Tides of War by Steven Pressfield

As the subtitled, “A Novel of Alcibiades and the Peloponnesian War” suggests, this is the story of the Athenian Alcibiades, a prominent statesman and general in Athens around 400 BC.  Like many of Pressfield’s books, this is a historical novel based on real characters and events.  However, given it was ~2,500 years ago, there are no precise historical records to trace the minute details of what occurred.  That is actually the beauty of this book (and most of Pressfield’s writing).  The reader gets so wrapped up in the characters and storylines that one forgets the author has invented much of the story.  

Of Pressfield’s novels, I still place Gates of Fire as my favorite, but Tides of War is a close second.  The motivations and emotions of the characters are relatable to those of our own and it’s oddly comforting to read how centuries ago people dealt with the same interpersonal issues that we all grapple with today.  

At 448 pages or seven hours, it’s a mid length book.  The language can be dense at times but the story is incredible and well worth your time.