An Account of Thermopylae: Leonidas, the Spartan King

by Alan Bristor, Linda Bristor (Illustrator)

Submit to the Persian invasion or go to war to defend freedom! This is the decision facing Greece in 480 BC. The reader is brought into the mind of King Leonidas of Sparta as the chosen leader of this massive military undertaking. Spartan military secrets and tactics must now be shared among the sometimes former enemies to unify the fragile coalition of Greek city-states along with a small force of 300 Spartans. Together, the Greek coalition must defend their way of life against the brutal adversary, King Xerxes, of Persia and the largest army assembled at that time. This story begins with the planning and preparation for a new and unique situational war campaign. King Leonidas has to choose his captains and the 300 Spartan warriors that would accompany him and oversee the logistics of the long march to Thermopylae. He must command and unify the Greek forces for the 9 days actually spent defending the narrow Pass at Thermopylae. He had to use all the resources available to him including training new citizen-soldiers, Periokoi fighters, helots, wagons, topography, and weapons that were left on the battlefield by Xerxes’s Army. Specific training in the Spartan military phalanx maneuvers, equipment used, and military commands are also explored. This historical narrative places the reader in the front row exposing the personal thoughts, intense emotions, and the ever-present and agonizing pressures of battle planning decisions that had to be made by King Leonidas. The sights, sounds, and smells of conflict are experienced as the fierce and detailed battle sequences unfold in the narrow Pass at Thermopylae. This energy-filled portrayal exemplifies the definition of the indomitable spirit as the few stood against the many. The 300 Spartans, King Leonidas, and the battle of Thermopylae are legendary in military history. This battle helped to provide the catalyst for the eventual defeat of the Persian invasion and to help clear the way for the development of modern democracy. Buy it now and travel back in time and experience the battle of Thermopylae from this unique perspective.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2016

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned it- the lack of sophistication from the writer created a narrator that just detracts from the plot and lacks any real finesse, read as a how to not write a fictionalised historical narrative. It's a shame i really wanted to like this too :(

[Kathleen Vail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expertly described by Alan Bristor in "An Account of Thermopylae: Leonidas the Spartan King," the ancient Greek military tactic known as the Phalanx achieved legendary status that remains overwhelmingly awesome even today, nearly 2,500 years later.

Breathtakingly brought to life in his brilliant presentation of events at Thermopylae, Bristor notes, "The Greek fighting force had become a precision machine." Narrated from the first-person point of view in the voice of legendary King Leonidas of Sparta, we are treated to an elegantly orchestrated battle literally step by step as the heroic warriors assemble in their ranks and form the invincible precision machine called "Phalanx."

In extraordinary detail and yet never difficult to follow, the reader is guided through the process of training in the Spartan phalanx commands and their correct execution as the non-Spartan soldiers from various Greek city-states are taught the steps by their Spartan brothers-in-arms.

With Bristor's clear presentation of the battle's events, readers see not only the overwhelming odds faced by the vastly out numbered coalition of soldiers holding the narrow pass against the massive Persian force, but also witness the spine-tingling birth of Nationalism as soldiers of individual city-states solidify into Unified Soldiers of Greece.

"An Account of Thermopylae: Leonidas the Spartan King" by Alan Bristor occupies a well-deserved place as a 5-star supplement to the epic history of Thermopylae. I highly recommend this book to students of Classical studies, fans of ancient Greek history, lovers of Spartan lore, and modern-day soldiers who want to experience the brotherhood of warriors fighting one of the earliest wars for the freedoms we inherited with the birth of Western Civilization.

[Jennifer Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read from this autor and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait for read other book from this great writer! Amazing job! definitely a must read!. 5/5 A fantastic story that has it all! I was very delightfully surprised by the unique and original way the story of Thermopylae war from the perspective of Leonidas was presented in this book. Very original while still being historically correct.

[kathy poulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leonidas, King of Sparta

I chose 5 stars because this is a fresh account, for me, of the Greek forces's Philotimo at Thermopalaye. This story is told in the first person by King Leonidas. Well worth reading.

[Robert Hausladen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving Account

Of course it is not possible to know the words and actions from a battle with no survivors, but this account fits the fighting styles the Greeks likely used. It easily allowed me to feel the history.