The Lion of the title is young Pericles, to be known in later life as the Lion of Athens, one of the great cities of the ancient world, a city blessed by the gods, where everyday life is steeped in the myths and legends of the storytellers of the age. (Review by Barry Meehan)
Conn Iggulden is a master when it comes to authors of historical fiction. His novels have sold over ten million copies worldwide, and his works include The War of the Roses series, The Emperor series, The Conqueror series, The Empire of Salt series, and – most recently – The Athenian series. Lion is the first book in his new series The Golden Age.
While it is not completely necessary (as this novel does stand up on its own), I would recommend that one reads the two novels in The Athenian series before taking on this one. There are many references to past events, and reading both the recommended books, The Gates of Athens and Protector would certainly provide one with a better understanding of the build-up to Lion, and possibly a better understanding of the hero’s thought processes.
The Lion of the title is young Pericles, to be known in later life as the Lion of Athens, one of the great cities of the ancient world, a city blessed by the gods, where everyday life is steeped in the myths and legends of the storytellers of the age. It is also a true democracy, its rulers elected by its citizens, and this novel offers a tantalising glimpse into the political turmoil of the times.
Athens was in the time this novel is set – the 5th Century BC – a state on its own. The unification of Greece was a long way away, although one of the themes herein is the alliances of several of the states, spearheaded by master statesman and former war hero, Xanthippus, the father of Pericles. The unfortunate part of the formation of this alliance was that it did not include one of the super-powers of the region – Sparta. Consequences were inevitable, but political shenanigans come to the fore, resulting in the rather horrendous death of one of the antagonists.
The novel covers several event conflicts of the time – the retaking of Cyprus from the Persian invaders, the discovery and repatriation of the bones of the slain Athenian hero Theseus, and the decimation of the Persian fleet and army at the Eurymedon River, the last-mentioned removing forever the threat of another invasion of Athens by the Persian king, Xerxes.
All of the battles and events mentioned above were under the leadership of Pericles’s good friend Cimon, a hero in his own right. Pericles stands with him throughout, but his greatest exploits and his becoming “The Lion of Athens” are only to be told by Iggulden in the final book of the series, which, according to his notes at the end of the book, was his intention from the very beginning.
Lion is still an excellent read, bringing to life in vivid detail the gritty wars of the ancient world, life aboard the great warships of the time, and even the political side of theatre in Athens at the time.
Conn Iggulden’s Lion is published by Penguin Fiction. ISBN 978-0-241-51313-2 - Barry Meehan
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