5.0 out of 5
stars Beautifully
written!, March 20, 2013
By
Leonidas "Sokrat" (Kiev, Ukraine) - See
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review is from: Leonidas of Sparta: A Heroic King (Kindle Edition)
Beautifully written with an attention to historical detail and accuracy. A
unique insight into Spartan society. The final battle scene is also gripping. I
couldn't put the book down.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but just a trifle constrained by the rich ancient sources,
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In writing the third volume of her Leonidas trilogy, Helena Schrader finds
herself, paradoxically, to some degree constrained by the wealth of ancient
sources at her disposal---Herodotus, Thucydides, and Plutarch above all (the
last, particularly, in his sayings of the Spartans and Spartan women). Schrader
more or less has to get all of this evidence in somehow---it wouldn't do to
leave out a real live attested utterance of Leonidas or Gorgo---so she finds
herself with the task of devising situations to account for these apothegms, to
some degree to the detriment of her narrative flow. Sometimes, as we all know,
less is more and more is less, even when historical (or quasi- or putatively
historical) sources are concerned. That said, though, she does her usual good
job. As a confessed Spartanophile---I just finished teaching a course on Athens
and Sparta---I find her vision of Sparta, by and large, and, indeed, more than
by and large, persuasive. I think she gets the tone of things pretty much right.
The glittering reputation of Sparta was not based on nothing, and it has long
been to me very striking that, so far as we can tell, for virtually all of the
late 500s and for most of the 400s as well the other poleis of Greece very
clearly and very strongly favored and respected Sparta more than they did
Athens. From a contemporary vantage point that seems almost inconceivable, but
Schrader does a fine job of suggesting why it may have been---and justly
been---so.
5.0 out of 5
stars This is a
Great Read, March 4, 2013
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review is from: Leonidas
of Sparta: A Peerless Peer (Kindle Edition)
This series is very
well put together and enjoyable to read. The book works well as part of the
series or it can stand alone . The character development and history capture a
vivid picture of Spartan life. I am looking forward to the next book in the
series.
5.0 out of 5
stars Wonderful
Book! Wonderful Series!!!, December 18, 2012
By
srh2767 "Steven" (Trenton Illinois) - See
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review is from: Leonidas of Sparta: A Peerless Peer (Paperback)
This book is the second in the series. Dr Schrader does a wonderful job
telling the story of Sparta, Leonidas, and Gorgo. Even if you are not into
history and ancient Greece, these books are still a wonderful read. I’ve read
several book on Sparta and ancient Greece and Dr Schrader took the time and
energy to research all the facts.
5.0 out of 5
stars Leonidas of
Sparta a peerless peer, September 6, 2012
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review is from: Leonidas
of Sparta: A Peerless Peer (Kindle Edition)
Great boo,. One of my
favorites. I could not put this book down and ended up reading both this book
and the second book in 3 days. Can't wait for the last book of this series to
come out. Thanks for the good read, I'm a fan.