About book Thermopylae: The Battle For The West (2004)
Bradfords Thermopylae: The Battle for the West is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the Battle of Thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place.In addition to pleasant prose and good analysis and use of sources, Bradford gives a balanced account of the events in his book. Although he is obviously a great admirer of the Greeks (and Athenians, especially), he gives equal time to the Persians. Bradford does his best to clear away some of the myths about the Persians handed down through the centuries by Greek historians, and to fairly present their story and perspective along side that of the Greeks.If this book has one major weakness, its that it is very much a product of its author and his background. Thermopylae is littered with references to events from World War II, classical history (besides the subject at hand), and British colloquialisms. While knowledge of these things is not essential to understanding or enjoying this book, it helps to understand what the author is trying to say when he falls back on these expressions.Overall, a very nice classical history, and definitely worth checking out if you're interested in the battle or classical Greece.
I would recommend Thermopylae: The Battle for the West as a basic jumping off point for further research. The book is rather dated now, so doesn't represent the latest discoveries or debates surrounding this period or this battle in particular. The other issue that brings it down is that it is almost entirely straightforward narrative, presenting the facts but without offering much critical analysis or discussion. That said, the book does cover quiet a lot. Not only does it present the Battle of Thermopylae, but the accompanying naval engagement, and the encounters leading up to and following Thermopylae; the battles of Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea.6 out of 10
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The title is a bit misleading, as the author covers the battles of Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea in gripping and vivid detail, and thankfully, as a military historian. Bradford grounds the work in his own thorough knowledge of logistics, weather patterns, and topography, using (and discarding when common sense requires it) classical sources. There is a touch too much "Great Man" for my taste, but that does not detract from the narrative; if anyone deserves a touch of Great Man, it's Leonidas and Themistocles. This reviewer would have appreciated more descriptive maps (with circles and arrows, or perhaps topo maps with toy boats and little marching soldiers), not to mention graphics of the armour and weaponry involved. I also keenly felt the lack of Gerard Butler's six-pack abs, but that's just me.
—Joan
