The Gates of Fire

This fictional tale recounting the history of the Battle of Thermopylae is the backdrop for Steven Pressfield’s Gates of Fire.  We listened to this book while driving back and forth to DC taking my son Alex to visit G’Town, CUA (my alma mater), and Loyola MD.  A hard one to listen to I think…. You have a lot going on in Thermopylae (which was the only way into Greece for the enemy) where the Greeks, with only five to seven thousand troops, are to take on the Persian army of over two million!!  But the Greeks have a few hundred Spartan soldiers to lead the way.  Getting through the narrow mountain way into Greece would prove challenging where the enemy would need to ensure they didn't fall off the cliff and into the sea which allowed the Greeks and their allies to ward off the enemy.  A pretty detailed description is provided regarding the training and battles of the disciplined Spartan warriors.  King Xerxes, the Persian leader, shows his commitment to the passionate leader Xeones when he is wounded in battle.  The author is not afraid to share the 20^th century expletives of the B.C. war heroes in action. The book exemplifies the Battle of Thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic, home grown, army of democratically freemen defending their native land. It also illustrates the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as ways of “beating the odds” as the Greeks used their courage against huge odds in the seemingly one-sided battle.
For me it was a “take me back" to West Civ. Intro class in college.  Some of the names started running in my old brain.  I did well in the class, but not my thing completely.  A rather quick listen, though again, maybe the book would be more engaging.  Fights and army stories don’t seem to do well driving in a car.  I’d take a pass on this one.