Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15685 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 260 pages

Synopsis
Herodotus tells us that not all of the three hundred Spartan warriors died at the hands of Xerxes, King of the Persians, in the battle of the Thermopylae: two were saved bringing a life-saving message back to the city...This is the saga of a Spartan family, torn apart by a cruel law that forces them to abandon one of their two sons - born lame - to the elements. The elder son, Brithos, is raised in the caste of the warriors, while the other, Talos, is spared a cruel death and is raised by a Helot shepherd, among the peasants. They live out their story in a world dominated by the clash between the Persian empire and the city-states of Greece - a ferocious, relentless conflict - until the voice of their blood and of human solidarity unites them in a thrilling, singular enterprise.

Customer Reviews

Ran out of Steam
I felt 'The Spartan' started brilliantly, a great epic plot with a classic story (an development of the prodigal son). The story should have ended when the main character found his original home. The rest was like the second two parts of the Godfather, unfortunately predictable and laboured.

I Loved This Story
This is a good old fashioned yarn. Superbly written with great pace. The characters are a little comic book but the story is so enjoyable I could forgive this quite easily.

Translation.
I think this book was enjoyable, but has been let down in the translation. Words like "seaside" dont seem fitting with the time and the language. I understand that the author is Italian, but I felt that the use of Latin words such as Ulysses didnt sit right. Maybe I have just read too many books that use the Greek names.