Whether it’s due to getting to know the characters, the smoother pacing or just fewer confusing jumps between the narrators, I really enjoyed The Lion. It offers an insight into life as an Athenian at that time: not just war, but the more pleasurable aspects of life; friendships, laughter, the fun of putting on a new play and seeing a society coming together, united under a cause. A reviewer forPublishers Weeklyrecognized that “Iggulden has a solid grounding in Roman military history,” but found that “anachronisms in speech and attitude roll underfoot and trip up authenticity.” Pray also noted that Iggulden’s “writing shines in battle,” adding that “hand-to-hand combat and military clashes are Iggulden’s forte.” Justin Warshaw in theTimes Literary Supplementalso noted Iggulden’s flair for bloody detail. His descriptions of fighting and other violence wrote Warshaw, “are as convincing as they are horrific.” Genghis Khan is dead, but his legend and legacy have not yet left the plains. Ogedai, his son, has built a white city on a great plain which becomes the capital of a new nation. During this time, new enemies are coming together to find out which Genghis has the strength of a Khan. I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.

Conn Iggulden - Book Series In Order Conn Iggulden - Book Series In Order

The main characters in this story are Cimon and Pericles. They are childhood friends and their fathers had fought in the battles at Marathon against the Persians. The Persians have gone quieter of late, but that does not mean there is no danger. The city-states of Greece come together to form the Delian League, they amass a fleet that patrols the Aegean to keep a look out for potential Persian threats. Now under Genghis Khan, they unite and go against a common enemy, the mighty slumbering walled empire of the Chin. Bones of the Hills The boy who was abandoned by his tribe in the wilderness has now grown into one of the most powerful and feared leader in history. Genghis Khan has gone after tribes fighting against each other and unified them to exist under his rule. United, they battle against their oldest enemies. In August 2014, Iggulden was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue. [6] Career [ edit ] Historical fiction [ edit ] A second central character in this book is Cimon, also prominent in the Athenian series. Cimon is the Strategos of the Greek Alliance, which is shown being formed in this part under the leadership of Xanthippus. Much of the book involves the Pericles/Cimon relationship as Pericles both admires Cimon as a leader and person and is jealous of him, especially for his intimacy with Thetis, the captive concubine of a pirate from Scyros and the woman who becomes Pericles wife.

That brings me to my other big problem with this book. I'm fairly sure it was written originally as two stories and glued together because they weren't long enough.

Conn Iggulden - Wikipedia Conn Iggulden - Wikipedia

The third in a series set during the Graeco-Persian wars, The Lion depicts the triumph of Cimon, the man most responsible for the defeat of Persian king, Xerxes. The story covers the formation of the Delian League (the alliance of Greek states set up to combat the Persian threat), the hostility of Sparta to Athenian leadership, and the first fracture in the alliance caused by the rebellion of Thasos. The age of myths and legends has given way to the world of men. In the front rank stands Pericles, Lion of Athens. Behind Pericles lies the greatest city of the ancient world. Before him, on land and at sea, stands the merciless Persian army. Both sides are spoiling for war. Though still a young man, Pericles knows one thing: to fight a war you must first win the peace. In 2017, Iggulden published a historical fiction novel called Dunstan, [11] chronicling the life of the 10th century monk and political adviser to the Saxon Kings of England, St. Dunstan.Iggulden's debut book was The Gates of Rome, the first in a currently five-part series entitled Emperor. The series is based around the life of Julius Caesar, from childhood ( The Gates of Rome) to his eventual betrayal and death ( The Gods of War). The film option has been sold to Spitfire Productions (an Intermedia company). Quetteville, Harry de (12 October 2019). "Paper planes, stink bombs and fire-starting: The Dangerous Book for Boys has a sequel, and it's less PC than ever". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235 . Retrieved 18 November 2020. Lion focuses mainly on the Athenian front of things instead of the Persian. But there indeed were several points where we get to experience the war from Artabazus or even Xerxes' perspective. I was alright with that up till the death of Xerxes. We're shown the event from the Persian perspective, but I just don't feel connected. I know too little about Persian politics to even make sense of what's happening and why it's happening, let alone be emotionally connected to the scene. A better choice may be to tell Xerxes' death from the Athenian perspective, e.g. Cimon hearing about the death of Xerxes from some hoplites and that the king seemed to have died by his own guards' hands. That way Xerxes' death could be a bit more of a mystery and that could be pretty intriguing and realistic given how bemusing things can be during wartime. Although not brothers, the boys are raised together and trained in the arts of war. With the brutal death of Gaius’s father in a slave revolt, the boys take up residence with Gaius’s uncle Marius, a consul who is a leading contender for control of the Republic. Pericles is a strong main character. He has strengths and weaknesses, but is a good man determined to prove his worth. He has a strong legacy to live up to due to his father’s actions but fighting is in his blood. Even after an opportunity to settle down to married life, he can’t resist the call to stand by his friends against impossible odds.

Empire - Penguin Books UK

In 2018, Penguin Books released a historical novel called The Falcon of Sparta, about the effort of Prince Cyrus to become King of Persia and the stranded 10,000 Greek mercenaries who walked out of Persia while pursued by the King's armies following the Battle of Cunaxa.Connor Iggulden ( / ˈ ɪ ɡ əl d ɛ n/; born ( 1971-02-24)24 February 1971) is a British author who writes historical fiction, most notably the Emperor series and Conqueror series. He also co-authored The Dangerous Book for Boys along with his brother Hal Iggulden. In 2007, Iggulden became the first person to top the UK fiction and non-fiction charts at the same time.

Lion by Conn Iggulden (Hardback) - Coles Books Lion by Conn Iggulden (Hardback) - Coles Books

Empire of Silver (2010, ISBN 978-0-00-728800-7) (titled Genghis: Empire of Silver 2010, ISBN 978-0-385-33954-4) The master historical storyteller. This swords-and-sandals epic brings the ancient world to life' DAILY EXPRESS Lords of the Bow (2008, ISBN 978-0-00-720177-8) (titled Genghis: Lords of the Bow 2010, ISBN 978-0-385-34279-7) Speaking of Attikos, why didn't anyone kill that old c*** already!? I absolutely adore how Iggulden create the villains in Lion. The worst kind of villains are wimps and fools who don't know their limitations. Never fail to get me frothing in the mouth. Nearly burst a vein or two at Attikos and Ephialtes. I'll be sure to read book 2 just to see them either get killed or redeem themselves (no hopes for Attikos, but Ephialtes might yet be saved, like Pericles - they're not entirely different, I think).

The two main characters are both young men, Cimon the older of the two has more authority than Pericles, the younger man. Lion is the story of their early careers. Iggulden covers the capture of Eion under Cimon’s leadership of the Delian League, an alliance of Greek states, and of Scyros where Cimon found the bones of Theseus and returned them to Athens. He then captured Cyprus and destroyed a Persian fleet on the Eurymedon River. Below the age of thirty little is known of Pericles’ life, but the likelihood is that he was with Cimon for these events. From 1st July 2021, VAT will be applicable to those EU countries where VAT is applied to books - this additional charge will be collected by Fed Ex (or the Royal Mail) at the time of delivery. Shipments to the USA & Canada: The battles are set far from home this time. While this is by no means a ‘light’ story, it’s also not as dark as the previous two. Not witnessing the heartbreak of seeing your home, your city, fall to invaders knowing it’s going to be impossible to keep them out, changes the tone. The Athenians are taking the fight to them, and it changes the mood. There’s an undercurrent of hope and determination, rather than the helplessness prevalent beforehand.