The Gates of Athens

By: Conn Iggulden

Narrated by: George Blagden

Evoking two of the most famous battles of the Ancient World - the Battle of Marathon and the Last Stand at Thermopylae - The Gates of Athens is a bravura piece of storytelling by a well acclaimed master of the historical adventure novel.

In the new epic historical novel by New York Times best-selling author Conn Iggulden, in ancient Greece an army of slaves gathers on the plains of Marathon....

Under Darius the Great, King of Kings, the mighty Persian army - swollen by 10,000 warriors known as The Immortals - have come to subjugate the Greeks. In their path, vastly outnumbered, stands an army of freeborn Athenians. Among them is a clever, fearsome, and cunning soldier-statesman, Xanthippus. Against all odds, the Athenians emerge victorious.

Yet people soon forget that freedom is bought with blood.

Ten years later, Xanthippus watches helplessly as Athens succumbs to the bitter politics of factionalism. Traitors and exiles abound. Trust is at a low ebb when the Persians cross the Hellespont in ever greater numbers in their second attempt to raze Athens to the ground.

Facing overwhelming forces by land and sea, the Athenians call on their Spartan allies for assistance - to delay the Persians at the treacherous pass of Thermopylae...

©2021 Conn Iggulden (P)2021 Recorded Books

A Great Story

A great story well told. It is amazing how a classic story can find new life.

Very true to the real events!

Great book and I appreciate him keeping as close as he could to the real events and time, I wish the book would have been longer and more detailed in the battle of Thermopylae although I do realize this book is more about the Athenians then the Spartans!

Another great classic historical novel

In my humble opinion, along with Bernard Cornwall, Connor Iggulden is the best author of historical novels alive. I have read many of Iggulden’s books, and I believe this one is his best. Ancient history fascinates me and this story brings Marathon and Thermopylae to life. The narration is wonderful and the story is driven by complex characters. I love this book and I highly recommend it.

The story performance was read slow.

The narrator seemed to be reading the story to slowly. I was forced to push the speed to 1.45 speed to make it tolerable.

Excellent historical fiction

This is my first time listening to this author, I'm glad I discovered him. Very well written, historically accurate, and very entertaining. The reader gave an excellent performance.