Vivienne Leheny narrates with an assured voice as she guides listeners through this engrossing history of an obscure fourth-century BCE band of Theban soldiers composed of male companions. Uncovered in a mass grave in 1880, these pairs of erastes (older men) and eromenos (younger men) are contextualized within the rhythms of ancient life. Leheny's measured pace allows listeners to follow along with developments in regional politics and shifting allegiances. Kings, generals, and other figures of Ancient Greek, Persian, and Macedonian city-states are smoothly delineated through clear pronunciation. A compelling conclusion, fueled by skillful research, assembles the pieces of what may have occurred on that final battlefield as the heart of the Theban military faced the now-legendary might of Alexander the Great.
Pub Date: June 8, 2021
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797129211
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
HISTORY | ANCIENT | MILITARY | LGBTQ | GENERAL HISTORY | EXPEDITIONS
This is history for the modern listener, clear, efficient, and reliable.
There’s something calming about listening to ancient history, as this well-researched audiobook amply demonstrates. Mark Elstob’s polished, quietly nuanced narration maintains distance and balance while giving full weight to the narrative’s many fine details. Elstob has narrated two of Goldsworthy’s previous audiobooks, companion histories of the long competition between Rome and Persia. He perfectly matches this prolific popular historian’s lucid and impartial narrative style and his knack for balancing a panoramic view with a close recreation of place and action. The long, contentious rivalry between Athens and Sparta turned victory over Persia into division and civil strife.
This is history for the modern listener, clear, efficient, and reliable.Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 20 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549135439
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
Author/narrator William Dalrymple shares his fascination with the remarkable history of India's profound worldwide intellectual influence. His idiosyncratic and charming British speech and manner, along with his amiability and intelligence, are engaging throughout. His pacing and phrasing are natural, unaffected, and dictated by the material. He varies longish pauses--which allow the listener to absorb the sometimes complex details--with shorter sentences expressing excitement. His emphasis and shading of words, and his occasional deeply felt reactions, mirror the sense of the text and, therefore, illuminate it. The clear, unpretentious narration that takes the listener through this wide-ranging story of the spread of Indian religion, art, philosophy, mathematics, and science makes for an educational pleasure.
Pub Date: April 29, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781639734689
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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