A Victor of Salamis.

The clash of Greece and Persia gave history some of its most dramatic hours, and William Stearns Davis, a historian with a novelist's flair, brings that world roaring to life in this tale set against the decisive struggle for Greek freedom.

What it's about

The novel unfolds during the Persian Wars, moving toward the great naval battle of Salamis, where the outnumbered Greek fleet turned back the might of the Persian empire. Through the fortunes of its characters, caught up in loyalty, suspicion, love, and the shifting tides of war, Davis dramatises the events and personalities of that pivotal age, from Athenian democracy to Spartan valour to the grand ambitions of the Persian king. His deep knowledge of the ancient world grounds the adventure in authentic detail.

Themes

Freedom against tyranny, individual honour against the sweep of great events, and the making of the Greek civilisation that would shape the West all run through the book. It dwells on courage and betrayal, on the ties of love and city, and on the moment when the future of Western culture seemed to hang on the outcome of a single battle.

Why it still matters

Davis was a respected historian, and his fiction offers an accessible, vivid entry into a period whose outcome shaped everything that followed. The novel keeps alive the drama and stakes of Salamis in a way that pure history seldom can.

Who it's for

Readers who love historical fiction, ancient Greece, and stirring adventure will find this a satisfying immersion. It suits anyone drawn to the world of Herodotus, or to a well-told story of heroism set at a turning point of history.

Sources and references

Verified references for this edition: Open Library, WorldCat.