Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Gates of Fire

Rate this book
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. . . .

“A novel that is intricate and arresting and, once begun, almost impossible to put down.”—Daily News

“A timeless epic of man and war . . . Pressfield has created a new classic deserving a place beside the very best of the old.”—Stephen Coonts

526 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 1998

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Steven Pressfield

73 books5,284 followers
I was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1943 to a Navy father and mother.

I graduated from Duke University in 1965.

In January of 1966, when I was on the bus leaving Parris Island as a freshly-minted Marine, I looked back and thought there was at least one good thing about this departure. "No matter what happens to me for the rest of my life, no one can ever send me back to this freakin' place again."

Forty years later, to my surprise and gratification, I am far more closely bound to the young men of the Marine Corps and to all other dirt-eating, ground-pounding outfits than I could ever have imagined.

GATES OF FIRE is one reason. Dog-eared paperbacks of this tale of the ancient Spartans have circulated throughout platoons of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since the first days of the invasions. E-mails come in by hundreds. GATES OF FIRE is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Reading list. It is taught at West Point and Annapolis and at the Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico. TIDES OF WAR is on the curriculum of the Naval War College.

From 2nd Battalion/6th Marines, which calls itself "the Spartans," to ODA 316 of the Special Forces, whose forearms are tattooed with the lambda of Lakedaemon, today's young warriors find a bond to their ancient precursors in the historical narratives of these novels.

My struggles to earn a living as a writer (it took seventeen years to get the first paycheck) are detailed in my 2002 book, THE WAR OF ART.

I have worked as an advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout and attendant in a mental hospital. I have picked fruit in Washington state and written screenplays in Tinseltown.

With the publication of THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE in 1995, I became a writer of books once and for all.

My writing philosophy is, not surprisingly, a kind of warrior code — internal rather than external — in which the enemy is identified as those forms of self-sabotage that I have labeled "Resistance" with a capital R (in THE WAR OF ART) and the technique for combatting these foes can be described as "turning pro."

I believe in previous lives.

I believe in the Muse.

I believe that books and music exist before they are written and that they are propelled into material being by their own imperative to be born, via the offices of those willing servants of discipline, imagination and inspiration, whom we call artists. My conception of the artist's role is a combination of reverence for the unknowable nature of "where it all comes from" and a no-nonsense, blue-collar demystification of the process by which this mystery is approached. In other words, a paradox.

There's a recurring character in my books named Telamon, a mercenary of ancient days. Telamon doesn't say much. He rarely gets hurt or wounded. And he never seems to age. His view of the profession of arms is a lot like my conception of art and the artist:

"It is one thing to study war, and another to live the warrior's life."

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
22,127 (57%)
4 stars
11,141 (29%)
3 stars
3,846 (10%)
2 stars
868 (2%)
1 star
372 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,709 reviews
Profile Image for Petrik.
725 reviews51.2k followers
December 10, 2022
One of the two best standalone books that I’ve ever read so far; this is truly historical fiction at its finest.

Lancelot by Giles Kristian was an amazing standalone and now, I’ve found Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. I’m starting to feel that historical fiction is the right genre to visit when I’m looking for amazing standalone books. In my opinion, both Lancelot and Gates of Fire achieved what I think at this point is impossible to find in SFF (my favorite genre) books: a standalone masterpiece. With fiery temerity, I’m not even afraid to claim these two as the best standalone books out of every genre I’ve ever read so far.

I could try to tell you all the incredible building blocks that make up this book and warrant these high praises but believe me that I will fail. Let me instead try to constrict my review to two factors: the philosophical content and the prose.

“The hardship of the exercises is intended less to strengthen the back than to toughen the mind. The Spartans say that any army may win while it still has its legs under it; the real test comes when all strength is fled and the men must produce victory on will alone.”


If I’m not mistaken, Gates of Fire is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ Reading list. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because the philosophical content in this book is simply a jaw-dropping, resonating masterpiece. I’ve never been a soldier or marine, and I sure as hell don’t want to become one; the fear that would come with enlisting would probably make me shit myself to death. I’m always disgusted at the atrocities that humans can do to each other in the times of war. Ironically, wars also bring into focus how amazing and inspiring humanity can be. This book counters the fear and terror of war with perseverance, strength, and flaming resilience. Despite not being a soldier, I do believe that there are tons of incredibly positive messages you can get from reading this book. For example, the Spartans’ valorous attitude in the face of dominance and tyranny is something that's truly worth adapting to your life.

These results were possible only because of Pressfield’s usage of language. The prose was evocative and powerful, capable of igniting a variety of emotions. Pressfield also truly dived into the philosophy and psychology of the Spartans extremely well. Every word—even when they were info dumping—is imbued with a savage gravitational pull that utterly gripped me. Every scene was important in order to reach the culmination found in the final sections of the book, which was awe-inspiring.

Pressfield’s portrayal on The Battle of Thermopylae captured the power and strength of the Spartans. Told in vivid details that seems to transport all your senses into the book, you’ll feel the battle, tragedy, doom, and hope unfolding right in front of your eyes. You won’t be able to stop reading about the savage nature of humanity as it inflicts devastation and the counter method employed by the Spartans. I’m serious, these Spartans in a phalanx formation were a combination of almost literal demigods; functioning together with the same beating heart to become a windmill of death and defending their compatriots while killing anyone who approached them. A kindling ember of hope was lit by the 300 Spartans from the battle that results in a deluge of blood in the gates of fire, turning flesh and blood into gifts for Hades. This battle eventually would become the turning point for a future victory against the Persians and I enjoyed every moment of reading this book.

Picture: The Battle of Thermopylae



Suffice it to say that Gates of Fire has become one of the best escapism experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Don’t let the tragedy stop you from reading this book, because beneath the gores and battle, the nature of this book was hopeful and inspiring. There were myriads of incredibly positive messages in this book and I’ll definitely let them become a part of me as I move forward in my life.

Read this book and adapt the Spartans’ unconquerable strength and wisdom. Read this book at the risk of being invigorated, and adapt the Spartans’ valorous attitude. Read this book when you want to defeat Phobos (fear) and know in the end that strength in camaraderie, love, and good leadership always have a lot of power to pull you out of tough situations. I’m closing this review with one quote about leadership, it’s a bit long but trust me that you won’t regret reading it.

“A king does not abide within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men's loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the sweat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them...A king does not expend his substance to enslave men, but by his conduct and example makes them free.”


You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
Profile Image for Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews.
310 reviews5,700 followers
November 18, 2022
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.

An excellent historical fantasy that tells the story of "300" from the eyes of a servant in the Spartan army.

This is only the first Historical Fiction book that I have read, and given that I liked (but didn't love) the first one I read, I had mixed feelings going into this one. Over the past few years I have been exclusively a fantasy reader, but I am also Greek and have always been fascinated by the Battle of Thermopyle - which this book is about. Ultimately while I do think there were some issues that prevented me from giving this a 5/5, I thought this was a riveting story that was excellently written and would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind reading books with lots of violence and profanity.

I thought the choices the author made in terms of how this story was told was brilliant. This doesn't take the "300" route and tell the story from the perspective of King Leonidas - but instead tells it from the perspective of a servant in the army. This made the book feel much more alive and gave a richer sense of what the common soldier was going through than would have been otherwise possible. I also loved that this story used a framing narrative, where the story is being told by this Greek servant to the Persian forces after the Persians won the battle. It allowed the author to make frequent jumps from the present push into Greece, as well as spending most the time going back in time to tell the story from the Greek side.

Strangely enough, I actually thought that the strongest parts of this book were the parts leading up to the battle itself. Learning the backstory of this Greek servant, and seeing the training regimes of the Greek soldiers was absolutely wonderful in every way. And while the battle itself was interesting, it's also the part that I already knew so a lot of the sense of wonder was removed and resulted in me just wanting the battle to speed along so I could get back to learning more about the parts I was not clear on.

I did find myself a bit underwhelmed by the ending of this book. The ending of the battle itself is not the end of this overall conflict. There was more too it that involved the Greeks ultimately repelling the Persians later on due to the efforts made at Thermopylae. But these events are very quickly skimmed. And while I'm sure most people that read this are done with the story after the central battle was concluded, I kept wanting more and feeling a bit cheated.

Ultimately though, this is a wonderfully crafted book that is rich on detail - that any fan of history (and likely people that aren't) will get great enjoyment out of what Steven Pressfield has written here.
Profile Image for Randy.
12 reviews12 followers
October 23, 2013
Gates of Fire is one of my favorite books...ever. I first read it back when I was in the Marine Corps. It was on the Commandant’s Reading List for a time - required reading for any motivated teufelhund. The author himself is a former Marine, and draws upon his experiences to create a compellingly insightful look at the mental and psychological makeup of a soldier. The concepts of self-sacrifice, service, community, camaraderie, and duty are the thematic core of this historic novel. Steven Pressfield does more than just tell the story of what happened during the battle of Thermopylae (which in and of itself is a phenomenal story), he uses it as a backdrop for studying the psychological makeup of what a soldier should be. There is more philosophy in this book than one would expect from a war novel, but this is why I consider it both insightful, and at times inspiring…even after the fifth read. This is a great book for anyone who is thinking of, or soon will be joining military service. Anyone wishing to gain insight on how a military is supposed to function should read this book. Anyone wishing insight to the mind of a soldier should read this book. Those who are confused as to why a friend or loved one wants to join the military can very likely gain their answers from this book.
Profile Image for William Gwynne.
401 reviews2,157 followers
February 27, 2024
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne

Gates of Fire is one of the most extraordinary books I have ever read. This is a book about friendship, camaraderie, purpose, sacrifice, fear and love. It is a book that examines the human condition, exploring three themes through a cast of incredibly vivid characters who each leap off of the page with a feeling of authenticity. It is, simply put, one of a kind.

“The hardship of the exercises is intended less to strengthen the back than to toughen the mind. The Spartans say that any army may win while it still has its legs under it; the real test comes when all strength is fled and the men must produce victory on will alone.”

Gates of Fire tells the tale of Thermopyalae. How a small number of Spartans and allies historically stood against the hordes of the Persian Empire at "The Hot Gates". This is told as a chronicle, by a survivor of the battle, so that they are recounting their own small role in this landmark and history-changing battle as well as the roles of those around him. It is a coming of age story as we learn how our narrator found himself in this position, from his childhood to the battle itself.

“Fear conquers fear. This is how we Spartans do it, counterpoising to fear of death a greater fear: that of dishonour. Of exclusion from the pack.”

Despite of course already knowing how Thermopalae ends, Pressfield still manages to craft a story filled with such tension and immersion. He uses this dramatic irony masterfully, manipulating our emotions as we swiftly become immersed in this world and the concepts it is circulating. If you feel hesitant to read this for fear of the end having no payoff, please reconsider. It has one of the most powerful endings I have had the pleasure to read.

This is a character driven story. It is about what drives us as individuals, and how important friendship is. It looks at the power of being a part of something greater than itself, and it discusses these philosophical topics in such a natural and organic way. It comes straight from our characters, so that these themes do not detract from the story, but are used to enhance our emotion and understanding of the cast of characters.

“As all born teachers, he was primarily a student.”

Gates of Fire is such a brilliant book. It is about comradeship, belonging, sacrifice and love. The way Steven Pressfield tells this story has such an enchanting quality about it. It is written masterfully. But that magical quality does not detract from the brutality and horror that is also shared within these pages. We see moments of absolute virtue, to those of a despicable nature. But all of these are captivating, and amalgamates to create one of the best books I have ever read. Some of the best moments in any book. Some of the best characters. One of the best premises. All comes together to form a story that is truly masterful, in every way.

My brother and I talk about Gates of Fire on our channel... The Brothers Gwynne
Profile Image for Blaine.
834 reviews956 followers
December 11, 2021
Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie.
Gates of Fire is a work of historical fiction that tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae. The history itself is well known. In the fall of 480 B.C., King Xerxes led an army of 2 million soldiers in their second attempt to invade Greece. King Leonidas of Sparta led 300 Spartans and a total force of around 4,000 Greek soldiers to engage the Persians at Thermopylae (the “Hot Gates,” in Greek), a natural choke point between a mountain wall and a seaside cliff that would reduce the Persians’ numerical advantage. After four days of holding the Gates while the Persians massed, and repelling the invaders for another two days in pitched battle, the Greeks were betrayed by a man who showed the Persian Immortals a mountain trail to sneak around the Greek lines and attack them from behind. Despite knowledge that they could hold the Gates no longer, Leonidas—who had received an oracle that either he would die or Greece would fall—sent the other Greek forces home while the remaining Spartans and Thespians fought to the death to protect their escape, delay the Persians as long as possible, and inspire a nation to defend themselves from Persian rule. And their sacrifice worked. A few weeks later, the Greek Navy routed the Persian fleet at Salamis and, the following year, a unified Greek army ended the Persian invasion at the Battle of Plataea.

The set up of Gates of Fire is that Xeones, a Spartan squire who survived the battle, has been asked by King Xerxes to speak about the Spartans who had proved so formidable. Xeones tells a winding tale about the fighting between Greek city-states, how he came to Sparta at 12 after his own city fell, the agoge school that trained Spartan boys to become Spartan soldiers, and the women who form the true backbone of the city. Xeones provides detailed backstories for the characters who ultimately played a role at Thermopylae, both the historical ones (King Leonidas and the Spartan officer Dienekes) and the fictional ones (most notably the Olympic champion Polynikes, young warrior Alexandros, the bastard Dekton, and the Lady Arete).

There are a number of things that make Gates of Fire work so well. First and foremost is the rich detail in the novel, covering everything from day-to-day life in Greece to the presentation of the battle itself. There’s discussion of not just the military tactics used by the Spartans, but their ethos, philosophies, and world views that led them to the Gates. The fighting here is brutal and bloody, completely realistic. It’s war, but thought of and presented as work. Even though you know going in that the Spartans are doomed to provide their noble sacrifice, the novel makes it both grittier and somehow more human and noble.

So, as the Spartans would apparently say, close your cheesepipe and “wake up to this.” Gates of Fire is an extraordinary work of historical fiction about a battle and defensive stand that Hollywood would reject as unrealistic if it weren’t true. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Terry.
388 reviews88 followers
December 21, 2019
Wow, I loved this. To imagine the reality of this tale to be rooted in real history is beyond my ability. I’m writing this short and inconsequential (in historical perspective) review with tears in my eyes, tears of awe and respect for the warriors of Sparta. May the memories of their deeds of honor, bravery and valor never be lost. This particular telling (and the audiobook) is terrific. If historical fiction is something you might enjoy, do not miss this book. 5.0/5.0 stars.
Profile Image for Michelle F.
232 reviews92 followers
February 17, 2022
Remarkably engaging, and remarkably bloody!

While I happily delve into historical fiction on an occasionally regular basis and also enjoy some rousing battles in the more speculative genres, I've never found historical military fiction to be particularly entertaining. This buddy-read turned out to be an outlier. I found Gates of Fire to be nuanced and thoughtfully appealing.

This is the battle of Thermopyle (think 300) recounted by Xeones – a servant of the Spartan army – to the invading Persian emperor Xerxes. Xeones is the only survivor found among the many Greek corpses after the notorious battle, and he is saved from death so that the Persians can get a better idea of the spirit behind the incredible valor and skill of the incredibly efficient Spartans. Xeones' perspective is an interesting one: after being driven from his own home and losing most of his family in a more localized territorial battle, the young boy Xeones ultimately chooses to place himself into servitude in Sparta for the opportunity to learn to fight and model himself after the renowned warriors of that land. His narrative spans many years prior to the big battle at the titular gates, and gives great context about the politics and fighting that precede it. Approaching the story from this angle is great for a reader like me, who is about as far away from a military mindset as a person can be. It also gives observational insight into Spartan ideologies that form the foundation of the unity of their brotherhood.

And ultimately that is what this book is about, though the battle at the Gates of Fire is given gruesome spotlight for the final third-ish of the story. It is about patriotic urges, the philosophies of heroics and fear, and the incredible bond that ties the defending army together. This is powerfully conveyed in Pressfield's writing. It is little wonder that this novel is cited as a favourite of many a Serviceman.

Overall, a moving book to read, though the field of battle is horrific and gory and sad. There are a few slow moments in the middle which still add to the characterizations that are vital for this story to be as affecting as it is.

Having stepped away from the immediate experience, I can feel myself start poking at it with my own ideals and questions and curiosities, but the writing is good, and the tale is both gripping and anthemic enough that I didn't stop to be my own objectionable and critical self while I was reading. I think that is a pretty strong achievement by the author.

If I allow myself to pick away at it in the back of my mind then an eventual reread might fare differently, but I really appreciated Gates of Fire and would absolutely recommend it to any fan of Historical War Fiction.
Profile Image for Edward.
430 reviews1,256 followers
August 23, 2021
Undoubtedly one of the greatest books ever written. Every page, every word feels as if it is a part of something truly special. The history, the characters, the philosophy and the heartbreak amounted to the perfect book.
Profile Image for Terri.
529 reviews264 followers
March 6, 2011
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said here on it's review page...ah, not much. :-)
It is a terrific book. Dense, and detailed and clever and, in many places, exhilarating. Sometimes I felt that the author was being too clever. Sacrificing flow for sometimes not so relevant story background. There is quite a lot of too-ing and fro-ing in this book. Jumping backwards and forwards between different times and sometimes it worked for me and sometimes it didn't. That is why I nearly gave Gates of Fire 4 stars instead of 5...but I didn't.
I didn't have a problem with the backwards and forwards through the meat of the book, but by the last third of the book, once it was time to leave for Thermopylae, and once they were there, the flow was often a bit too constricted by Pressfield jumping out of the tense rushing storyline, into other slower laid back storylines. It took a long while, it seemed, before the real battle of Thermopylae was fought. And when it was. My heart broke.
It is odd. You know the story of those three hundred. Knew their fate, but it didn't make it any easier when the time came for the end. They went to the Hot Gates to die, and die they did.
Pressfield is a man of high talent when it comes to writing and I can't believe it has taken me this long to finally read this book. But boy am I glad I did.
Profile Image for Giannis.
139 reviews28 followers
January 17, 2020
«Ξένε ανήγγειλε στους Λακαιδομόνιους πως κειτόμεθα εδώ, πιστοί στους νόμους τους». Έτσι λιτά και… λακωνικά τίμησαν οι αρχαίοι τους πεσόντες στις Θερμοπύλες.

Η άποψη μου για το βιβλίο θα είναι εξίσου λακωνική, όπως του αρμόζει.
Μακάρι η «αναγνωστική» χρονιά να συνεχιστεί με τέτοιου επιπέδου βιβλία!! Μόνο αυτό…
Profile Image for Smokey.
34 reviews5 followers
July 20, 2008
Soldiers are philosophers by trade, as opposed to nature. Whether they are gifted logicians or readers or not, their profession demands a close association with death and life, fear and courage, love and hate, joy and sorrow. A soldier gets acquainted with these, not as abstract ideas, but as intimate realities which are a part of the day-to-day environment.

When faced with such larger-than-life concepts, though, words often fail, no matter how important or meaningful a place they hold in every day life. I've tried once or twice to put some of this/these into words myself, because I felt a need to share with people outside my line of work just what it is that goes through our heads. We service-folk aren't mythical or demonic, we aren't legendary or infamous, we are neither "The Greatest Generation," nor the worst. But having tried to communicate something of what I've seen and felt, I realize now just why so many who served so honorably chose to remain so silent as to their experiences.

This book, Gates of Fire, says all of those things I couldn't say.

As you may guess, the book centers upon the Battle of Thermopylae, the same subject as the movie 300. As you read through the book, you will see why that movie treated it the way it did. The heroism on display at that time in that place makes any comic book superhero look silly by comparison; it's only natural that Leonidas & Co. should have their own line of action figures. Seriously.

But the book goes further than just the names, dates, and places; it is not "history" in the strictest sense, though it strives for such accuracy as historical records can offer. More so Gates of Fire delves into the why and the wherefore: why did these men go, knowing they would die? how were they able to stand and fight knowing that eventually they would be butchered where they stood? what could possibly have motivated the greatest "Alamo" the world has ever known? The book excels in this effort, bringing the concepts of the heroic into terms that the average reader can immediately grasp, or at least imagine.

The book also shows quite graphically the scenes of warfare. As one seasoned veteran asks a shaken youngster "What did you expect? What sort of wounds did you suppose the sword and spear would cause?" But it also shows in painful detail the moments of poignancy: the moments spent at home with loved ones, carved indelibly into the soldiers' hearts; the moments after the battle when soldiers realize they have survived the carnage to live once again; the unbelievable courage of the families they leave behind.

I have never marched in a phalanx with spear and shield. I have never truly closed with the enemy, or grappled with him in anger. But if you want to know what a soldier thinks, lives, and feels, read this book. The times and technologies have changed, but the principles have really not. Thank you, Mr. Pressfield for writing this.
Profile Image for Ozymandias.
436 reviews156 followers
February 6, 2021
The first thing* anyone visiting Thermopylae will notice is that it looks nothing like it should. The shore has expanded outwards dramatically and a highway has been plowed through the middle. Visitors to the site spend upwards of five minutes wandering the short distance from the little parking lot to the hill of the last stand before passing by on their way to more inspiring destinations (2.5 millennia later Thermopylae is still the gateway to the north). They could be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss was about. Why was this unimpressive site, of all places, chosen for the Greek stand against the vast armies of Persia? And how could a few thousand men possibly imagine they could block any decently-sized force from coming through? You can see what I mean by watching 300 Spartans, filmed on location at the Hot Gates just before the highway went up. You can’t get closer to real life than that, yet it doesn’t look right. Not anymore. And so we have to turn to literature to bring the place to life. And no account of the battle is more famous than Gates of Fire.

I’ve got to be honest: until about the halfway point I was underwhelmed, suspecting that this book has been massively overrated. It wasn’t bad precisely, but it wasn’t great either. I have issues. To be specific:
The central frame seems a little forced. Xerxes demanding a novel-length account from a Greek survivor? That’s not what this book reads like at all.
There were too many timeline shifts given to us in an unnecessarily complex way. We need to keep three timelines in our head: immediately after the battle of Thermopylae, Xeones’ early childhood after his city was sacked, and his rise to status among the Spartans and eventual journey to Thermopylae. And there are even timejumps within these timejumps, further impeding our ability to understand.
At least partly as a result of this the characterization suffers and it takes us longer than it should to get to know these characters.
To some degree I also think the characters’ backstory is not as engaging as it could be. Greece was a pretty brutal place to grow up, but it still had its pleasures and at no point did there seem much worth living for (as opposed to dying for). I suppose it would be fair to say that I enjoyed the characters but didn’t care much for any of their journeys before the last.

These are significant issues and, although not really ruinous to the book as a whole, they don’t exactly bode well.

But then the buildup to the battle starts and everything develops a purpose. By this point you know, at least, who Xeones is and why he’s found himself there, and you’re familiar with all the other characters as well. Even if the dishing out of their backstory could have been improved all that matters now is where they’re going. And the account of Thermopylae is spectacular. The battle feels real and intimate and bloody. The first day’s fighting alone occupies two chapters and feels like the battlefield memoirs of a survivor.

Pressfield was a Marine and it shows vividly in his writing. There are times when reading ex-soldiers attempting historical fiction where I find myself thinking that these are just transposed Americans/British/whatever soldiers in funny costumes but with their values and fighting styles intact. This was not one of those times. Generally at least. The description of hoplite warfare felt real, particularly the way the scrum oozes through the cracks of the enemy line. Spartan values are not modern values, and even if the training sounds like a more intense version of boot camp it’s very clear that this violence is being directed at literal children. The various elements of the Spartan state (the assembly, the dual monarchy, the krypteia, the agoge...) are present, although it doesn’t really take us in-depth enough for my taste (see The Fox for a better example of that). About the only thing that’s been edited out for the benefit of “modern” sensibilities is the homosexuality. Odd too, since the mentorship between Alexandros and Dienekes seems very much the sort of structured homosexual relationships the Spartans (and Greeks more generally) encouraged. Yet the only reference to gay sex is when the Greeks are mocking the Persians(!) for it.

One element I appreciated was that the book doesn’t read like creepy fascist propaganda the way 300 and so many modern pro-Spartan takes would have it. Xeones is an outsider to Sparta, little more than a slave, and is often abused by those he idolizes. The Spartans are the heroes but they’re also slave-owning aristocrats and are capable of acts of murder and immense cruelty, even leaving aside the child abuse. Outside the bonds of battlefield brotherhood they don’t feel very likable at all. Best of all to my mind was that the book didn’t sugarcoat the ideal of Greek unity in the face of the barbarian horde. The first conflict we see is one of the many minor Greek-on-Greek conflicts as one city-state sought to dominate another. And that is what the Greeks will return to as soon as the Persian War is over.

I was a little surprised that the oncoming Persian invasion was dealt with in such isolation. We get references to Spartan efforts to shore up alliances, but we get little specific and never really find out what obstacles they faced (aside from fear). We also get little to no detail about Marathon, the Ionian Revolt (not even mentioned), the causes of the invasion more generally, or the grand Hellenic council. We don’t even hear about the famous scene of Spartans throwing the Persian ambassadors down a well. I think this was a bit of a missed opportunity to show the tenuous nature of the Greek alliance and what held them together, but I can tell that Pressfield is a bit singleminded in his focus on the experience of war.

One thing that did disappoint me though was the acceptance of Herodotus’ statement that there were two million men in the Persian army. Only an absolute idiot would believe this claim (which didn’t stop several older Classicists from making it) and I never thought Pressfield an idiot. Let me put it another way: despite the populations of modern Greece and Germany being triple those of ancient Greece and Persia, when the Nazis invaded in 1941 their amy was only a bit over a quarter the size. Even adding in the Italians only gives us half that size. And the two armies came in from a different direction, which was a luxury the Persians didn’t have. The Nazis, using one of the most effective conscription campaigns in history, managed to mobilize about 16% of their population. Can anyone honestly claim that Persia was able to militarize a similar portion of their population despite the absence of detailed censuses, mass-produced paper, or even modest levels of literacy? And that they could keep them supplied in enemy teritories without access to trains, trucks, motorized ships, or any of the various types of farm equipment and fertilizer available to modern man? Yeah right. A British army officer stationed in the region once did the math and determined that for such an army even draining the rivers dry would not stop it dying of thirst if it tried to invade Greece. If Pressfield’d just limited the claim of such an immense army to the Greeks (who were used to small armies and couldn’t contextualize the army’s true scale) it would have been fine, but he has Persians claim it too. Gah!

This is probably the best account of Thermopylae out there. The battle comes to life in a way only the best novels can achieve. The brotherhood formed by combat is really pushed here and characters who seem unlikable at first become more so over time. The book’s small-scale focus on a minor player means that we don’t get any real considerations of the broader organization or issues (really, Persia’s decision to invade is never explained), so if you want to see that I’d recommend a book like Farewell, Great King. This tells the story of Themistocles and his leadership of Athens during and after the war and can provide a useful counterpoint to the more gung-ho account in this book. Alas, I haven’t seen any naval officers try to do for Salamis what Pressfield does for Thermopylae here. Naval warfare is truly underdeveloped in historical fiction for this period.


* The second thing you notice is the horrible modern memorial with “heroic” nudes reclining daintily on couches. We do not speak of the modern memorial.
Profile Image for Allen Walker.
186 reviews1,431 followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 18, 2023
DNF @ 100 pages.

Like...I don't know what happened here. It's the freaking Spartans. It's ancient Greek historical fiction. Why didn't I love this?

I did not enjoy myself at all. I never even made it to Thermopylae. I was just so...tedious to me. It's littered with the Greek terminology for things to a degree that seems almost comical and I was just. so. bored. I put it down the first time when we get a montage of Spartan boys training and their overseer is basically the drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket. That's just not my bag. When I picked it back up, I read two more chapters and was just so bored. Literally, the history book I have covering this time period was more interesting to me than this fiction book.

I am now 0 for 2 in Greek historical fiction. I weep. Fed by my tears, the floodwaters rise. Farms are destroyed. Livelihoods lost. The land lies fallow. Darkness comes.
Profile Image for Stjepan Cobets.
Author 13 books521 followers
February 19, 2017
One of the best book I've read lately. With ease, I was drawn into the story of Spartans. In my head, I imagined each piece of equipment and felt the anticipation of oncoming battles that have become legends. No one can remain indifferent to the heroism of the Spartans who opposed the massive Persian army.
Profile Image for Anthony Ryan.
Author 79 books8,951 followers
November 3, 2014
Whilst Frank Miller's 300 may have captured the spirit of the battle of Thermopylae - elephants and wizards not withstanding, Steven Pressfield takes a much more realist approach. Greece in 480 BC is presented as a place of constant warfare united only by the prospect of imminent Persian invasion. The Spartans are as brutal and oppressive as they are stoic and courageous, so much so in fact that the Persians seem a relatively civilised and cultured lot in comparison. Despite the repugnance much of Spartan life may arouse in the modern mind, it's hard not to feel some admiration for their utter refusal to accept subjugation in any form. History lessons aside, it's in the battle scenes that this book really comes to life, the physical strain and merciless nature of close quarters fighting in the age of the hoplite has never been more vividly captured, even without the battle elephants.
Profile Image for Katerina.
452 reviews62 followers
August 1, 2020
Δεν είμαι ιδιαίτερα φαν βιβλίων με θέμα μάχες και πόλεμο αλλά μου άρεσε αρκετά η ιστορία αυτή! Άνετα τη προτείνω σε αναγνώστες που θέλουν αναλυτική περιγραφή μιας μάχης και να μάθουν για την εκπαίδευση των Σπαρτιατών αλλά και τι τους ενέπνεε για να πολεμήσουν!
Μου άρεσε πιο πολύ η ιστορία και ο χαρακτήρας του Διηνέκη και η σύζυγος του Αρέτη έθεσε κάποια ερωτήματα περί θανάτου που ομολογώ έχω σκεφτεί και εγώ έχοντας χάσει αγαπημένο μου πρόσωπο! Επίσης πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα η στάση και ο χαρακτήρας των γυναικών που έστελναν τους συζύγους και τα παιδιά τους στον πόλεμο και πως αντιμετώπιζαν την πιθανότητα του χαμού τους!
Μια γενικά πολύ καλή ιστορία!
Profile Image for Vicky Ziliaskopoulou.
613 reviews109 followers
June 21, 2016
Υπέροχο βιβλίο. Το δανείστηκα και το διάβασα, μετά το αγόρασα για εμένα αρχικά και ακολούθως πολλές φορές για δώρο.

Υπάρχουν βιβλία που με τη διήγησή τους σε κάνουν να "ζεις" τα γραφόμενα. Με αυτό το βιβλίο έπιασα τον εαυτό μου να κλαίει με ένα θάνατο.. κανονικό κλάμα, με λυγμούς. Και δεν το έχω εύκολο το κλάμα.. Αγάπησα τους Σπαρτιάτες, κόλλησα με την ιστορία τους, αλλά άλλο βιβλίο ισάξιο με αυτό (για ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα μιλάω) δεν βρήκα.
453 reviews
February 15, 2010
Highly recommended to me, but highly disappointing. This is a romanticized historical fictional account of the Spartans' stand at Thermopylae against the massively superior forces of Xerxes. It does offer a depiction of the warrior culture of Sparta. But the writing: trite, tedious, melodramatic, sometimes overly flowery faux archaic, and at others base sixth grade genital/excrement humor. One of the major humor touchstones was a character whose catchphrase was "Wake up to this", which cracked everyone up because it sounded like "Weck up to thees". Not only is that not that funny, but it doesn't really work for me because it takes me away from picturing these guys speaking Greek, and becomes a comedy of guys talking in amusingly accented English like Cheech and Chong. I'll allow a star for the research the author did for the background for the book.
Profile Image for Artemas.
Author 0 books62 followers
May 5, 2018
Absolutely amazing. Anyone interested in ancient history or military fiction simply must read "Gates of Fire." By Zeus, this is one of those books that everyone should read, regardless of what their favorite genre is. Steven Pressfield has an amazing gift for transplanting the reader into his era of choice.

I could attempt to spend hours writing a witty review, but ultimately it would not do this book justice. So do yourself a favor and add it to your "To Read" shelf, or the gods will surely curse you and your offspring from this day until the end of time.

Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2KBFAty
Profile Image for David.
682 reviews296 followers
November 9, 2011
I read this entertaining 1998 historical novel, which glorifies the ancient military dictatorship of Sparta, in part because it cost only $7.99 for a Kindle download. Then I realized that I couldn't write a coherent review of it, because I still, in spite of the intervening years, am an incandescent tower of blistering but impotent rage at the senseless loss of life and treasure which resulted from the blunderings of the George W. Bush administration in the Middle East in the first decade of this century. This rage colored my every word and thought. It's not the book's fault that some people seemed to view it as a justification of the U.S.A.'s bumbling militarism. I'll try to write a review of this book sometime when I've calmed down, maybe in 20 years.

later

OK, I've taken some medication and had a nice lie down.

Why bother to read books? After all, there's no money in reading, and it will not help you to obtain a fashionably well-developed musculature. I don't understand why other people read books, but then again, I don't understand why people do pretty much everything, including but not limited to going to flea markets, voting for defenders of the rights of the well-to-do, and having interest in the lives of movie stars, to name just a few.

I read books because my mental picture of myself is a piece of meat in a cage. I am a prisoner, stuck like a bug in amber in a class, time, space, nationality, residence, psychology, and function. I often flatter myself that my place in the world is of my own choosing but it is really the result of forces which were in motion long before I was born and will continue to influence the world long after everyone's forgotten that I ever lived. Animated with that cheerful thought, I wonder if life appears this way to everyone else. Many people seem to be acting and behaving very differently from me, most relevantly, in this case, soldiers. Since it is not yet possible to engage in Matrix-like entry into soldiers' consciousnesses, the closest that I can get to understanding why soldiers act so completely different from me is to read books about them.

It's still difficult for me to understand why anyone would willingly ignore the pointless bullying, the tedious machismo, the cynical grasping and snatching after pathetic shreds of power, and the sheer unadulterated lunacy (all adequately portrayed in this novel) that seem to invariably accompany military life. However, I think that I caught while reading this book certain glimpses of a rationale, if something mostly disconnected from reason can still be called a “rationale”.

Why get up in the morning? Why take one route to work and not the other? Why order a croissant and not a banana nut muffin? Why do a good job at work when a crummy job will suffice? Why sit? Why stand? Why write a review for Goodreads that three people may read instead of, say, listening to Alma Cogan sing “Never Do a Tango With an Eskimo” on Youtube for the umptee-umpth time?

When you are a part of a team, any team, it helps everything else to make sense. If you are part of a fighting team, life not only makes sense, but you have a purpose as well. You get up in the morning, you have a place to go. It makes a difference whether you shine your shoes. There's a right way to lay your shield on the ground, and a wrong way. You have friends and colleagues to admire, and to be admired by. You can't let them down by staying home on the couch and watching reruns of “America's Next Top Model”, because you promised to be at hoplite formation drills. You are a nobly small part of a fine upstanding tradition, without which the Persians would overrun civilization, leaving us to wallow in our own filth while listening to goateed Brooklyn hipsters complain about the deficit of adequate post-apocalyptic arugula.

I guess it's just about time for another dose of medication.

Before I join the line at the nurse's window, I'd like to say that reading this book about people with a purpose was a worthwhile use of time, but I'm not sure that present-day people who read this book and see their purpose reflected in the life and achievements of the Spartans actually understand the Spartans, or themselves.
Profile Image for Daniel Clausen.
Author 9 books488 followers
August 29, 2017
This book is about the Battle of Thermopylae in ancient Greece, where 300 Spartans fought to the death. The main character of the book is a slave who is captured by the Spartans. Even though he is a slave of the Spartans, he begins to admire their bravery and courage.

During the course of the book, we see the slave’s hometown get destroyed, we find out how he becomes a slave, and why he admires the Spartans’ courage. We also see the slave become a warrior who fights next to the Spartans. This was a surprising book for me. I wasn't expecting to like it and ended up loving it. This is also probably one of the better books on war that has ever been written.
Profile Image for Vaios Pap.
95 reviews12 followers
February 21, 2018
Ένα βιβλίο πραγματικός θησαυρός! Στίβεν Πρέσσφιλντ, ο σύγχρονος Ομηρικός συγγραφέας.
Profile Image for Charles  van Buren.
1,842 reviews245 followers
September 25, 2020
Review of Kindle edition
Publisher: Bantam
January 30, 2007
ASIN: B000NJL7QO
531 pages

Like G.K. Holloway's 1066: What Fates Impose, this novel by Steven Pressfield is what historical fiction should be. Well researched story of Thermopylae, true to the time and place, informative, excellent character development and a well written, engrossing story.
Profile Image for Trevor.
1,333 reviews22.6k followers
June 14, 2009
This was an interesting book. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it and had thought it would be a book of history, but was actually a work of historical fiction. It was well told and, from what I know, an accurate enough telling of the story of the 300. Herodotus also tells this story in his histories and it is hardly surprising that a tale of so few holding off an army of so many should be remembered as one of the great military stories of all time. This one is told through the eyes of a captured assistant to the Spartans who is asked by the Persian king to tell his story and who does so in quite some depth and detail.

The odd thing was that this story is told really by an historian of the Persians, and normally this would, within the context of the novel, raise concerns over the accuracy of the story as told and translated from the Greek and into Persian for the king. I guess I’m too aware of concerns for such distortions as this wasn’t something that was really played with at all by the author. The convoluted process involved in the telling of the story was not really to get the reader to question the accuracy of what was being told, but rather to find a way to get many of the threads in the story to all line up.

This book is apparently taught at West Point http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_of... and I found that very interesting. This is a story about bravery and what it takes to be brave, and I guess that is exactly the sort of thing people in the army would expect to learn. I couldn’t help reflect while reading this book how often when America is involved in military adventures overseas they are much more likely to see themselves as the 300, and therefore acting to defend their homeland, rather than as the Persian invaders. This is interesting, as it does involve some fascinating mental gymnastics.

This is a remarkable story and well told here in a way a modern audience would be much more likely to enjoy. Many of the famous lines are all here, from fighting in the shade (due to the number of arrows the Persians would be able to fire) to telling the emissary of the Persians 'to come and get them' referring to the Greek weapons after being asked to hand them over. Boy’s own stuff this. I kept thinking that it was odd that it was mostly told in first person, as generally these stories are told in omniscient narration, and this made me think that perhaps modern tellings of stories like this are much more likely to be told through the eyes of an individual.

Anyway, I enjoyed this more than I thought I might.

Profile Image for Ian.
438 reviews119 followers
January 23, 2024
2.7⭐
Originally posted August 8, 2020.
Edited for clarity January 23, 2024.
I don't know how accurate Steve Pressfield's vision of ancient Greece and the Battle of Thermopolye is. But it has enough of the feel of accuracy, of verisimilitude, to make his setting and characters believable, if not exactly likeable. Not all online critics agree. One claims that the battle tactics Pressfield uses come from a later period in Greek history (since the story takes place about 2500 years ago, I'm willing to cut him the 70 years slack, in this case). Another says the author's description of war wounds is unrealistic as it doesn't include the effects of gangrene and similar infections. For that I thank Mr. Pressfield, as his battles are quite gory enough.

My issues are with the story telling. I think he does a decent job creating a credible if brutal, society. I just have trouble with his frequent, long winded expositions extolling the supposed virtues of that society (and with the disjointed manner in which he tells his tale). The Greek city state we call Sparta was a militaristic oligarcy of slave holders, who extolled war over all other endeavors. The reason for that was mainly so it could keep its captive population under control. It banned most art, poetry and philosopy as effeminate. Pressfield hides none of that, to his credit, but he tries to excuse it with verbose, almost mystical ramblings about soldierly life and the brotherhood of warriors. He's not the first, the imperialist powers of 18th and 19th century Europe did the same. It just seems odd that a modern American would do it. And it takes away from what otherwise is a not bad adventure story. I doubt I'll read Pressfield's other novels as I simply don't appreciate his style (took a very long time to finish). You might want to look at it simply to see what the fuss is about.
Profile Image for GeekChick.
194 reviews13 followers
March 7, 2009
When I first tried reading this book about the Battle of Thermopylae, after a while I just had to put it down. I didn't know if it was because I just didn't like it, or if it was because it wasn't the right time to read it. So I tried again.

Forgive me for saying something like this, but it's clear the book is written by a man. There is way too much detail, but absolutely no emotional foundation. I think one of the reviewers captured it best when he/she commented on Pressfield's ability in writing a "military novel." Need I say more?

I am betting my husband would love this. But for me, just when it gets good, Pressfield derails into too much boring, needless detail. I stuck it out pretty far, but after about 2/3, I've decided that there are too many other books in the world to spend any more time on this one.

I'm definitely going to see what my hubby thinks, though. When I find out, I'll update my review!
Profile Image for Richard.
6 reviews1 follower
October 11, 2007
Steven Pressfield's first foray into historical fiction is a masterful account of the battle of Themopylae (thermos = hot, warm, fire; pylos = spring or gate; hence "Gates of Fire").

Told from the perspective of a captured, critically wounded Spartan helot (all the Spartans died, after all) who is being questioned by Xerxes (King of Persia) for information about the Greeks, the story presents a sympathetic, insider view of Spartan society and accurately presents the values of Greek civilization in contrast to that of the Persians. Pressfield is intimately familiar with the major historical accounts of the battle and fills in the many gaps with events and conversations that could have, and possibly should have, happened.

Leonidas, one of two kings of Sparta, leads 300 Spartans to Thermopylae in the attempt to delay the Persian army from reaching Greece before the Greeks have time to prepare the resistance. In ancient times, Thermopylae was the site of a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea, only wide enough for a few men to walk shoulder to shoulder. Joined by allies from other Greek cities (Argos and Thespis, as I recall), the total number of fighting men was approximately 1,200 to face Xerxes mighty army, which ancient accounts number in the millions. The Spartans use superior technology (bronze armor and weapons), superior training, and superior tactics (the deadly phalanx) to hold the Persians for three days. Even Persia's elite fighting force, the dreaded Immortals, are unable to defeat the Spartans.

Treachery, however, proves the undoing of the Spartans. Ephialtes (not the misshapen expatriate Spartan of the moview "300") sells information to the Persians, revealing a hidden path through the mountains. Surrounded, the Spartans refuse to surrender, preferring to fight to the death in order to demonstrate their superiority and to strike fear into the hearts of the Persians, who will soon have to face larger Greek armies. The death toll for the Persians is in the high thousands.

(Although not in the book, the sacrifice of the Spartans ultimately pays off. For, after sacking Athens, Xerxes is defeated in two decisive battles: Salamis, in which the Athenian navy destroys the Persian fleet, deprives Xerxes of much needed supplies; Plataea, in which the combined armies of Sparta and other allies defeats the Persian army. Greece, and along with it, Western Civilization is saved from Persian slavery, and the path is paved for the Golden Age of Athens.)

The book is an incredibly good read. I have recommended the book to many different people of various backgrounds and interests. None have been able to put it down.
Profile Image for Alicja.
277 reviews83 followers
December 20, 2014
rating: 5/5 (more like 4.75 but I'll round)

The story didn't really grip me (although it was still interesting)until the last 3 books (the novel is split into 8 "books" or sections), which were filled with jaw droppingly amazing battle and camp scenes from Thermopylae. I am a sucker for well written battles and soldier camaraderie and this was it, one of the best I've read so far.

It was filled with a ton of historical accuracy, from the events to the historical people and through battle techniques, Spartan battle training and laws, through to how ancient Greece looked, felt, and even smelled. The description and details were captivating.

The character development was good as well, I fell in love with Xeo and his telling of Alexandros, Dienekes, Leonidas, Suicide, Polynikes, and others.

However, the story was told by Xeo, looking retroactively at the battle and the lives of the Spartans, as told to the Persian Great King Xerxes and involved jumping through time in a non-linear fashion. It also included some notes from a Persian historian, as if he were recording the story and happenings currently, post Battle of Thermopylae. I understand why the author made those choices, there were things that Xeo couldn't witness and an understanding we could only get from a Persian POV. I get it. Still, it served to drag me away from the story and my emotional involvement with it, and sometimes even caused confusion as to the timeline. The disruption wasn't terrible but it was enough to strip this novel of its potential to be one of my all-time favorites.

Despite this, it was still amazing, brilliant, and breathtaking; a worthy read and one of the better ones on ancient Greece. I would recommend it to everyone, especially those that love historically accurate detail and ancient military history, tactics, and battles.
January 11, 2021
Ότι και να πω για αυτό το βιβλίο είναι πραγματικά λίγο.
Ένα σύγχρονο έπος για το οποίο ο Ηρόδοτος, ο Όμηρος και ο Θουκυδίδης θα ήταν περήφανοι.
Μία σκληρή αλλά άκρως ρεαλιστική ιστορία για τη τιμή, τη δόξα, τη φιλία, τον θάνατο και τη ζωή, αλλά και το θάρρος.

Αυτό το βιβλίο θα έπρεπε να διδάσκεται στα σχολεία.

Το καλύτερο βιβλίο που εδώ διαβάσει μέχρι σήμερα. Θα κάνω πολύ καιρό να το ξεχάσω.!
Profile Image for Doug.
85 reviews64 followers
March 13, 2020
Stunning. If you have any interest in ancient history, the ancient Greeks, history in general, warfare, or just plain good writing, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

I don't want to be long winded here, because I think most of the other reviews for this book do it justice already. But what Pressfield does here is nothing short of masterful. This is truly his magnum opus. The way that he builds up the suspense to the final, horrifying, and shocking calamity that is Thermopylae, is incredible.

This is a book that doesn't gloss over the horror of warfare.

Reading this is like reading All Quiet on the Western Front but in ancient times.

This is not a tale of braggadocious hollywood heroes.

I was dumbstruck when the battle finally began.

I won't spoil anything (though anyone who knows even the very basics of this story knows how this will all go down), but this is a description of ancient warfare at its finest.

Ancient warfare was not, as many movies and even books would like us to think, a glorious and colorful event. And in his book, Pressfield makes this abundantly clear.

Men piss themselves.

Their legs quake with fear in the silent dread that comes right before battle.

Men cry.

Hoplites walk around in a daze, half-crushed helmets hanging off their heads limply.

Some are blinded.

Some go mad with fear.

The horrors of battle even drive the greatest veterans to the breaking point.

I don't know if a movie could ever do this book justice.

This might be, in my humble opinion, the definitive fictional work about Thermopylae.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,709 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.