The Siege and Plague of Athens

by Ed Hyland

It is 431 BC. Athens and Sparta are on the brink of war. Efforts to keep the peace are not successfuland soon they are in open conflict.In 430 BC, the Spartan Army is at the walls of Athens. A young aristocrat called Thucydides stands ready tohold off the Spartans as the last Athenian citizens flee into the city. Thucydides embarks on a number of missionsto help the war rooting out corruption, securing funds to pay for the war and fighting Sparta and her allies.Meanwhile with thousands confined in the city, a terrible plague breaks out and people begin to die - soon the death tollrises quickly. The rule of law is stretched to its limits as society begins to break down. People do as they wish and self-preservation becomes the order of the day.Finally, at Potidaea Thucydides helps to assault the city but his efforts are hindered as the plague strikes down the army.Can Athens survive the plague and defeat the Spartans?This is a fictional account of Thucydides’ role in the Peloponnesian War based on events described in his book of the same name.

462 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2021

Reviews

[Abigail Yardimci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction isn’t usually my genre but I took a gamble on this book because it looked so intriguing. I’m so glad I did because I enjoyed it thoroughly from cover to cover. The writing is fast-paced, intricate and visceral. I thought I’d get lost amongst all the character and historical references but it was quite the opposite - I was taken along on an epic journey of war and plague. This book isn’t for the feint hearted but I’d recommend it to anybody with even the vaguest interest in Ancient Greece. It’s incredibly graphic, but I found that only added to the authenticity and world-building. Brilliant!