Publisher: Head of Zeus
SYNOPSIS:
A defeated king stands on top of a pyre. His conqueror, the Persian ruler Cyrus, signals to his guards; they step forward and touch flaming torches to the dry wood. Croesus, once the wealthiest man of the ancient world, is to be burned alive. As he watches the flames catch, Croesus thinks back over his life. He remembers the time he asked the old Athenian philosopher, Solon, who was the happiest man in the world. Croesus used to think it was him. But then all his riches could not remove the spear from his dying elder son's chest; could not bring his mute younger son to speak; could not make him as wise as his own chief slave; could not bring his wife's love back; could not prevent his army from being torn apart and his kingdom lost. As the old philosopher had replied, a man's happiness can only be measured when he is dead. The first coils of smoke wrap around Croesus' neck like a noose...
REVIEW:
Whilst I’m familiar with some of what’s been written about Ancient Greece I have to admit that I was completely in the dark about the subject of Tim’s book, Croesus which to be honest isn’t necessarily a bad thing as you’re never quite sure on what you’re going to get.
That adds not only a mystery to the book but also a wonderful sense of spice as the character is less than predicable. I love that, so I really couldn’t wait to embark into the ancient world to see what I would get.
What Tim presents is a novel that is thought provoking, gives the reader a story of epic proportions and wraps it up with neat prose, solid dialogue and wonderfully imagined storytelling which all in gives the reader something not only unique but something that will encourage others to go back and look at the text that inspired the tale. It’s a great read regardless of the fact that it’s a debut and all round I was more than a happy reader. Than k you Time for a wonderful piece of historical fiction, I’m looking forward to seeing what you come back with next time.
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