The Last King of Lydia

Product Information

We hear tell of his famously interrupted execution by being burned alive (possibly true, if exaggerated).

Croesus is master of his own destiny and it is only his thoughtless behavior that will bring about his downfall. Readers who revel in the material details of period costume, weapons and mores may be disappointed in this fabulistic treatment of the ancient king whose name became synonymous with wealth. I think, if I’ve interpreted correctly, Leach suggests that life itself, the long stretch of days, might gain one or both of those but then again might not.Definitely worth a read for anyone with an interest in the classical world or the question of how to have a happy life. Croesus is depicted as a flawed leader, but Leach skilfully persuades the reader to keep rooting for him, despite his mistakes. Summary: King Croesus experiences a dramatic change of fortune that allows him to evaluate the true meaning of happiness. It is a beautiful comparison between someone who believes he is all powerful coming up against a true giant of a man who will make his mark on history. Wholly satisfying from start to finish, Tim Leach has written a terrific novel that should appeal to all readers, regardless of whether they like historical fiction.

has been a terrific year for books, and The Last King of Lydia deserves to sit right at the top of the pile. Every now and then I will get a book that is so good that I’m almost too scared to review it in case readers think I have been paid by the author or publisher. Our features are original articles from our print magazines (these will say where they were originally published) or original articles commissioned for this site. Just look at this comparison of the teaching of Solon which saves Croesus’ life: In Herodotus it’s the gloomy “Count no man happy until he is dead. There aren't a lot of novels that cover this period, so while I do applaud the author's efforts, I think the story fell flat.It may only be April but this astonishing debut book from Tim Leach is without doubt my book of 2013. His conqueror, the Persian ruler Cyrus, signals to his guards; they step forward and touch flaming torches to the dry wood. It was a fascinating read, a great story very well told, and makes me keen to read more about the ancient world. She exploited the myth of Theseus to recreate an imagined bronze age Greece and she made use of the historical Alexander in a wonderful series of novels.

The conversation that the two have, where Croesus seeks to unravel the truth and Harpagus is surprisingly frank about his past, was one of my favorite parts in the book. 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. He rules over an empire unrivaled in power and wealth and myths and rumours abound about the vast treasuries he has constructed in his palace.The adventure of Croesus is a heroic quest for the meaning of happiness, and along the way he considers the nature of fate, freedom vs. His gradual epiphany gives the book an optimistic feel despite some of the story’s brutal realities. By taking on the might of the Persian Empire in the quest for even more wealth, Croesus meets his match in Cyrus of Persia, an expert military strategist.