The Last King of Lydia

Product Information

The philosophical tone is set early on when Solon, the famous wise man of Athens, comes to visit Croesus. Leach puts these words in the mouth of a 5th Century BC ruler, yet I’m not sure I’ve read a more apposite phrase to sum up what’s wrong with modern society.

Leach lets us examine a distinctive ancient period of grand gestures and empires, as well as the individual wisdom of characters we come to know and, despite all their failings, admire. However, the format of the book is not implied or even conventional: it is not an action-packed thriller, although there is action in it; it is not a book of political intrigue (thank God), yet political intrigue features; and it is certainly not a murder mystery or fantasy story. He remembers the time he asked the old Athenian philosopher, Solon, who was the happiest man in the world. I didn’t feel like I was getting the full, rich story, but snatched glimpses of Croesus’ life, the bare bones of the plot needed to keep it moving on but no real fleshing out of the world.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.

The first chapter gives a strong sense of what's to follow: The guards had long since learned the way to make a royal prisoner docile. It is a strange friendship that he strikes up with Isocrates as a fellow slave; an odd respect that he learns for his conqueror, the Persian King Cyrus. Leach's narrative is largely derivative of the ancient sources, but he adeptly weaves them together and keeps the pacing engaging. For example, I had no idea that the conversation with Solon was reputed to have happened, having been recorded by Herodutus, or that the Lydians are credited with the invention of coinage. Cyrus is strong, dominate, ruthless and power oozes from him, he make Croesus seem weak and feeble and a bit pathetic.

Reading the story encourages a great deal of self-reflection and analysis which may leave the reader a little wiser by the end of the book. He does a great job of giving his characters distinct personalities and worldviews, including some historical and pseudohistorical figures (e. Later, as a slave, he lives in fear over the rumors that the Persian general Harpagus killed his brother-in-law and wants to add Croesus to the count.

Croesus is master of his own destiny and it is only his thoughtless behavior that will bring about his downfall.Croesus, at least in this telling, provides an interesting example of how suffering derives not just from privation, but from excess as well. I give it points for being decently written, for the interesting choice of Croesus as subject matter, and for having the determination to try and be a deep, thought-provoking book – I just didn’t think the author pulled it off. Life is full of pleasures we shouldn’t turn down just because we worry they aren’t permanent or profound. and made offerings to Greek shrines, especially *Delphi; anecdotes attest his friendliness to Greek visitors and his wealth. I came here from your GeekDad review of A Winter War, and am so glad I did — I just finished The Last King of Lydia, and it’s thoughtful and compelling and an intersection of philosophy and history that I had no idea existed, but drank up.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Last King of Lydia, not least because it is not exactly run of the mill, but also because of its ability to engage the reader and mix in a variety of settings, battles and courts across Asia Minor whilst remaining focused on the key issues of the book. Meeting just Croesus, his immediate family, and one or two advisors felt unrealistic and implausible. Power is transient, fleeting when compared with the vast sea of history, yet rulers are prepared to condemn thousands to misery in the hope of gaining more and more of it.Croesus is not a man one might aspire to be like or be with, but his journey through life is a deep, varied and intimate one which I really enjoyed. I thought this was a really wonderful modern retelling of Herodotus' account of Croesus, written in a simple but beautiful style that maintains a suitably classical feel while also importing some modern touches. This is a beautiful re-telling of Herodotus’s famous tale and I don’t think I can recommend it highly enough.