In Kithairon's Shadow: A Novel of Ancient Greece and the Persian War

by Jon Edward Martin

In 480 B.C., Xerxes I, king of the Persian Empire, led a vast and uncountable army intent on the domination of Europe. Only a tiny collection of Greek city-states stood in his path. At Thermopylae the Persians annihilated a small holding force commanded by King Leonidas of Sparta, then quickly marched on to Athens, reducing the city to ruins. Outnumbered and beset by treachery, Sparta, Athens and their allies gathered near the town of Plataea for one final battle. The future of Western civilization hung on the outcome. In Kithairon's Shadow is the story of five men from ancient Greece and the parts they would play in determining their future, and ours.

Genres: Historical Fiction

242 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2003

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely engaging novel about the Greco-Persian War in ancient Greece! We are taken from the breathless announcement to the guests at an Athenian symposium [drinking party] of the fall of Thermopylae and massacre of the Spartans, to the decisive Battle of Plataea. We see incidents in the novel from vantage points of BOTH sides, Greek and Persian. Finally we're given closure to each main character's life. Written in an easy-to-understand style [except for the occasional "50 cent word"] and divided into sections, the novel has conveyed this period of history very well. We follow an Athenian, Myronides, and various others from that City State--both those loyal to Athens and also two men who advocate joining the Persians; a farm family from Tegea: father and older sons fight at the Battle; four Spartiates along with Pausanios, the Spartan commander-in-chief of the whole Greek Confederation; and a Theban father and son who fight on the Persian side as Thebes is a Persian ally. As one Theban reasons: Thebes has declared itself for Persia, basically for self-protection against Xerxes's might and destructive capability. We also follow four Persian officers, both infantry and cavalry. The novel moves from one group to another so we see how each group is affected and their opinions. Using characters in this way gave the war a human face. My sympathies were aroused at the plight of the innocent citizens and at Persia's "scorched earth" policy.

Plataea is fought on an open plain at the foot of Mount Kithairon--"in Kithairon's shadow." I liked how we were given different points of view through the novel: sometimes the same incident was recounted, first through Greek, then through Persian eyes. I got more of a panorama from this. The novel was an auspicious debut for the author. 4.5/5.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

great freaking book!!!!

[Alana Bleness · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would be a great book if Martin worked with a better editor. I keep my copy around as a cautionary tale.

[Masen Production]

“After the defeat of Persians at the hands of Athenians, Xerxes I who is the Son of Darios, wants revenge for the humiliation at Marathon. A huge Persian army with all its allies in tow reaches the plains of Greece from Thermopylae where King Leonidas is killed finally with his 300 brave Spartans. Athens is razed to the ground and they are asked to submit themselves to the King as his allies. The Greeks refuse to bow down. The once warring neighbours Sparta & Athenians from an allied force which has a 27 year old Spartan as their General. This is their fight for freedom as we know today; this was the fight to keep the monarchs away and the demokrita (democracy) flourishing. A fiction once again blended with facts to make a very realistic read. ”