Book report: Gates of Fire
Reconstructing the details of the battles, which took place long-long time ago, not even in the new era is not an easy thing for historians, not to mention authors who struggle to describe the course of events both authentically and vividly. However, Steven Pressfield managed to create a novel, seen through the eyes of the only survivor Xeones in the battle of Thermopylae in the year 480 B.C. In other words, the book to be presented here is ‘Gates of Fire’ written in 1998 in the genre of the historical fiction.
The name ‘Gates of Fire’ or as some researchers say ‘hot gates’ refer to the city of Thermopylae, the main theatre of operation in the epic battle between two powerful rivals Persia and Sparta. However, the forces were not equal: there was a small group of 300 Spartans versus massive troops of Persians. The outcome was predetermined by two main factors. A narrow path between the sea and the mountains could not be a benign position for Greeks to fight against the advancing Persian army. But what is more tragic, the invaders could be stopped if one of the Greek soldiers had not betrayed his army, by showing the Persians where to block the enemies’ retreat. Taken unawares and having nowhere to hide, the Spartans fell in an unequal action.
Pressfield’s book is not only about the war, constant fights and blood. The reader is made fully aware in what way the Spartan society existed, what it was like to be the part of it and how miserable the man could be, being an outcast. The author tells about such a phenomenon in the Greek’s culture as agoge, a specially designed military program for all Spartan boys to go through in order to become the real citizens. Apart from that, we get some information about the Persian history viewed through the eyes of Xeones, who described how their troops headed by Xerxes, proceeded. The author brings a vivid picture of how the wealthy men were obliged to defend their countries and how they remained devoted to the motherland till the very end. It is necessary to note that Greeks’ defeat in that battle only roused the hatred towards the enemies and consequently led to the victory in the Peloponnesian War 50 years later.
It is not an easy thing to perceive this book as it is overloaded with detailed descriptions of battles, the ways of how the Ancients organized their armies and other historical facts.
It is a curious to mention that ‘Gates of Fire’ is included in the reading list for the Marine Corps. It is to be studied at the United States Naval Academy and West Point. The book was highly appraised by critics and positively taken by the audience. Having immediately become a best-seller, it occupied its place in one row with other classical books of this genre.
Works cited
Steven Pressfield. ‘Gates of Fire’. New York: Doubleday, 1998. Print
