Athens and Sparta

“Packed with intrigue and the politics of empire, revolution, and war, this accessible history of a tangled relationship between nations might strike some readers, the author warns, as ‘uncomfortably relevant.’”—New York Times

“Excellent.”

“A propulsive, large-scale history of ancient Greece, written with an authority to rival Thucydides.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The reader is in the best of hands. Goldsworthy combines the expertise of the scholar that he is with the common touch of the author that he has become. He is one of the very best historians of the ancient world writing for a popular audience.”

“Goldsworthy tells a timely tale of national pride, and he has much to be proud of: Respectful of the somber grandeur of its subject, this book sparkles with wisdom and fury.”—J.E. Lendon, author of Soldiers & Ghosts

“Goldsworthy, writing in a style accessible to all, has tackled one of the biggest and gnarliest topics in antiquity. How did Athens and Sparta, two Greek powers that had united to fight the Persians, become mortal enemies? This is not just a retelling of the battles. Goldsworthy digs deep into the politics, diplomacy, and military history of the fifth century BCE to explain the mindset of the powers that faced off in one of the bloodiest conflicts in history while fighting for hegemony.”—Rose Mary Sheldon, Virginia Military Institute

“An epic story well told—lucid, thorough, enlightening, and a pleasure to read.”—Paul A. Rahe, Hillsdale College