For at least two centuries the Spartan army was the most formidable war machine in Greece and the stated purpose of this republished book in paperback format is to show why this was the case. The author looks at the composition, training and organisation of the army, tracing its roots back to the eighth century BC. He then moves on to analyse some of the most significant Spartan campaigns and battles – Thermopylai, Plataea, Sphakteria, Mantineia, The Nemea, Koroneia, Lechaion and Leuktra. Finally he outlines Sparta’s declining power and explains the reasons for this. Maps and monochrome illustrations are included and a full set of notes, a glossary of Greek terms and an index round off the text. If the reader has any interest in ancient times and in particular in the Spartans, then this book is surely essential reading.

Stuart Asquith, Author

... At the beginning of his book, Professor JF Lazenby tells us that it is about the Spartan Army, not the history of Sparta as a whole. He covers the origins of the army but admits that even now some aspects of its makeup are not clear, mostly due to lack of original texts, or the fact that Classical writers disagree over military terms. This sets the scene for the second part of the book, where he describes the major battles fought by the Spartan Army...

... The chapter ends with a very moving moment, when the author steps down into the narrative and descries his personal feelings on seeing the sunrise over the battlefield.

The other chapters on battles are just as enlightening and the author's description of the reason for the final failure of the Spartan Army is convincing.

Minerva Magazine