί για ψηφοδέλτιο βάζεις στο φάκελο μια φέτα μορταδέλα, που θα λαδώσει και τα υπόλοιπα ψηφοδέλτια μέσα στην κάλπη. Μιλάμε τέτοιου μεγέθους απαξίωση των 600 σελίδων που έχεις ήδη γράψει, από μία ηλίθια παράγραφο.
Όταν επί 600 σελίδες η ιστορική σου ακρίβεια είναι απίστευτα λεπτομερής και αποφασίζεις να στριμώξεις ανάμεσά τους έξι σειρές με την πιο απίστευτη μπούρδα που άκουσα ποτέ (κοντολογίς ότι οι Αθηναίοι δεν ήταν αρκετοί για να επανδρώσουν το ναυτικό τους, αλλά δεν πειράζει γιατί υπάρχουν τόσοι εξαιρετικοί Εβραίοι ναυτικοί για να τους αντικαταστήσουν ως μισθοφόροι, κι όλο αυτό δια στόματος Αλκιβιάδη) ε, τότε τι να πω, δεν αξίζεις τα πέντε αστεράκια. Απλά δεν τα αξίζεις.
Μιλάμε για την πρακτική της μορταδέλας εδώ. Αντί για ψηφοδέλτιο βάζεις στο φάκελο μια φέτα μορταδέλα, που θα λαδώσει και τα υπόλοιπα ψηφοδέλτια μέσα στην κάλπη. Μιλάμε τέτοιου μεγέθους απαξίωση των 600 σελίδων που έχεις ήδη γράψει, από μία ηλίθια παράγραφο.
October 31, 2016
Με 100 σελίδες λιγότερες θα ήταν πολύ καλύτερο.....
April 10, 2022
Sento un magone immenso nello scrivere questa recensione. I venti dell’Egeo è uno dei libri più belli che io abbia mai letto, e lo è per le ragioni che mi premurerò di esplicare qui sotto. Da amante di mitologia, teologia e storia greca, questo romanzo doveva essere mio. Vorrei che ne facessero maggiori ristampe e che fosse conosciuto tanto quanto il suo “predecessore” ben più noto, quel capolavoro di “Le porte di fuoco” (Gates of Fire). Sarò una voce fuori dal coro, ma ho preferito, tra i due, I venti dell’Egeo: maggiori intrighi politici, una trama ancora più circolare e intrecciata, che, seppur manchevole dello straordinario finale di “Le porte di fuoco”, mi ha presa maggiormente, per quanto abbia votato entrambi in egual misura e li reputi entrambi tra i migliori romanzi storici di fine XX secolo. Bando alle ciance, inizierei col dire che la trama, nella sua struttura circolare, è a dir poco perfetta: Pressfield ci fornisce tre narratori, ognuno dei quali ha un ruolo chiave e fondamentale all’interno della storia. Il primo, che io reputo marginale ma non insignificante, esterno, è il giovane nipote di Giasone, il secondo, a cui chiede di raccontargli della guerra del Peloponneso. Il secondo, Giasone stesso, è colui che fa da intermediario col lettore, intervenendo talvolta e in particolare verso la fine, in cui la sua presenza risulta ancora più chiara; il terzo, invece, è colui che Giasone intervista, in un colloquio che rappresenta la maggior parte del romanzo: Polemide, il protagonista, nonché il perno di tutta la vicenda. Polemide è in carcere nel 399 a. C., sebbene il romanzo vero e proprio inizi nel 431 a. C.; è in attesa di essere giustiziato: è accusato di aver ucciso Alcibiade, l’assoluto protagonista della guerra del Peloponneso. Parallela alla sua cella, un altro personaggio fondamentale per l’Atene di quegli anni: Socrate, per altro maestro di Giasone, che sta per bere la cicuta. Ebbene, Giasone si occupa del suo caso per scagionarlo da quell’accusa, facendosi raccontare per filo e per segno tutti gli avvenimenti che andarono dalla morte di Pericle sino a quella di suo nipote, Alcibiade. Ebbene, Polemide è uno di quei personaggi che, seppur risultino in qualche modo “antagonisti” non si possono odiare. Non è puro, ma possiede una bontà notevole, e ha subìto e sofferto in una maniera inspiegabile. Ha perso tanto a causa della peste, la cui descrizione riprende pedissequamente quella di Tucidide, arricchendola con un pathos da lasciare senza fiato il lettore, da causargli lacrime, da rimanere interdetti. Persone non colpite dal morbo che si vedono costrette a tagliare le vene dei propri cari malati, impedendo che soffrano, padri senza figli, mogli senza mariti, uomini senza amanti… Polemide ha un fardello enorme, quello della famiglia, da portare sulle spalle: ne esalta le qualità – in particolare quelle di suo fratello, Leone, uno dei combattenti più valorosi che qui vediamo descritti – e l’importanza. Tutto questo specialmente grazie alla figura della zia Dafne, che cerca di tenere saldo il nucleo e i suoi princìpi. L’affetto provato per il vecchio Nicolao e per Meri – Merope –, suo padre e sua sorella, l’unica donna che abbia mai veramente amato, sono punti fondamentali che Polemide porterà nel cuore e che lo formeranno, caratterialmente, quando dovrà combattere a Siracusa – quando gli Ateniesi, guidati da Nicia, subirono una delle sconfitte più significative della storia – quando seguirà Alcibiade durante la sua espansione a Oriente, quando lavorerà per la Krypteia spartana e sarà indissolubilmente legato a Lisandro, il polemarco lacedemone. Ecco, un legame intrecciato, un filo rosso, che tiene Polemide – o Polemidas – ancorato a due realtà: quella spartana, dove si è formato, e quella ateniese, dove è vissuto e per cui ha combattuto. Ecco perché, così come è unito a Lisandro e a Endio, è avvinghiato – espressione forte fatta apposta – anche ad Alcibiade. Lisandro è un personaggio astutissimo, subdolo ma allo stesso tempo chiaro e diretto. Sa quello che vuole e lo ottiene senza scrupoli, ma con prudenza, con decisione, con voglia di fare. Endio, invece, è più il generoso aristocratico che dimostra il proprio valore in battaglia, una persona che non prova mai emozioni frivole, ma sempre fortissime e dense: teme, odia e ama Alcibiade. Come tutti, ormai. Alcibiade è, parallelamente a Polemide, l’altro protagonista del romanzo. È genio e sregolatezza: non è mai stato sconfitto sul campo di battaglia, è un soldato valorosissimo, audace, intelligentissimo, spontaneo; ma i suoi modi sono teatrali, è un attore della politica, ha una vita sessuale fortemente irregolare, è bramato da uomini e donne e lui brama uomini e donne, scimmiottando gli uni e le altre e ritrovandosi negli uni e nelle altre a causa della sua innegabile androginia. Parlerei di una “tripartizione” dell’anima di Alcibiade: il primo, quello che ama le donne e il mondo femminile; il secondo, che lui stesso definisce invertito, che è quello che ama gli uomini più maturi di lui – come Socrate ed Endio, che furono suoi mentori e amanti – e infine il terzo, che subentra quando Alcibiade disprezza i primi due. È amatissimo e hanno bisogno di lui, ma ha molti nemici che fanno di tutto per spodestarlo e accusarlo. Ecco che, alla vigilia della spedizione in Sicilia, che se fosse stata presieduta da lui avrebbe probabilmente cambiato il corso della storia, viene accusato di empietà: si rifugia a Sparta e lascia il comando al suo rispettato avversario politico, Nicia, che, come Leonida alle Termopili, nonostante l’età avanzata ha resistito sino alla fine. Alcibiade è colui di cui tutti hanno bisogno, colui che implorano, che dà tanto, che corteggia e rispetta Atene come una sposa, ma essa si dimostra ingrata, adultera e infedele. È colui che salva e vince in qualsiasi situazione, ma non ha saputo salvare sé stesso dalla perdizione: lo sa bene Polemide, che è sua guardia del corpo, suo amico e nemico, che altresì lo teme, lo odia e lo ama. E che dire di Socrate, suo mentore? Proprio come lo si studia, è un uomo giustissimo e purissimo, più giusto delle leggi, più puro dei politici, più giudizioso della Giustizia. E se Socrate venera la Giustizia, Alcibiade venera la Necessità, la stessa dea venerata da Polemide e da Lisandro, da qualsiasi soldato che sia anche impiegato in complotti politici. Anche le donne qui trovano il giusto spazio, tra figure conosciute – come Timea, Timandra, Ipparete – e inventate dall’autore, come Febe, Aurora e, su tutti, Eunice. Eunice è una donna che ho reputato straordinaria, colei che manda avanti la rappresentazione teatrale, colei che costituisce la parte thriller della vicenda. Una donna che mi ha ricordato Medea e Andromaca insieme, che condensa queste due nature così diverse, un fiore di campo, come Polemide la definisce, che ha reagito alle intemperie e alle tempeste e ne è sempre uscita viva. Una donna ferita nel profondo che non sa come faccia ad andare avanti e a nutrire ancora passione e amore. Una donna dimenticata da tutti ma che è un lume nella coscienza del protagonista, poiché le sue parole lo condizionano, rincuorano e feriscono in maniera impressionante. E, come lei, anche Alcibiade ha lo stesso effetto: ogni suono che fuoriesce dalla sua bocca riesce a persuadere in maniera sofistica e anti-sofista, ma incredibilmente umana. Trovo doveroso menzionare, per ricordare tutti questi personaggi dalla rilevantissima importanza storica, Gilippo, Agide, Teramene, Trasibulo, Lachete, Crizia, Meleto, Anito, Pericle e Pericle il Giovane – amore –, Critone, Critobulo, Agesilao, Tissaferne, Ciro, Dario, Artaserse ed Euriptolemo – altro mio protetto –, nomi che qui formano un elenco, ma le cui imprese, gesta, sono decantate all’interno del romanzo, senza trascurare niente. Allungherei di troppo la recensione e ci tengo affinché voi la leggiate tutta, cogliendo il mio giudizio dalle ultime righe. I venti dell’Egeo sono seicento pagine da gustare con la maggiore cura possibile; sono seicento pagine pregne di contenuto e di storia, redatte con una sopraffina accuratezza in tutti i punti, amalgamate da uno stile eccezionale. Scorrevole, dolce, accattivante, gustoso, succulento, lo stesso di “Le porte di fuoco” ma più maturo, sbocciato, al massimo del suo potenziale. Un libro che ci propone due fazioni politiche diverse e due società diverse: quella ateniese, lussuosa, sfarzosa, dominante sul mare, e quella spartana, frugale, parsimoniosa, imbattibile in terra. Uno scontro tra l’audacia temeraria e il coraggio prudente, esemplificate nella figura di Alcibiade e in quella di Lisandro, ma legate da colui che ha iniziato e terminato tutto: Polemide. Il Thymos, l’euthymia e il logos, volendo usare termini platonici, il genio e la sregolatezza, il comandante scrupoloso e l’uomo, l’umano, colui che nel suo essere comune risulta fondamentale e unico. Polemide, protagonista assoluto, è la dedica che faccio dell’esaltazione di tutti noi: speciali e indispensabili nel determinare il corso delle nostre e delle altrui vite.
July 16, 2024
Alright. I think it's time to finally confront what I've been avoiding for 2 years at this point. Over those 2 years, I have tried to stay on the path of optimism - or the least be able to say "I will return someday, just not right now". In essence...the book was on pause for a very long time. Several months ago I finally came to the conclusion that I mostly likely wouldn't end up returning. Now I finally put the nail in the coffin and say that I will not return to this book. I have no active desire to, and since that drive has not arisen in all but 2 years, I will no longer waste mental energy on this.
"Tides of War" is my first official DNF, and so far (as of July 2024) my only DNF.
The primary problem with "Tides of War" is that it has an overly convoluted framing device that effectively serves no purpose. If it does serve a purpose, it isn't clear within the first 1/3 of the book, and certainly not clear enough to say whether it'd be worth finishing. This book follows a character recounting his grandfather's recounting of *yet another character's* recounting of the tale of Alcibiades. If that sounds bad, that's because it is. As I said, so far as I can see, there is no point in having this many frames wrapped around each other - it simply wastes space that could and should belong to the portrait contained in the innermost frame. If you imagine Alcibiades telling his story as a portrait frames; another character telling that story instead as the portrait with a mat around it and then the frame surrounding...well, let's just say this novel is as if you took that complete product and decided to frame THAT. Oh and do that 2 times. You see the problem here?
As such, getting into "Tides of War" is a massive difficulty. You have several chapters that introduce you to a couple characters - one telling the other a story - just to jump to yet another introduction of the same...and yet again the same thing another couple chapters later. This framing is simply too complex and needlessly obtuse, especially when it could be as simple as ONE (1) character telling Alcibiades's tale, or simply Alcibiades himself telling it, which would certainly have been far more immediately engaging. 3 degrees of narrators was simply too much for the story being told here.
Now, I only read about 9 chapters of the book - 2 of the 9 "Books" (or parts) the novel is split into. Only 1 of those chapters did anything for me. I can still remember that it was Chapter 5 because it was actually quite good...but everything else missed the mark in every regard. After setting the book down after part 2 for a few days, I decided to give it another chance and start part 3. I didn't even finish that first chapter. Nothing changed, and I just decided in the end that I would rather read something else instead and maybe come back to it later. (Of course, as we know, I would in fact NOT come back to it later, but this proves the point). I still remember what was in the portion of the book that I read, but I continue to have no desire to return. As such, I have to give up the copium and admit this is an actual DNF.
Clearly, "Tides of War" was not the best starting place for Stephen Pressfield. This is unfortunate because the concept itself (without the convoluted framing device) should absolutely be my jam. Ancient mythologies and cultures are one of my favorite things to read/learn about - whether in non-fiction OR fiction contexts - and Greek history/mythology continues to top the list of the ones I'm most interested in. For the ultimate value of this novel to miss so widely for me is a massive disappointment.
Rest assured I am not giving up entirely on Pressfield - I at least still intend to try "Gates of Fire" since I haven't heard ANYbody say that one's bad (and I've also had reassurances that it's not so poorly framed on top of that) - but the fact I did try to start here as a result of a buddy-read that never went anywhere did a piss poor number on my urgency to circle back around to something different by this author.
In the end, I absolutely do not recommend this book in any capacity; especially don't make it your first foray into Pressfield. That is a decision I regret making. I also should point out that one of the other top reviews for this book DNF'd at damn near the exact same place as me, and I believe had similar issues. So this is clearly not just a me issue - so if you do plan to try out "Tides of War", at least go in knowing what you're getting into.
"Tides of War" is my first official DNF, and so far (as of July 2024) my only DNF.
The primary problem with "Tides of War" is that it has an overly convoluted framing device that effectively serves no purpose. If it does serve a purpose, it isn't clear within the first 1/3 of the book, and certainly not clear enough to say whether it'd be worth finishing. This book follows a character recounting his grandfather's recounting of *yet another character's* recounting of the tale of Alcibiades. If that sounds bad, that's because it is. As I said, so far as I can see, there is no point in having this many frames wrapped around each other - it simply wastes space that could and should belong to the portrait contained in the innermost frame. If you imagine Alcibiades telling his story as a portrait frames; another character telling that story instead as the portrait with a mat around it and then the frame surrounding...well, let's just say this novel is as if you took that complete product and decided to frame THAT. Oh and do that 2 times. You see the problem here?
As such, getting into "Tides of War" is a massive difficulty. You have several chapters that introduce you to a couple characters - one telling the other a story - just to jump to yet another introduction of the same...and yet again the same thing another couple chapters later. This framing is simply too complex and needlessly obtuse, especially when it could be as simple as ONE (1) character telling Alcibiades's tale, or simply Alcibiades himself telling it, which would certainly have been far more immediately engaging. 3 degrees of narrators was simply too much for the story being told here.
Now, I only read about 9 chapters of the book - 2 of the 9 "Books" (or parts) the novel is split into. Only 1 of those chapters did anything for me. I can still remember that it was Chapter 5 because it was actually quite good...but everything else missed the mark in every regard. After setting the book down after part 2 for a few days, I decided to give it another chance and start part 3. I didn't even finish that first chapter. Nothing changed, and I just decided in the end that I would rather read something else instead and maybe come back to it later. (Of course, as we know, I would in fact NOT come back to it later, but this proves the point). I still remember what was in the portion of the book that I read, but I continue to have no desire to return. As such, I have to give up the copium and admit this is an actual DNF.
Clearly, "Tides of War" was not the best starting place for Stephen Pressfield. This is unfortunate because the concept itself (without the convoluted framing device) should absolutely be my jam. Ancient mythologies and cultures are one of my favorite things to read/learn about - whether in non-fiction OR fiction contexts - and Greek history/mythology continues to top the list of the ones I'm most interested in. For the ultimate value of this novel to miss so widely for me is a massive disappointment.
Rest assured I am not giving up entirely on Pressfield - I at least still intend to try "Gates of Fire" since I haven't heard ANYbody say that one's bad (and I've also had reassurances that it's not so poorly framed on top of that) - but the fact I did try to start here as a result of a buddy-read that never went anywhere did a piss poor number on my urgency to circle back around to something different by this author.
In the end, I absolutely do not recommend this book in any capacity; especially don't make it your first foray into Pressfield. That is a decision I regret making. I also should point out that one of the other top reviews for this book DNF'd at damn near the exact same place as me, and I believe had similar issues. So this is clearly not just a me issue - so if you do plan to try out "Tides of War", at least go in knowing what you're getting into.
April 1, 2021
First-person narrative Sword and Sandal historical fiction centered around the historical figure Alcibiades and the Peloponnesian War.
Greek/Macedonian Phalanx
My audiobook was seven (7) hours long. Derek Jacobi was the narrator. A dead tree copy is 426 pages. The original US copyright was 2000.
Steven Pressfield is an American historical fiction and non-fiction writer. He has nine (9) historical fiction books published. Most are set in ancient times and have military themes. He also has the same number of non-fiction books published over a wider variety of subjects, but military themes predominate. I’ve read several books by the author. This is my second reading of the book, but the first was very long ago. I only had a dim recollection of the story.
Pressfield’s ancient-period historical fiction stories always have complex narratives and give the reader a deep-dive into the period. Typically he anchors the story on a well-known historical figure. This was a good clash of ancient armies and navies story. It was a good soldier's story of: manly love, politics, and betrayals. However, I didn’t enjoy the audio version as much as I recall liking reading it.
There is high-degree of historical detail in the story. The politics around the aristocratic, statesmen, and general Alcibiades and the Peloponnesian War fought between Athens and Sparta for control of ancient Greece were likewise complex. The author used a complicated, first-person narrative technique. There were three (3) first person of narrations, one unreliable(?). Their stories were told by them in a verbose archaic-style. I wasn't in love with the audiobook's narration by Jacobi for most of the book. In addition, Greek words, locations and ancient Greek names made it hard for me to know Who's on First?
I think there are significant differences in comprehension between reading reading and listening to a text. Listening to a text, my mind occasionally wanders. Seconds (or minutes) can pass before I snap out of it. In general, this audio stream required more concentration than I could give to keep all the plot threads straight.
Still waters run deep. I’m a junkie for ancient history, particularly military history info-dumps. I liked the book for that. The most obvious soldier’s (sometimes a marine) story in the shadow of a controversial hero was easy to follow. That is, I managed to keep the still waters of the main story in my head from listening session to session. However, this book had a lot more depth in it than I could plum through an audiobook.
Greek/Macedonian Phalanx
My audiobook was seven (7) hours long. Derek Jacobi was the narrator. A dead tree copy is 426 pages. The original US copyright was 2000.
Steven Pressfield is an American historical fiction and non-fiction writer. He has nine (9) historical fiction books published. Most are set in ancient times and have military themes. He also has the same number of non-fiction books published over a wider variety of subjects, but military themes predominate. I’ve read several books by the author. This is my second reading of the book, but the first was very long ago. I only had a dim recollection of the story.
Pressfield’s ancient-period historical fiction stories always have complex narratives and give the reader a deep-dive into the period. Typically he anchors the story on a well-known historical figure. This was a good clash of ancient armies and navies story. It was a good soldier's story of: manly love, politics, and betrayals. However, I didn’t enjoy the audio version as much as I recall liking reading it.
There is high-degree of historical detail in the story. The politics around the aristocratic, statesmen, and general Alcibiades and the Peloponnesian War fought between Athens and Sparta for control of ancient Greece were likewise complex. The author used a complicated, first-person narrative technique. There were three (3) first person of narrations, one unreliable(?). Their stories were told by them in a verbose archaic-style. I wasn't in love with the audiobook's narration by Jacobi for most of the book. In addition, Greek words, locations and ancient Greek names made it hard for me to know Who's on First?
I think there are significant differences in comprehension between reading reading and listening to a text. Listening to a text, my mind occasionally wanders. Seconds (or minutes) can pass before I snap out of it. In general, this audio stream required more concentration than I could give to keep all the plot threads straight.
Still waters run deep. I’m a junkie for ancient history, particularly military history info-dumps. I liked the book for that. The most obvious soldier’s (sometimes a marine) story in the shadow of a controversial hero was easy to follow. That is, I managed to keep the still waters of the main story in my head from listening session to session. However, this book had a lot more depth in it than I could plum through an audiobook.
June 24, 2016
Un buen libro de novela histórica, como cabría esperar de un gran escritor como Pressfield. Dicen que Vientos de guerra es su novela más lograda, la más redonda. Yo no me atrevería a afirmar tanto, pero es un gran libro. Pressfield tiene conocimientos históricos y habilidad narrativa, lo que unido a lo espectacular de sus protagonistas le asegura el éxito. Además tiene la virtud de que el narrador parece ser realmente un griego del año 400 a.c. Y eso no es fácil, la mayoría de narradores de novela histórica son individuos del siglo XX o XXI trasplantados a la antigüedad y se nota.
Este libro en concreto nos narra la vida de Alcibíades, su genio como militar y personaje histórico. En ocasiones puede resultar un poco mareante tanto cambio de bando, pero por lo visto la historia real (hasta donde se puede saber) fue más o menos así. Tampoco ahorra sus buenas dosis de filosofía y política, pero entiendo que en su época la realidad era esa y así nos la transcribe el autor.
Hay que remarcar, sin embargo, que Vientos de guerra es bastante más densa que otros libros suyos como Puertas de fuego. Aquí Pressfield se muestra más ambicioso y se va al doble de páginas en un relato que abarca las tres décadas que duró la guerra del Peloponeso. En ese sentido el lector de otros libros del autor puede verse un poco agobiado...
Pero sigue siendo un libro apasionante sobre una época y una civilización fascinantes. En resumen, muy recomendable a poco que te guste la novela histórica y/o la Grecia clásica de Pericles, Sócrates o el propio Alcibíades...
Este libro en concreto nos narra la vida de Alcibíades, su genio como militar y personaje histórico. En ocasiones puede resultar un poco mareante tanto cambio de bando, pero por lo visto la historia real (hasta donde se puede saber) fue más o menos así. Tampoco ahorra sus buenas dosis de filosofía y política, pero entiendo que en su época la realidad era esa y así nos la transcribe el autor.
Hay que remarcar, sin embargo, que Vientos de guerra es bastante más densa que otros libros suyos como Puertas de fuego. Aquí Pressfield se muestra más ambicioso y se va al doble de páginas en un relato que abarca las tres décadas que duró la guerra del Peloponeso. En ese sentido el lector de otros libros del autor puede verse un poco agobiado...
Pero sigue siendo un libro apasionante sobre una época y una civilización fascinantes. En resumen, muy recomendable a poco que te guste la novela histórica y/o la Grecia clásica de Pericles, Sócrates o el propio Alcibíades...
August 12, 2022
Σχετικά συνεπής εξιστόρηση της εποχής του Πελοποννησιακού πολέμου (ειδικά για Αμερικανάκι) και μέρους της ιστορίας του πιο αμφιλεγόμενου προσώπου της εποχής (Αλκριβιάδης) μέσα από... δύο αφηγητές. Ο ένας αφηγείται τι του αφηγήθηκε ο άλλος. Πονηρό τέχνασμα ίσως του Πρέσφιλντ για να δικαιολογήσει ανακρίβειες και ανακολουθίες.
Δε θα ενθουσιάσει, ούτε θα απογοητεύσει, ενώ μερικές φορές νομίζεις ότι τους διαλόγους τους έχει γράψει ο Δαλιανίδης ή ο Φώσκολος, παρ' όλ' αυτά, όχι μόνο αποφεύγει τον πάτο των μονάστερων, αλλά σώζεται με ένα αξιοπρεπέστατο τριάρι.
Δε θα ενθουσιάσει, ούτε θα απογοητεύσει, ενώ μερικές φορές νομίζεις ότι τους διαλόγους τους έχει γράψει ο Δαλιανίδης ή ο Φώσκολος, παρ' όλ' αυτά, όχι μόνο αποφεύγει τον πάτο των μονάστερων, αλλά σώζεται με ένα αξιοπρεπέστατο τριάρι.
July 10, 2018
Absolutely the best fiction based on the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). Well researched and grounded in history, with interesting characters galore. Alcibiades is one of my favorite historical figures and this book really brings him to life.
March 6, 2014
mp3
Read by George Guidell.
Peloponnesian Wars = Athens v Peloponnesian League fronted by Sparta
Starring Alcebiades on Death Row: From wiki: c. 450–404 BC), was a prominent Athenian statesman, orator, and general. He was the last famous member of his mother's aristocratic family, the Alcmaeonidae, which fell from prominence after the Peloponnesian War. He played a major role in the second half of that conflict as a strategic advisor, military commander, and politician...
...he was a tricky customer.
This became cruder by the page, as there wasn't enough storyline; too many good things out there begging my attention. Next!
Read by George Guidell.
Peloponnesian Wars = Athens v Peloponnesian League fronted by SpartaStarring Alcebiades on Death Row: From wiki: c. 450–404 BC), was a prominent Athenian statesman, orator, and general. He was the last famous member of his mother's aristocratic family, the Alcmaeonidae, which fell from prominence after the Peloponnesian War. He played a major role in the second half of that conflict as a strategic advisor, military commander, and politician...
...he was a tricky customer.
This became cruder by the page, as there wasn't enough storyline; too many good things out there begging my attention. Next!
February 7, 2020
Brilliant historical fiction, obviously heavily researched combined with excellent storytelling. Glimpses of Socrates and early democracy give the book an intellectual aspect often not found in a war novel.
December 30, 2021
DNF @ 29%. Too boring and too jarring unfortunately, because the subject is totally in my Hist Fic wheelhouse: the story of Alcibiades, the greatest general of Athens during the Peloponnesian Wars.
The novel is structured as the memoir of Jason, a fictional character who interviewed Alcibiades' assassin from jail before he was executed. Now much older, Jason is retelling Polemides' story to his grandson. The narrative goes into long passages of philosophical dialogue about the nature of man, war, farming, etc., before suddenly shifting off topic...
Okay, I realize that a lot of ancient Historical Fiction mentions sex and often does so crudely, but the way Pressfield juxtaposes topics makes it feel particularly shocking. For example, I was reading a conversation between Alcibiades, Polemides and Socrates - yes, *that* Socrates - discussing the nature of dignity and degradation as these concepts apply to women. Suddenly the conversation jumped to young boys and girls, with vulgar descriptions of how soldiers passing through a village will use them up until they're husks - seriously, I think most people would get mental whiplash. Perhaps some nausea.
Beyond that, I was hoping the story would be from Alcibiades POV, not somebody else's perspective of him. I wanted to read how he experienced going to war as a teenager, and how a man who loved Athens as much as he did could change his allegiance to the enemy twice. That's not what I got. All in all, it's pretty easy to drop this novel and move onto something else.
The novel is structured as the memoir of Jason, a fictional character who interviewed Alcibiades' assassin from jail before he was executed. Now much older, Jason is retelling Polemides' story to his grandson. The narrative goes into long passages of philosophical dialogue about the nature of man, war, farming, etc., before suddenly shifting off topic...
Okay, I realize that a lot of ancient Historical Fiction mentions sex and often does so crudely, but the way Pressfield juxtaposes topics makes it feel particularly shocking. For example, I was reading a conversation between Alcibiades, Polemides and Socrates - yes, *that* Socrates - discussing the nature of dignity and degradation as these concepts apply to women. Suddenly the conversation jumped to young boys and girls, with vulgar descriptions of how soldiers passing through a village will use them up until they're husks - seriously, I think most people would get mental whiplash. Perhaps some nausea.
Beyond that, I was hoping the story would be from Alcibiades POV, not somebody else's perspective of him. I wanted to read how he experienced going to war as a teenager, and how a man who loved Athens as much as he did could change his allegiance to the enemy twice. That's not what I got. All in all, it's pretty easy to drop this novel and move onto something else.
September 5, 2018
Ένα βιβλίο για το Γιάννη από τους Απαράδεκτους που αναρωτιέται αν ειναι... Τουρκόσπορος!
Μέσα από την ιστορία του enfant prodige Αλκιβιάδη,βλέπουμε την εξυπνάδα,τη πονηριά,το θάρρος,το φιλότιμο,τη προδοσία,τη ζήλεια,τα πολιτικά τερτίπια,τα ψέμματα και τις δολοπλοκίες των αρχαίων Ελλήνων.
Είναι τόσο μα τόσο γνώριμα που επιβεβαιώνουν την ευγενική καταγωγή μας περαν πασης αμφιβολίας.
Το βιβλίο αν και μεγάλο σε όγκο δεν είναι καθόλου κουραστικό,οι περιγραφές μου φαίνονται ιστορικά αξιόπιστες,γενικά το απόλαυσα (ή απήλαυσα - λίγο αρχαΐζουσα δε βλάπτει)
Μέσα από την ιστορία του enfant prodige Αλκιβιάδη,βλέπουμε την εξυπνάδα,τη πονηριά,το θάρρος,το φιλότιμο,τη προδοσία,τη ζήλεια,τα πολιτικά τερτίπια,τα ψέμματα και τις δολοπλοκίες των αρχαίων Ελλήνων.
Είναι τόσο μα τόσο γνώριμα που επιβεβαιώνουν την ευγενική καταγωγή μας περαν πασης αμφιβολίας.
Το βιβλίο αν και μεγάλο σε όγκο δεν είναι καθόλου κουραστικό,οι περιγραφές μου φαίνονται ιστορικά αξιόπιστες,γενικά το απόλαυσα (ή απήλαυσα - λίγο αρχαΐζουσα δε βλάπτει)
December 27, 2022
Ambientación: 8.5
Interés: 7.5
Personajes: 7.5
Trama: 7, resulta un poco liosa por los continuos cambios en la narración.
Valoración global: 7.6
October 5, 2016
One of the most loved and hated at the same time personalities of Ancient Athens, Alcibiades, is the main character of this book. A great leader with great ambition. The book is fast paced and describes in an enjoyable manner the character of this man and his "achievements" through the "eyes" of his friend and co-warrior. It also provides a good context which help us understand why Athenians both hated and loved Alcibiades. And as Steven Pressfield always does even the fictional characters and events that employs could have been true and they fit perfect with the plot, given you dont expect to read history but a novel. Only drawbrack, being Greek, is the nicknames who are a bit "American army" for me. Overall, an amazing book, a must read. I totally recommend it to anyone who likes historic novels.
February 10, 2017
Set against the backdrop of the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens, this story revolves around the fascinating historical figure Alcibiades. A gifted, inspiring general, politician, and orator, Alcibiades managed to switch allegiances from Athens to Sparta to Persia and back to Athens throughout the conflict, proving that someone will always want your services if you're good. While not as gripping as the author's prior book "Gates of Fire" (which I *highly* recommend), this is an entertaining, imaginative story based on real historical events and worth reading.
May 7, 2018
Not enough of best boy Theramenes but still good
December 11, 2010
Bought this at a library cast-off yard sale, thinking it would fit into my genre of historical fiction which I can both enjoy and learn something from - however unlike most of that type of novel I've read, I knew almost nothing about the subject (the Peloponnesian Wars), having only covered it briefly in high-school history as another example of Sparta vs. Athens.
And at first, I thought I'd made a big mistake - it was a very slow start, with cumbersome language, difficult names of both people and places, and just no familiarity on my part with which to mentally anchor the story.
By the time I'd finished, I couldn't put it down - a VERY good story on a remarkable (true!) character - Alcibiades - whom I confess I'd never heard of prior to this book. And while I've picked up a little bit of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, the use of a trireme, etc, this novel paints a picture of ancient warfare that both humanizes it, and modernizes it, in a way that allows you to identify and understand tactics and warfare from the perspective of an individual warrior. You perceive war as a clash of people, regardless of the technological differences.
And in an indicator of the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction, the drama associated with Alcibiades' hubris, his alteringg allegiances, and the responses of the people drawn to his charismatic leadership is almost unbelieveable. But its truth, and the way in which Pressfield uses the narrator (his assassin Polemides) to convey the attitudes of the Greeks (both Spartan and Athenian) and Persians, Thracians, etc, throughout, go beyond helping you understand why such changing tides were possible, but also paint a broader portrait of Greece at large.
As a result, it did just what I'd hoped - provided a much-appreciated education, and a great read!
And at first, I thought I'd made a big mistake - it was a very slow start, with cumbersome language, difficult names of both people and places, and just no familiarity on my part with which to mentally anchor the story.
By the time I'd finished, I couldn't put it down - a VERY good story on a remarkable (true!) character - Alcibiades - whom I confess I'd never heard of prior to this book. And while I've picked up a little bit of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, the use of a trireme, etc, this novel paints a picture of ancient warfare that both humanizes it, and modernizes it, in a way that allows you to identify and understand tactics and warfare from the perspective of an individual warrior. You perceive war as a clash of people, regardless of the technological differences.
And in an indicator of the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction, the drama associated with Alcibiades' hubris, his alteringg allegiances, and the responses of the people drawn to his charismatic leadership is almost unbelieveable. But its truth, and the way in which Pressfield uses the narrator (his assassin Polemides) to convey the attitudes of the Greeks (both Spartan and Athenian) and Persians, Thracians, etc, throughout, go beyond helping you understand why such changing tides were possible, but also paint a broader portrait of Greece at large.
As a result, it did just what I'd hoped - provided a much-appreciated education, and a great read!
Read
September 24, 20203.5
Αυτό είναι το τρίτο βιβλίο του Στίβεν Πρεσφιλντ που διαβάζω στο οποίο πετυχαίνει όπως και στα άλλα να εντυπωσιάσει με τον περιγραφικό και αναλυτικό τρόπο που ξεδιπλώνει την καθημερινότητα και τα γεγονότα της αρχαιότητας.
Μου φάνηκε ενδιαφέρον γιατί δεν στόχευε απλώς στην εξιστόρηση ενός πολέμου ή ακόμη και της υπόθεσης του Αλκιβιάδη, αλλά στην σταδιακή μεταμόρφωση ενός συνηθισμένου Αθηναίου πολίτη με σπαρτιατικη εκπαίδευση σε έναν μισητο φονιά έτοιμο να καταδικαστει. Η ιστορία έχει να κάνει με τον πόλεμο και την καταστροφική επιρροή του πάνω στους ανθρώπους και στην ψυχή της πόλης. Χρησιμοποιεί έναν καθημερινό στρατιώτη και μισθοφόρο ως καθρέφτη για να καταδείξει τα σφάλματα και τις αδυναμίες της Αθήνας. Όλα αυτά ενώ ταυτόχρονα αφηγείται με λεπτομέρειες τα σημαντικότερα από τα γεγονότα της εποχής.
Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα ο τρόπος με τον οποίο επέλεξε να εξιστορησει τα γεγονότα με τη μορφή μιας τριπλής αφήγησης και την αλλαγή διαφόρων οπτικών γωνιών καθώς του έδωσε τη δυνατότητα να δώσει ενδιαφέρον και προσωπικότητα σε κάθε κεφάλαιο μαζί με ποικιλία.
Σε ορισμένα σημεία μου φάνηκε πως υπήρχαν λεπτομέρειες που μπορούσαν να παραλειφθουν. Κάποιες φορές η ανάγκη για λεπτομέρεια και ακρίβεια επισκιαζε κατά πολύ την ανάγκη για ροή της πλοκής. Με λίγα λόγια μόλις τελειώσεις το βιβλίο θα τα έχεις καταλάβει όλα με μεγάλη σαφήνεια και ακρίβεια αλλά πιθανότατα με κόστος κάποια κεφάλαια να φαίνονται μακριά και κουραστικά. Προς το τέλος νομίζω πως άρχισε να αφήνει πίσω την ιστορία του χαρακτήρα και να αφηγείται γεγονότα σχεδόν διαδικαστικά λόγω του όγκου τους. Το όλο εγχείρημα μου φάνηκε υπερβολικά φιλόδοξο για να πετύχει και προς το τέλος άρχισε η πλοκή να καταρρέει από το βάρος των γεγονότων 27 χρόνων που έπρεπε να αφηγηθεί.
Αυτό είναι το τρίτο βιβλίο του Στίβεν Πρεσφιλντ που διαβάζω στο οποίο πετυχαίνει όπως και στα άλλα να εντυπωσιάσει με τον περιγραφικό και αναλυτικό τρόπο που ξεδιπλώνει την καθημερινότητα και τα γεγονότα της αρχαιότητας.
Μου φάνηκε ενδιαφέρον γιατί δεν στόχευε απλώς στην εξιστόρηση ενός πολέμου ή ακόμη και της υπόθεσης του Αλκιβιάδη, αλλά στην σταδιακή μεταμόρφωση ενός συνηθισμένου Αθηναίου πολίτη με σπαρτιατικη εκπαίδευση σε έναν μισητο φονιά έτοιμο να καταδικαστει. Η ιστορία έχει να κάνει με τον πόλεμο και την καταστροφική επιρροή του πάνω στους ανθρώπους και στην ψυχή της πόλης. Χρησιμοποιεί έναν καθημερινό στρατιώτη και μισθοφόρο ως καθρέφτη για να καταδείξει τα σφάλματα και τις αδυναμίες της Αθήνας. Όλα αυτά ενώ ταυτόχρονα αφηγείται με λεπτομέρειες τα σημαντικότερα από τα γεγονότα της εποχής.
Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα ο τρόπος με τον οποίο επέλεξε να εξιστορησει τα γεγονότα με τη μορφή μιας τριπλής αφήγησης και την αλλαγή διαφόρων οπτικών γωνιών καθώς του έδωσε τη δυνατότητα να δώσει ενδιαφέρον και προσωπικότητα σε κάθε κεφάλαιο μαζί με ποικιλία.
Σε ορισμένα σημεία μου φάνηκε πως υπήρχαν λεπτομέρειες που μπορούσαν να παραλειφθουν. Κάποιες φορές η ανάγκη για λεπτομέρεια και ακρίβεια επισκιαζε κατά πολύ την ανάγκη για ροή της πλοκής. Με λίγα λόγια μόλις τελειώσεις το βιβλίο θα τα έχεις καταλάβει όλα με μεγάλη σαφήνεια και ακρίβεια αλλά πιθανότατα με κόστος κάποια κεφάλαια να φαίνονται μακριά και κουραστικά. Προς το τέλος νομίζω πως άρχισε να αφήνει πίσω την ιστορία του χαρακτήρα και να αφηγείται γεγονότα σχεδόν διαδικαστικά λόγω του όγκου τους. Το όλο εγχείρημα μου φάνηκε υπερβολικά φιλόδοξο για να πετύχει και προς το τέλος άρχισε η πλοκή να καταρρέει από το βάρος των γεγονότων 27 χρόνων που έπρεπε να αφηγηθεί.
May 29, 2015
It took me quite a while to work out whether I liked this book or not. Certainly the pace is slower than Pressfield's epic "Gates of fire", but that in itself is no major issue. Tales worth retelling have their own pace and rhythm and should not, therefore, be rushed.
POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING
Historical fiction is a genre plagued by spoilers. There is no mystery to the outcome of the Pelopponesian war or fate of Athens. Likewise, the rises and falls of Alcibiades' star will not prove mysterious to anyone who performs the most cursory of wikipedia reviews. Yet in spite of these difficulties, Pressfield manages to create drama and suspense and a deep sense of engagement. You pity those at Syracuse and pity their eventual fate, curse the demos for their folly and feel a real sympathy for those innocents condemned by others machinations as Athens tears itself apart. All this when the main character isn't even that likeable.
It is a similar literary device to Gates of fire, converting the story to a retelling from a "middle man" - not to significant or brave, not too skilled at arms, not too heroic. Polemides is perhaps more believable than the helot in Gates of fire, certainly, the twists of his story inspire both fascination and intrigue.
There are moments, in particular early, where the tale loses its way, and it never fully seals the hole around Polemides' forgiveness of Alcibiades. Hence the 4, rather than 5 stars. The tone is frequently operatic however and indeed overall the book would play out well with a Wagnerian soundtrack and a libretto focusing on hubris and the fall of man. Well worth reading.
POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING
Historical fiction is a genre plagued by spoilers. There is no mystery to the outcome of the Pelopponesian war or fate of Athens. Likewise, the rises and falls of Alcibiades' star will not prove mysterious to anyone who performs the most cursory of wikipedia reviews. Yet in spite of these difficulties, Pressfield manages to create drama and suspense and a deep sense of engagement. You pity those at Syracuse and pity their eventual fate, curse the demos for their folly and feel a real sympathy for those innocents condemned by others machinations as Athens tears itself apart. All this when the main character isn't even that likeable.
It is a similar literary device to Gates of fire, converting the story to a retelling from a "middle man" - not to significant or brave, not too skilled at arms, not too heroic. Polemides is perhaps more believable than the helot in Gates of fire, certainly, the twists of his story inspire both fascination and intrigue.
There are moments, in particular early, where the tale loses its way, and it never fully seals the hole around Polemides' forgiveness of Alcibiades. Hence the 4, rather than 5 stars. The tone is frequently operatic however and indeed overall the book would play out well with a Wagnerian soundtrack and a libretto focusing on hubris and the fall of man. Well worth reading.
March 21, 2019
I am not too big a fan of battle scenes in historical novels. So if they are among the best parts, it means either that they are awesome or that the book is just not that good. Sadly, it is the latter here.
Let's start with the things that are not so good: The main character Polemides is an utterly stereotypical tough-soldier-dude as they litter Bernard Cornwell's books and those of his epigones. The only thing more stereotypical is the portrayal of women in the book. Greek culture is reduced to very manly and surprisingly straight men trying to bash each other's head in, oh, and something with democracy or so. (The author subscribes to the view of the ancient (elitist) authors that the Athenian democracy was dysfunctional and essentially the rule of the rabble.) Why the author chose to employ a double narrative frame around the actual story will remain his secret. Also, the book is way too long. Cut out some of the countless inconsequential land battles and fleet actions, and some of the tough dude talk, and you come to a manageable 400 pages instead of the 600 it is.
What is good besides the battles: The drama of the Sicilian expedition (because it is great in Thucydides), and the speeches and political assembly scenes (because they are ripped from Thucydides, and, I think, Plutarch). So what the book did for me was to put both Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War and Plutarch's Life of Alcibiades on my re-read list. I recommend you do the same.
Let's start with the things that are not so good: The main character Polemides is an utterly stereotypical tough-soldier-dude as they litter Bernard Cornwell's books and those of his epigones. The only thing more stereotypical is the portrayal of women in the book. Greek culture is reduced to very manly and surprisingly straight men trying to bash each other's head in, oh, and something with democracy or so. (The author subscribes to the view of the ancient (elitist) authors that the Athenian democracy was dysfunctional and essentially the rule of the rabble.) Why the author chose to employ a double narrative frame around the actual story will remain his secret. Also, the book is way too long. Cut out some of the countless inconsequential land battles and fleet actions, and some of the tough dude talk, and you come to a manageable 400 pages instead of the 600 it is.
What is good besides the battles: The drama of the Sicilian expedition (because it is great in Thucydides), and the speeches and political assembly scenes (because they are ripped from Thucydides, and, I think, Plutarch). So what the book did for me was to put both Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War and Plutarch's Life of Alcibiades on my re-read list. I recommend you do the same.
January 15, 2024
I didn't find Tides of War easy to read; in fact it took me much longer than most books. However, it was worth pressing on. Mr Pressfield's understanding and portrayal of the Greek armies and navies is wide and profound. He portrays the enigmatic Alkibiades as seen by his friends and enemies, some of whom are the same people.
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