To be fair, this book is exactly what the title sells it as. But it is nothing more than that. It is basically one long Brandon Sanderson fight scene. Epic? Maybe, but self-consciously epic, unbelievably epic; and therefore I found it powerless. And the writing is terrible.

"The more miserable the conditions, the more convulsing the jokes become, or at least that's how it seems. I have witnessed venerable Peers of fifty years or more, with thick gray in their beards and countenances as distinguished as Zeus', dropping helpless with mirth onto hands and knees, toppling onto their backs and practically pissing down their legs they were laughing so hard. Once on an errand I saw Leonidas himself, unable to get to his feet for a minute or more, so doubled over was he from some otherwise untranslatable wisecrack."

Good thing the joke was untranslatable, because otherwise Pressfield might have had to write it, and dialog is beyond him.

Έχω νιώσει άπειρα συναισθήματα και έχω ταξιδέψει σε αμέτρητους κόσμους μέσα από τις ιστορίες των βιβλίων που έχω διαβάσει. Δεν θυμάμαι όμως να έχω ανατριχιάσει σε τόσα πολλά σημεία με κανένα άλλο εκτός από αυτό!
Είναι ένα εξαιρετικό ,ένα μεγαλειώδες θα τολμήσω να πω, βιβλίο όπως άλλωστε και η ιστορία στην οποία είναι βασισμένο που δεν είναι άλλη από αυτή των 300.

Βιβλίο που πρέπει να διαβαστεί από όλους!!!

For any of you who have seen the movie 300 with Gerard Butler…yeah…it probably didn’t really happen that way. It wasn’t a group of only three hundred men, with carbon copied abs, who held back the thousands of Persians poised to invade Greece over three days of constant battle. Steven Pressfield’s story is most likely a little closer to the truth; the Spartans had thousands of allies, squires, and retainers, each capable of thrusting a spear at an enemy in an enclosed area; and much to my wife’s protests, they definitely would have worn armor to protect their chests and abdomens.

Gates of Fire isn’t a new release, but it really isn’t that old either; the original release was 1998. I enjoyed the point of view in this story. Pressfield told the story of a young helot, a man born outside of Sparta, who gave himself over as a serf to the Spartans. I always find this “common man” perspective interesting; it allows the reader to get a chance to see both sides of the story (the inflated story told by the winner with some of what really happened from someone without an agenda).

I enjoyed the time that Pressfield gave me with Xeones. The story fit in nicely with some others that I have read and listened to over the years. Filling in gaps that others may have skimmed over. He really focused on the Battle of Thermopylae, and the people who were there. Pressfield created some great characters, filled with humanity. I felt like I was in the phalanx with these brave men.

I went with the Audible version of Gates of Fire and enjoyed the narration, mostly. I just don’t think that George Guidall was the best choice for the roles. His voice was commanding and would be great for many books; it’s just that this tale is told by a young man; not even twenty years old, and to be honest, George Guidall sounds like a man who has seen and done it all. I just think that it would have been better to get a younger voice for Gates of Fire.

"Lo opuesto al miedo es el amor" Dienekes.

"Las Puertas de Fuego", valiéndose de la poética y evocadora prosa de Pressfield, que en ocasiones está impregnada del carácter vívido de las epopeyas homéricas, ofrece un relato descarnado y orgánico sobre los rigores bélicos, el implacable destino y el honor y el deber con el que los humanos deben enfrentarlos. Temática manoseada, lo sé, pero la novela provee una perspectiva única, ¿cuál es? La del soldado, la del subalterno.

El enfoque del militar está encarnado por Xeones de Astarkos, ciudad helénica sita en la región de Acarnania, cuya aniquilación llevará al protagonista a la xenófoba y marcial Esparta. Aquí, en la principal ciudad de Lacedemonia, se desarrollará el otro elemento innovador del libro: el análisis de la psicología espartana, el examen del miedo (phobos) y el valor (andreia), la camaradería espartíata y su particular cosmovisión del mundo, su relación con las otras ciudades peoloponesas y con el invasor aqueménida, así como su estratificación social y económica fundada en la esclavitud. Su concepción de la educación materializada en la inmisericorde agogé también es objeto de tratamiento; aunque hubiese agradecido mayor profusión al respecto.

Considero, por lo expuesto, que aunque la Batalla de las Termópilas sea una historia relativamente conocida, incluso llevada de forma infame al cine (me gusta la película, pero duele el rigor histórico), el autor la aborda de forma novedosa, aportando datos, términos y reflexiones enriquecedoras, amén de la omnipresente mitología griega que embellece la narración.
La estructura de la novela es otro acierto: la entrevista/memorias que Xeones, inspirado y compelido por Apolo, refiere al historiador persa vertebra la obra, y la presencia e intervenciones de los principales militares orientales y del propio Jerjes I durante la misma son atinadas.

La novela, empero, está bastante lejos de ser redonda: hay momentos de desconexión, la historia no siempre mantiene el interés, los personajes podrían estar más acabados y la filosofía que subyace es reiterativa. El final, en cambio, me ha gustado, crudo y alegórico, sin almíbar. Trágico, pero de una belleza grave y conmovedora.

¿Te gusta la novela histórica clásica y las Guerras Médicas? Léela, es una referencia insoslayable. La historia de Xeones lo merece; su entrega, su pasión y su abnegación. Leal y fiel, honorable hasta el final. No es el más grande, ni el más fuerte ni bello, ni tan siquiera es espartano, pero ejemplifica el valor de la honestidad y el compromiso.

La nota es de 3,75 estrellas. Finalmente decir que me parece superior Javier Negrete como narrador, y siempre recomendaría su libro "El Espartano" antes que el que nos ocupa. Sin embargo y previsiblemente éste nunca alcanzará las cotas de repercusión de "Las Puertas de Fuego": el mundo editorial, como la guerra, es terriblemente injusto.

"Ve a decirles a los espartanos, extranjero que pasas por aquí, que, obedientes a sus leyes, aquí yacemos" Simónides.

Few books can transport you so convincingly to an ancient world, in this case, Greece. It makes you believe you understand how someone lived and fought in another time and place. Fantastic!

ΚΑΤΟΠΙΝ ΔΙΑΤΑΓΗΣ ΤΗΣ Μεγαλειότητάς Του, του Ξέρξη, γιου
του Δαρείου, Μεγάλου Βασιλέα της Περσίας και της Μηδίας,
Βασιλέα των Βασιλέων, Βασιλέα των Χωρών κυβερνήτη της
Λιβύης, της Αιγύπτου, της Αραβίας, της Αιθιοπίας, της Βαβυ­
λωνίας, της Χαλδαίας, της Φοινίκης, του Ελάμ, της Συρίας,
της Ασσυρίας και των χωρών της Παλαιστίνης· άρχοντα της
Ιωνίας, της Λυδίας, της Φρυγίας, της Αρμενίας, της Κιλικίας,
της Καππαδοκίας, της Θράκης, της Μακεδονίας και της
Υπερκαυκασίας, της Κύπρου, της Ρόδου, της Σάμου, της Χί­
ου, της Λέσβου και των νήσων του Αιγαίου· ανώτατου άρχο­
ντα της Παρθίας, της Βακτριανής, της Κασπίας, της Σουσια-
νής, της Παφλαγονίας και της Ινδίας· αφέντη όλων των αν­
θρώπων από Ανατολής μέχρι Δύσης, του Αγιοτάτου, Σεβα­
σμιοτάτου και Υψηλοτάτου, του Αήττητου και Αδιάφθορου,
του Ευλογημένου από το θεό Αχούρα Μάζντα και Παντο­
δύναμου μεταξύ των θνητών.

Και ξεκινώντας έτσι την ανάγνωση, καταλαβαίνεις ότι μάλλον θα διαβάσεις κάτι καλό.
Αυτό που δεν καταλαβαίνεις, είναι το ΠΌΣΟ καλό θα είναι αυτό.
Γιατί δεν ανοίγεις ένα βιβλίο.
Ανοίγεις έναν ασκό συναισθημάτων, που ξεχύνονται άπλετα καθόλη την διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης.
Και όχι μόνο αυτό. Οι περιγραφές είναι τόσο ζωντανές, που νομίζεις ότι είσαι σε μια γωνιά και εσύ και παρακολουθείς. Ίσως και για λίγο να νομίσεις ότι ήταν εκεί και ο ίδιος ο συγγραφέας, του οποίου η πένα δεν γράφει. Όχι, όχι! Ζωγραφίζει....
Ο πιο φανατικός αρχαιολάγνος θα ωχριούσε, μπροστά στον τρόπο που μιλάει για του�� Σπαρτιάτες και το πώς φαντάστηκε να δίνεται η μάχη των Θερμοπυλών. Χωρίς ωστόσο να αδικεί και τους Πέρσες.
Μια μάχη για την οποία τόσα και τόσα βιβλία γράφτηκαν, τόσα και τόσα τραγούδια εμπνεύστηκαν.
Από τα βιβλία που τα ανοίγεις και χάνεσαι μέσα τους.

Όσοι αγαπούν τη λογοτεχνία και την ανάγνωση θα διαβάσουν πολλά βιβλία κατά τη διάρκεια της ζωής τους. Λίγα, όμως, είναι εκείνα τα βιβλία για τα οποία θα ισχυριστούν ότι τους «άγγιξαν» τόσο έντονα ώστε να τα θυμούνται για πάντα!

Ένα από τα καλύτερα, θεωρώ, βιβλία που διάβασα ποτέ είναι το «Οι πύλες της φωτιάς» (μετάφραση του «Gates of fire») του αμερικανού συγγραφέα Steven Pressfield.

Ο Pressfield (γεν. 1943), έχει γράψει μια σειρά από ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα που αφορούν κυρίως την αρχαία Ελλάδα. Στο βιβλίο «Οι πύλες της φωτιάς» περιγράφει, με ακρίβεια ιστορικού, απίστευτες λεπτομέρειες τη μάχη των Θερμοπυλών. Το προτότυπο έργο στα αγγλικά γράφτηκε το 1998 ενώ στα ελληνικά μεταφράστηκε το 2001 από της εκδόσεις Πατάκη.

Ce roman, frate, CE ROMAN!! Mi-a luat o lună de zile să-l citesc, și deși am întâlnit câteva chestii care m-au făcut să strâmb din nas, nu pot să nu recunosc talentul autorului! Nu le prea am cu scenele de luptă descrise amănunțit, dar în cazul ăsta le-am apreciat, fiindcă au acordat veridicitate poveștii celor trei sute de spartani de la Termopile. Nu știu ce-aș mai putea spune acum, la cald, decât că mi s-a părut un roman EPIC, plin de personaje și întâmplări memorabile, care oferă spartanilor ce e al spartanilor. Sper numai să mă adun destul de mult încât să-i pot scrie o recenzie care să-i facă dreptate!

***
CITEŞTE RECENZIA MEA PE BLOG: https://literaryjungle.wordpress.com/...

Gates of Fire is easily my book of the year so far, and I find it difficult to imagine I’ll be reading a better book in the next few months. The Brothers Gwynne have been raving about this book for a while now, and I finally gave in, as I had a few extra days left over this month after finishing my usual TBR. More booktubers need to read and review this book. It is, quite simply, excellent.

It’s been a good year for historical fiction in general, as far as my reading goes. The best series I’ve read this year has been The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell, a retelling of the Arthurian Legend. Gates of Fire is a standalone, and is the tale of 300 – King Leonidas and the valiant Spartans who held the line at the Battle of Thermopylae against the ruthless invading army of King Xerxes’ Persians.

We learn about the story of the Spartans from Xeones, a survivor of the battle who is captured by the Persians. He narrates his tale to King Xerxes and his historian. It is a tale of hardship, loss, and sacrifice, but one that inspires greatly. It is also a tale of valour, stoicism, and honour.

The author's prose is brilliant, and every single character is memorable. A bit like Bernard Cornwell’s tale of Arthur, you know the basics, but can’t help reading page after page anyway. There was not a single page where I got bored, not a single page which the book would be better off without. This is an absolute page turner, and of the hardest books to put down. A story that will stay with you for a long long time, if not forever.

I’ve read books by authors who write absolute top tier battle scenes – Bernard Cornwell, of course, Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne, Steven Erikson, to name a few. But Steven Pressfield might just be my new favourite.

An absolute masterpiece, and highest possible recommendation.

Xeon es un superviviente que narra la batalla de las Termópilas (en griego 'puertas de fuego'), en que un grupo de Espartanos opusieron una resistencia legendaria al avance de las tropas persas de Jerjes contra Grecia. Películas o cómics como ‘300’ han popularizado este episodio de la antigüedad y el resultado es bastante conocido.

Lo que más me ha interesado son las descripciones detalladas sobre la vida en Esparta, una sociedad totalmente enfocada a la guerra. Toda la primera parte del libro, sobre las costumbres y las leyes de estos guerreros, es lo que explica la batalla final.

En general me ha resultado un poco largo, unas 500 páginas, y las descripciones de batallas y violencia se me hacen un poco excesivas, aunque entiendo que son el tema principal del libro.
3,5*

La battaglia delle Termopili non ha bisogno di presentazioni. Se ne è parlato molto, forse anche a sproposito: un gesto inutile? Da un punto di vista pragmatico, forse sì, ma questo libro riesce a coglierne e svelarne al lettore il significato più profondo.

La battaglia delle Termopili fu un simbolo, un sacrificio rituale come talvolta si ritrovano nella Storia antica (basti pensare alla Devotio romana) che permise alla civiltà greca di sopravvivere e perpetuarsi, non solo negli atti, ma anche nella memoria. Il sacrificio di un pugno di guerrieri spartani, tespiesi e altri alleati provenienti dalle altre poleis, stretti in quel passo angusto alle Porte di Fuoco, rallentò l'avanzata dello sterminato esercito persiano e risollevò il morale degli altri milioni di greci che, rimasti a difendere le loro città, udirono il racconto della loro strenua resistenza.

Come dice Leonida in questo libro, fu un gesto che segnò il trionfo della libertà sulla schiavitù, che impedì all'Ellade di diventare una provincia periferica dello sconfinato impero. Ma soprattutto, impedì alla secolare identità ellenica di venire inghiottita dal crogiolo persiano, dove già diversi popoli avevano perso la loro autonomia.

Tutto questo, Steven Pressfield riesce a ricrearlo tra le pagine di questo libro. Ricostruisce le condizioni estreme della battaglia, il loro impatto sul morale degli uomini e lo spirito che li ha portati a resistere fino all'ultimo. Ci restituisce i costumi spartani, scava a fondo nella loro mentalità, nella concezione di regalità comune agli antichi popoli europei, e analizza le sfaccettature del coraggio e della paura. Parla di uomini e donne che sanno essere eroici nelle loro fragilità, non perché non abbiano debolezze, ma perché riescono a domarle.
E ci fa capire che forse, se gli Spartani e i loro alleati greci non avessero ottenuto questa vittoria simbolica alle Termopili, adesso la storia europea sarebbe molto diversa.