First published 1972
Themistokles stands on the deck of his warship, watching the Persian fleet approach across the wine-dark sea. The Athenian statesman has spent years building his city's naval power, but now he faces his greatest test. As Greece confronts the might of Xerxes' empire, Themistokles must outmaneuver not only foreign enemies but also rivals within Athens itself. The politician who championed the common people against the aristocrats finds himself caught between military necessity and democratic ideals. His tactical brilliance at sea means nothing if he cannot survive the shifting alliances of Athenian politics. Walsh brings the marble statues of classical antiquity to life, showing how one man's vision shaped the destiny of the Greek world. This portrait of ancient leadership reveals the human cost of greatness and the price of defending democracy against tyranny.
Genres: historical-fiction, military-fiction, political-thriller, ancient-history
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-machinations
Setting: Athens, Greece, Persia
Period: Ancient Greece
Hardcover · Macmillan (London)