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Gates of Fire
- An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
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Gates of Fire
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Summary
Gates of Fire puts you at the side of valiant Spartan warriors in 480 BC for the bloody, climactic battle at Thermopylae. There, a few hundred of Sparta’s finest sacrificed their lives to hold back the invading Persian millions. The time they bought enabled the Greeks to rally - saving, according to ancient historian Herodotus, “Western democracy and freedom from perishing in the cradle.” How did the Spartans accomplish this superhuman feat? This is what the King of Persia hopes to learn from the sole Spartan survivor. The squire’s story indeed reveals the incredible rigors of Spartan training - and more importantly, how the whole culture fostered the mindset of fearlessness.
Steven Pressfield has skillfully combined scholarship and storytelling to bring the whole world of ancient Sparta brilliantly to life. George Guidall’s dramatic delivery enhances the richness and feeling of this inspired recreation.
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What listeners say about Gates of Fire
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dustin
- 10-03-14
Wow, did that really happen?
What made the experience of listening to Gates of Fire the most enjoyable?
To know that it is recounting of actual events that changed the world forever - brilliantly detailed stirring a palette of emotions throughout.
Who was your favorite character and why?
It has to be Xeones for his intimacy with the reader.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
When the Spartans raid the tent of King Xerxes.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes if only. My wife almost divorced me some days.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Thorne7
- 17-02-20
Hoped for more
It's strange to write a 3 star review when so many of the others are 5 stars. I feel like i'm missing something here...I just couldn't engage with the story or connect with any of the characters. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and it's basically all I read/ listen to. Well researched yes, but difficult to follow and felt like a slog to finish.
As for George Guidal ('the world’s most acclaimed and prolific audiobook narrator') he was OK, but no attempt made to differentiate between characters with accents, different tones of voice etc.
Try Killer of Men (Christian Cameron) for a proper yarn set around the same time.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Bm Cook
- 30-03-22
Monotone ruins a great tale
I’ve read and rated this novel in my top five ever, however, this rendition is a dreadful corruption by one of the blandest narrators I’ve ever heard.
It’s a real shame that a story written so engagingly and transportatively is ruined so completely here. He sounds distant, bored, and the emphasis and grandeur is just all one great flat line… it became background noise, and a boring background at that…
Avoid, and buy to read. You will not regret owning this novel. You won’t finish this audiobook.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- WessexFyrd
- 20-01-21
wow
what a book, I become attached to the spartan characters and their journey, and was inspired by their fight to the death against overwhelming odds, this was an emotional ride
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-11-19
Great read
Really skillfully written. I was engaged for the entire story, which was as moving as it was thrilling.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael O'Callaghan
- 11-03-19
stunning
amongst the most evocative and stunning things I've ever read. each sentence seems to be painstakingly and lovingly crafted. beautiful.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 22-06-16
excellent
Enjoyed the storyline very much. The description of their lives and the finale made me feel I was there
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 14-02-24
Epic
Absolutely brilliant book. Storytelling at it's best! Great narration - Thouroughly reccommebd to anyone interested in the Greco Persian wars, especially Thermopylae
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robertas
- 15-01-24
Honour
Tell the Spartans or stranger passing by, that obedient by our laws we lye. Man’s honour was so grand.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Charles
- 02-11-23
Amazing way to consume that era of human history
One of the best historical fictions I've read. Was recommended by a friend and I can honestly say they are now my go to person for book recs if this book is anything to go by.
Touches on some difficult subjects but in a respectful way which I really appreciate.
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