Tides of War: A Novel of Alcibiades and the Peloponnesian War

Summary

With his acclaimed bestseller Gates of Fire, Steven Pressfield established himself as a powerful new voice in historical fiction. In Tides of War, he returns to ancient Greece for an even more ambitious epic novel that vividly brings to life two of the greatest warring cities in history. Nearly 50 years after Sparta and Athens combined to defeat the Persian empire, tension between the two cities is at a fever pitch. Thus begins the 27-year Peloponnesian War. At the center of the action is Alcibiades, favorite son of Athens due to his physical attractiveness, matchless intelligence, and brilliant leadership. But when Athens turns its back on him, Alcibiades turns to Sparta, and the Athenians dispatch an old friend to assassinate their former hero. Pressfield weaves Homeric passages with gritty battlefield scenes and colorful dialogue, never allowing for a moment’s breath in this action-packed tale. George Guidall’s narration brings this extraordinary war to life, capturing both the poetry and brutality of Pressfield’s remarkable work.