"Oden
(Men of Bronze ) follows his critically acclaimed debut
with an eloquent and captivating historical thriller that
chronicles the life of Memnon of Rhodes, a Greek mercenary
in the service of Persia.
Historians
have paid scant attention to Memnon of Rhodes, but Oden,
who admits to "have taken spectacular liberties"with
the incomplete historical record, brings the man and his times
to life with a combination of vivid conjecture, deft plotting
and graceful prose."
~ Publishers Weekly
He lived in the shadow of kings. One trusted him with his
empire; the other feared his every move . . .
Memnon of Rhodes
(375-333 BCE) walked in the footsteps of giants. As a soldier,
sailor, statesman, and general, he was,
in the words of Diodorus of Sicily, “outstanding in
courage and strategic grasp.”
A contemporary of Demosthenes and Aristotle, Memnon rose
from humble origins to command the whole of western Asia in
a time of strife and slaughter. To his own people, he was
a traitor, to his rivals, a mercenary. But, to the King of
Kings, his majesty Darius III of Persia, Memnon was the one
man capable of defending Asia Minor from the rising power
of the barbaric Macedonians.
In a war pitting Greek against Greek, Memnon proved his quality
beyond measure. His enemies fought for glory and gold; Memnon
fought for something more, for loyalty, for honor, and for
duty. He fought for the love of Barsine, a woman of remarkable
beauty and grace. Most of all, he fought for the promise of
peace.
Through the deathbed recollections of a mysterious woman,
the life of Memnon unfolds with brilliant clarity. It is a
record of his triumphs and tragedies, his loves and losses,
and of the determination that drove him to stand against the
most renowned figure of the ancient world -- the ambitious
young conqueror called Alexander the Great.
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"Lovers
of this period, of the military tactics, violence, lives
and times of this world, will be
hard pressed to find a more entertaining and enriching read."
~ NovelSpot
"... a compelling story of the ancient world ... rich
in drama and tension; his battle scenes are authentic in detail
and exciting to read. I look forward to Scott Oden’s
next novel."
~ Jeff Westerhoff
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