About Gates of Fire
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield is a historical novel about the Greek defense of Thermopylae against the Persian invasion. A survivor’s account brings the battle into focus through the lives and loyalties of those who fought it.
Courage and Community
The story explores how training, friendship, and responsibility shape courage under pressure. Its soldiers face fear together, raising questions about the relationship between individual survival and a community’s demands.
Reading and Discussion
Consider how a soldier’s perspective changes the meaning of a familiar historical event. What distinguishes discipline from loyalty? How does the novel portray the costs of military duty?
The hardcover edition was published October 20, 1998, and has 400 pages. Paperback editions have their own publication dates and ISBNs.
Read the Gates of Fire Book Club reading guide.
