Persian Fire cover art

Persian Fire

The First World Empire, Battle for the West

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Persian Fire

By: Tom Holland
Narrated by: Mark Meadows, Tom Holland
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About this listen

 Tom Holland's bestselling account of the world's very first clash of civilisations between the Persians and the Greeks in 480BC

'Magisterial... told with great authority and a novelistic colour and verve'
Books of the Year, Independent

'Holland has a rare eye for detail, drama and the telling anecdote'
Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph

'An unequivocal argument for the relevance of ancient history'
Observer

'Holland brings this tumultuous, epoch-making period dazzlingly to life'
William Napier, Independent on Sunday

In the fifth century BC, a global superpower was determined to bring truth and order to what it regarded as two terrorist states. The superpower was Persia, incomparably rich in ambition, gold and men. The terrorist states were Athens and Sparta, eccentric cities in a poor and mountainous backwater: Greece. The story of how their citizens took on the most powerful man on the planet is as heart-stopping as any episode in history.©2005 Tom Holland (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK Ancient Greece Ancient History Greek Mythology Ancient Greece

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All stars
Most relevant  
As always, Tom Holland produced a magnificent narrative history. He lays out the development of two empires interwoven by geography and ambition.

Excellent narrative history of the Persian Empire

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Really interesting and brilliantly narrated. History told as a story. Awakened an interest in a period of history I knew little about. Highly recommend

Gripping from start to finish

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Really enjoyed the viewpoint expressed in the book. Could al most be at the battles and see how they were won.

Persian history

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Excellent history of a pivotal period in history. Amazing how much we know about a period so long ago. Brilliantly narrated; a very enjoyable listen.

Excellent history, brilliantly narrated

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The depth of detail, and the lessons were still learning from them today. Having heard many of these histories before, it's always interesting to hear another take, and find out something of the perspectives of the time.

First Tom Holland

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Brilliant prose brings the Persian's attempts to conquest Greece to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely listen again.

Excellent

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Maybe it was inevitable that Greece history would feature so much as that is what we are all steeped in. Persian history is so foggy.

Persian fire or Greek history?

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I’ll be honest. The transition from the author reading the introduction to the main narrator at the start of chapter 1 was very jolting and I almost sought a refund.

At first, I found the narrator annoying and difficult to focus on. It felt like I was being read a story by a teacher or a parent rather than being presented with a serious history.

But…

once I adapted to his voice (and played it at 1.2x speed) I actually really enjoyed his narration. So if you have that experience too, bear with it.

As a history, it was fabulous. Holland has a beautiful ability to communicate serious history in an almost novelistic tone. For instance, his descriptions of battle scenes and characters clearly relies unashamedly on imagination, and is not told as dry, objective fact. He imagines the emotions and the sounds and smells and all this brings to life what is an incredible story.

In retrospect, I can see why this narrator was chosen since he too brings a storytelling feel to history.

Right, now onto the next Tom Holland book!!

Almost refunded, glad I didn’t.

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very good, what else can I say. A Greek and a Persian walk into a bar

Persian fire

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encompassing the key players in a vital time of history, good coverage of background and a nice level of personal stories included.

a history of the World

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