Gates Of Fire

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield is acknowledged as a classic historical novel, retelling the epic story of the Battle of Thermopylae. This Sunday Times bestseller captures the breathtaking tale of the legendary Spartans—men and women who shaped our history and have become as immortal as their gods.

"Breathtakingly brilliant... this is a work of rare genius. Savour it!" —David Gemmell

"A tale worthy of Homer, a timeless epic of man and war, exquisitely researched and boldly written. Pressfield has created a new classic." —Stephen Coonts

"A really impressive book - imaginatively framed, historically detailed and a really gripping narrative." —Reader review

"Beautifully written and a great joy to read." —Reader review

Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by,
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.

In 480 BC, at a bleak pass in eastern Greece, three hundred Spartan warriors faced King Xerxes of Persia's massive army, rumoured to be over a million strong. Their orders were simple—to delay the enemy for as long as possible, buying time for the main Greek armies to mobilize.

For six days, the Spartans held the invaders at bay. In the final hours, with their shields broken and their swords and spears shattered, they fought with their bare hands before being overwhelmed. It was a battle that would become synonymous with extraordinary courage, heroism, and self-sacrifice. It was the battle called Thermopylae.