• Gates of Fire

  • An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
  • By: Steven Pressfield
  • Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
  • Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (870 ratings)

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Gates of Fire  By  cover art

Gates of Fire

By: Steven Pressfield
Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
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Publisher's summary

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....

©1998 Steven Pressfield (P)2000 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Gripping and swashbuckling . . . an exciting, romantic, star-crossed story.”The New York Times

“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

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

What listeners say about Gates of Fire

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loved it

This novel really puts you in the moment, definitely worth the read and very accurate to historical facts and dates!

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Lover of Democracy purchasef.

Extraordinary! yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes and yes again in every way possible.

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Intense

Loved it

At the begging some words were difficult to understand as the author utilizes very advanced english but it didn't hinder so much the magnificent performance and story of this audiobook.

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loved it

I loved everything about the book's content and ofcurse the reader
10\10
would listen again

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Awesome!

Absolutely awesome. Magnificent story. The Narrator did a superb job. He really brought the story to life. Will be listening to it again, probably a few more times.

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Excellent

This tale of the battle of Thermopylae is well written and well performed.

Steven Pressfield is a master storyteller and what he chooses to describe but so often what he leaves to the imagination transports the listener to that epic time.

It’s a relatively quick listen and thoroughly enjoyable!

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Incredible!

One of the most inspirational books I’ve ever experienced.
Would recommend to anyone!
Particularly service men and women of any country.

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amazing story

tremendous tale from start to finish. true, it doesnt get to the actual battle at themopylae until the back half at least, but its amazing throughout

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Storytelling at its finest!

A magnificent achievement by Steven Pressfield. And Derek Jacobi's mellifluous voice was perfect for the narration.

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Fabulous

One of the, if not the, best books I have ever listened to or read.

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