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Book Summary and Reviews of Empire by Conn Iggulden

Empire by Conn Iggulden

Empire

A Novel of the Golden Age

by Conn Iggulden

  • Critics' Consensus (8):
  • Published:
  • Jun 2023, 432 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

In Conn Iggulden's latest historical epic, join Pericles, the lion of Athens, on his journey to secure the fate of the Athenian empire.

Pericles returns home more than a hero: he's the leader of Athens, the empire's beacon of light.

But even during times of peace, the threat of Sparta—Athens's legendary rival—looms large on the horizon. When a sudden catastrophe brings Sparta to its knees, Pericles sees a golden opportunity to forever shift the balance of power in his city's favor. For sometimes, the only way to win lasting peace is to wage war.

Sparta may be weak, but their power is far from extinguished. Soon a ruthless young boy steps forward to lead the Spartans back to greatness.

As the drums of battle draw closer, can Pericles rise to victory once more—or will the world's greatest empire fall under his watch?

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Conn Iggulden is a grand storyteller." ―USA Today

"Devotees of the ancient world will relish this exciting historical novel." ―Booklist

"A well-researched tale of heroism and hardship, honor and betrayal in which anyone's life can disappear with a filth-tipped arrow or the slash of a kopis. Exciting fare, a yarn well-spun." ―Kirkus Reviews

"A rousing retelling of a singular event, as seen through the eyes of three leaders on a momentous trek, this latest historical novel by Iggulden will be of interest to both young and old readers of military and ancient history." ―Library Journal

"Having already taken on Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and the War of the Roses, Iggulden successfully dramatizes the life of Dunstan, Abbot of Glastonbury and confidant of King Aethelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great. Immerses the reader." ―Publishers Weekly

"Superbly plotted and paced. An absolutely cracking story. The pace is nail-biting and the set dressing magnificent. Through his eyes we watch the story of the making of England." ―The Times (London)

"A gripping read from the master historical storyteller. This swords-and-sandals epic brings the clash of empires between Greece and Persia to life." ―The Daily Express

"Pacy and propulsive, cracking with energy, violence and stirring speeches, Iggulden chronicles power struggles, political machinations, and the bloodthirsty ravages of up-close combat." ―The Daily Mail

This information about Empire was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Conn Iggulden Author Biography

Conn Iggulden is one of the most acclaimed authors of historical fiction writing today. Among numerous bestselling novels, he is the author of The Abbot's Tale, The Falcon of Sparta, The Gates of Athens, Protector, The Lion, and Empire, all available from Pegasus Books. Conn lives in London.

Author Interview
Link to Conn Iggulden's Website

Name Pronunciation
Conn Iggulden: i-GULL-den

Other books by Conn Iggulden at BookBrowse
  • The Dangerous Book for Boys jacket
  • The Abbot's Tale jacket

12 more...

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