The story of Xerxes the Great (circa 519-465 BC), the fourth king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, includes the battles of Thermopylæ and Salamis, famous in their own right-and which were pivotal to world and European history. The tale, woven by classic master storyteller Jacob Abbott is, as usual, free from the dry stuffiness which mars conventional historical accounts.

Beginning with Xerxes' family background, the action starts straightaway with his interactions with Egypt and Greece, and the preparations for the invasion of that latter nation. Abbott's narration, based on meticulous research and primary sources, reveals the immense size of the Persian army, and that their ultimate intention was to conquer all of Europe.

The Greek defensive preparations-spearheaded by the astonishing Spartans-are then reviewed. The mighty clash-and sacrifice-of the main Persian force and the 300 Spartans under Leonidas at Thermopylæ forms one of the centerpieces of the work.

It is followed by the equally important burning of Athens and the Battle of Salamis, where the Persian fleet was destroyed. Finally, faced with stalemate in Greece and rebellion at home, Xerxes was forced to return to Persia.

His army, routed at the Battle of Platæa, followed him home, and the Persian attempt to seize Europe was definitively defeated. Cover image: Detail from Wilhelm von Kaulbach's Die Seeschlacht bei Salamis (1868).

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