The Flowers of Adonis

A "highly satisfactory" historical novel portrays Alcibiades as "magnetic, brilliant, often ruthless, restless, unable to accept a simple destiny" (Kirkus Reviews).

 

From the internationally acclaimed author of The Eagle of the Ninth . . .

The epic story of Greece's most controversial hero.

In the fifth century BC, against the background of perpetually warring Greek city-states, one man towered above the chaos. His name was Alkibiades.

Friend of Socrates, sailor, warrior and incorrigible lover, he fled persecution in his native Athens to join her enemy: Sparta. However, his brilliant naval and diplomatic victories could not save him from the consequences of impregnating the Spartan queen, and once more he was forced to flee.

Alkibiades settled into life as a roving soldier of fortune, though his love for Athens proved to be the overriding influence of his later life. When that glorious city eventually fell to the Spartans, his own violent demise was shortly to follow . . .

"A fascinating character study told with skill and erudition." —The Daily Telegraph

"A gripping story of battle, intrigue and ruin." —Evening Standard