Gates of Fire
An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
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Gates of Fire
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Narrated by:
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Derek Jacobi
About this listen
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “Steven Pressfield brings the battle of Thermopylae to brilliant life.”—Pat Conroy
At Thermopylae, a rocky mountain pass in northern Greece, the feared and admired Spartan soldiers stood three hundred strong. Theirs was a suicide mission, to hold the pass against the invading millions of the mighty Persian army.
Day after bloody day they withstood the terrible onslaught, buying time for the Greeks to rally their forces. Born into a cult of spiritual courage, physical endurance, and unmatched battle skill, the Spartans would be remembered for the greatest military stand in history—one that would not end until the rocks were awash with blood, leaving only one gravely injured Spartan squire to tell the tale....
Critic reviews
"Derek Jacobi is brilliant: his soldiers are terrifyingly gruff, and his breathless account of the fighting is so vivid that one can almost smell the blood." ( Audiofile)
"An incredibly gripping, moving, and literate work of art. Rarely does an author manage to re-create a moment in history with such mastery, authority, and psychological insight." (Nelson DeMille)
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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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-05-19
Excellent, but it is the shorten version
The abridged version. Unanbridged does not seem to be available for UK at the time of this review.
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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
- brian cahill
- 23-04-24
phenomenal!!
fantastic book. a great story with really well structured character arcs. Great narration too - my favourite historical fiction
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Asmodeous
- 27-10-16
Awesome book but sadly abridged...
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes due to the amazing narration and wonderful story but sadly it is abridged to the point of distracting from the enjoyment. So many fine aspects to the story are sadly missing.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The Narrator.
Have you listened to any of Derek Jacobi’s other performances? How does this one compare?
As good as the others I have listened to - please put his version of the Illiad on audible.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Moving,exciting and a wonderful example of first class narrating. Pity this is abridged if it were unabridged it would have been five stars in every area and one of the very best audio books in existence.
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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
- Amazon Customer
- 05-06-23
An incredible story - well told!
One of the best audiobooks I’ve listened this year. It’s dramatic, deep and contains some ever-relevant philosophical ideas that can still be used in modern-day life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Louise
- 07-08-07
An Atmospheric, Palpable Epic
Gates of Fire is a truly atmospheric and palpable epic made all the richer for being read by Derek Jacobi. I have felt as though I were watching from the side lines to the point where I could almost smell the blood, see battles, hear the roars of the Spartan Warriors, and feel the squelch of mud and sludge between my own toes. I could feel my emotions get entangled with the characters, as I became totally absorbed in the book. Steven Pressfield's insight into the Spartans' lifestyle is incredible, and his book is a great work of art. This is a truly wonderful audio book that I will repeatedly listen to.
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2 people 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
- Alex
- 29-08-18
Amazing!
As a Greek it gives me goosebumps to think that the events in this book are to a large extent the true history of my ancestors. An absolutely epic tale of brave men with courage, strength, virtue and honor and an interesting story of ancient military life. Definitely recommend to anyone not only for the good story but also because of the author's exploration of various themes revolving around various life virtues that really make you think about your life but also about our society as a whole. Truly an amazing book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Gareth
- 18-12-09
Great book, shame it's abridged
Great book, great narrator. First book of his i have read really enjoyed it.....almost as much as Valerio Manfredi's book
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1 person found this helpful
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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
- Simon Binns
- 14-10-20
Very enjoyable
Derek Jacobi - legend. Made the characters come alive. The book can't be described as completely historically accurate, but still an interesting story set around the events of the battle of 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
- Tatiana Mota
- 04-04-21
Beautifully written
A classic and a pleasure to hear, as well as any book from Mr. Presfield.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs P
- 08-02-19
I loved it
Bright fully to life in this medium beautifully and expertly by Derek Jacobi. Thank you.
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