Themistocles (524459 BC) rose to prominence during an era when Athens was rapidly expanding into a dominant city-state. He quickly became a leading political and military figure: he fought at Marathon, persuaded the Athenians to expand their fleet, and orchestrated the decisive victory over the Persians at Salamis. Michael Scott, a university professor and expert on ancient Greece, paints a deeply human portrait of Themistoclesa man capable of being both resolute and heroic, yet also insecure and unprepared. He was a polarizing figure in Athens, loved and hated in equal measure; his plans and ambitious ideas frequently drew criticism from political rivals. Ultimately, Themistocles was exiled and concluded his political career in Persia, serving as an advisor to Artaxerxesthe son of his arch-enemy, Xerxes. In this biography of the man Thucydides hailed as a "historical hero," Scott illuminates the turbulent world of Athenian politics and the pivotal role historians and biographers play in shapingand sometimes distortingthe image of the great men of their age.
