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  • The Gates of Athens

  • The Athenian Series, Book 1
  • Written by: Conn Iggulden
  • Narrated by: George Blagden
  • Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (47 ratings)

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The Gates of Athens

Written by: Conn Iggulden
Narrated by: George Blagden
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Devour the latest epic tale of ancient Greece and Sunday Times top five best seller from the author of War of the Roses.

On the plains of Marathon an army of slaves gathers....

Under Darius the Great, King of Kings, the mighty Persian army - swollen by 10,000 Immortal warriors - have come to subjugate the Greeks.

In their path stands an army of freeborn Athenians and among them is fearsome and cunning soldier-statesman, Xanthippus.

Knowing defeat means slavery lends keenness to his already sharp blade....

Yet people soon forget that freedom is bought with blood.

Ten years later, Xanthippus watches helplessly as Athens succumbs to the bitter politics of factionalism, when the Persians cross the Hellespont in ever greater numbers to raze Athens to the ground.

Facing overwhelming forces by land and sea, the Athenians call on their Spartan allies for assistance - to delay the Persians at the treacherous pass of Thermopylae....

©2020 Conn Iggulden (P)2020 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about The Gates of Athens

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  • Rob
  • 2022-01-28

Excellent

I struggled to get into the story but eventually it hooked me and I loved it.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I hate that it makes me leave a review just let me give it a 5/5 and leave

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Very good entry in a string of amazing stories

Fantastic start and finish, very slow for the bulk of the middle but it is setting up a trilogy. Classic tale by one of the best historical fiction authors there is!

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Worst Read ever

I love Conn books and love reading and listening to them but this was so painful. One more “stoic speech from tough guy with tears in eyes” I wanted to throw up. Horrible reading and writing. Not the Conn I am used to.

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Meh

Read one of his earlier series. The Khan series was his peak. Or read a Jack Whyte book. Try Skystone.

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  • Ian
  • 2020-12-13

Love getting a window to another time

Really love his historic fiction books. The story was enough to keep me listening. Was really good actually. I mean, his writing when it comes down to historical stuff, like logistics of armies and how they fought, and what happened is great, and the drama side of it is just ok.

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  • Stian Sandvik
  • 2020-11-11

Fantastic

This was my first Iggulden book in 10 years, and he hasn't lost a step. This is as good as the opening to Emperor or Conqueror.
The narrator lifts the story as well

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  • peter
  • 2020-09-04

OK

Having just re-listened to the Genghis series to my surprise I found this one pretty boring and I'm not sure why. I didn't find the Genghis series at all dull and was involved in all the subplots etc from the first chapter. This one left me restless and I didn't finish it.

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  • Ventsislav Gramatski
  • 2022-12-28

A great start to another series by Conn Iggulden!

I thoroughly enjoyed this, both the story and the narration. I've read the previous historical series by Mr. Iggulden - Emperor, Conqueror (an absolute favourite of mine) and Wars of the Roses, all of which have been excellent. This one does not disappoint either. Fast paced without feeling rushed, full of historical details without overwhelming even a reader unfamiliar with the subject, great characters and lots of drama.

A very solid narration as well, particular praise for the consistent pronunciation of names and locales.

I can thoroughly recommend it, and I am about to get the next book!