Beyond the Gates of Fire by Christopher Matthew

Beyond the Gates of Fire by Christopher Matthew

The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC is one of the most famous battles in history. The heroism of the 300 Spartans who opted to remain behind to face the full might of the Persian host while their Greek allies made good their escape has become the stuff of legend. The story still inspires novelists and film-makers today (Frank Miller's fanciful 300 was a huge hit in 2007 and the film rights to Steven Pressfield's more historical novel Gates of Fire were bought by George Clooney, the film expected to finally surface in 2011 or 2012). But what is the truth behind the legends and why was this bloody defeat immediately accorded a halo of glory that has endured for nearly two-and-a-half millenia? Beyond the Gates of Fire brings together experts on the classical period from Australia, New Zealand and the United States to take a fresh look at various aspects of the battle. A substantial introductory section by the editors outlines the background to the conflict as well as the arms, armour and fighting styles of the opposing sides. The following chapters (9 of them) then discuss such questions as whether the defence of the pass really was a suicide mission; the exact topography of the battlefield itself in 480 BC, using the latest geological research and core samples; the impact of the battle on the Greek psyche; commemoration of the war dead; the impact of the original battle on the conduct of later battles in the pass, right up to the German invasion of 1941. For the classical scholar or the general reader whose interest has been piqued by the popular books and films, this book is sure to shed refreshing new light on the most famous last stand in history.

The book includes contributions from the editors, Dr Matthew Trundle (Editor) of Wellington University (New Zealand) and Dr Christopher Matthew (Editor) (Sydney University), as well as other classical scholars from Australasia and the USA, including: Dr Adele Brown (Queensland University); George Rapp (Minnesota University), Dr Peter Gainsford (University of Victoria, NZ)

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781848847910
ISBN 10	1848847912
Title	Beyond the Gates of Fire
Author	Christopher Matthew
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Pen And Sword
Year published	2013-06-01
Number of pages	192
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable