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23 of 23 found the following review helpful:
A born storyteller and a great story Sep 27, 2008
By Steven Pressfield
Having written tales set in ancient Greece myself, I know how difficult it is to strike the proper feel, rhythm and tone of voice to attempt to re-create a world that is, on the one hand, vanished and, on the other, totally present and inhering in our modern, Western sphere. If you get too "ancient," you lose the reader. Go too contemporary and the piece feels fake. Eugene Kraay hits exactly the right note with this tale of Theagenes, the great Olympic boxer, as told by Simonides, the poet who wrote the famous epitaph for the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. Theagenes is a tremendous character. Superhuman, larger than life, but deeply flawed, self-tormented, driven, even consumed, by inner imperatives of honor and redemption. This is very Greek (and very American) and "The Olympian" makes you feel it in your bones. It's a quest story. Theagenes starts out seeking one form of redemption, a bout with the great Spartan champion Lampis, and in the end finds another form that is unexpected, far deeper and rings absolutely true. I confess I was skeptical picking this book up because a friend had told me what its ambitions were. But it hooked me from the first page. I know Greece, the land and the sea, and "The Olympian" gets that right too. I felt as if I were reading an actual manuscript from those days that had somehow just been dug up from an archaeological dig. Eugene Kraay is a born storyteller. His tale zigs and zags and never loses a jot of momentum. He gets you "on the road" with his characters and you feel you're right there with them. The scenes at Olympia are tremendous sportswriting, if such a phrase can be applied. By the time the story reaches Thermopylae, to which Theagenes and Simonides have trekked because Lampis has gone there with his fellow Spartans to help defend the pass against Xerxes and the invading Persian multitudes, you are living every second with them. I won't spoil the ending. Suffice it to say, no one has ever hit Thermopylae from this angle and it is powerful, effecting and unforgettable. One final thought. There are many writers who can write a great sentence or a great paragraph or a great chapter, but very few can conceive a story from start to finish, make it unique, and have it hang together all the way through, so that when you've reached the climax, you can look back as a reader at everything that came before and see how nothing was superfluous and everything has borne you skillfully to the pleasure of the finish. Eugene Kraay does that with absolute ease and assurance in this, his first book. I can't wait to see what he'll do next!
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
A Beautiful Tale From Ancient History Aug 28, 2008
By D. L. Smith
I am an avid reader of non-fiction, with a few fiction books scattered here and there. However, while perusing through the new books that were being offered, I saw the magnetizing cover of this one, 'The Olympian', which seemed to stand out from all of the rest. I decided to take a peek inside, and after reading just the first paragraph, I was already ready to buy this. As soon as this book arrived, I began to read, and I have to say, this is one of the most amazing ones I've ever read. The entire book was full of outstanding imagery, which took me straight to Ancient Hellas! I was wrapped up inside of this beautiful tale from beginning to end. I think that this book lies somewhere in between fiction and non-fiction, as the people involved as characters in this book are real people which the author brought to life. This author, E.S. Kraay, has done a wonderful job weaving this together, and it is easy to see that he has a pure love of writing. I am hoping that there will be ANOTHER book from this author soon. I highly recommend this outstanding piece of writing to anyone who loves reading a book that takes them to another place altogether, a place where you feel as if you are friends with the characters, a place where you can feel what they are feeling, a place where you can escape from the business of everyday worldly life. That is what a great book does! Great job E.S. Kraay, and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
An Extraordinary Tale of Redemption... Aug 18, 2008
By PapaBear615
"PapaBear615"
I've read a lot of books in my time, but this is the first review I've written. I believe this novel deserves my praise and your attention! It's about sports, it's about war, but most of all, it's about people. The characters are memorable.
A week ago or so, I took a chance on an unknown author. With the Olympic games in full swing, I stumbled across this novel and decided to give it a chance, and I couldn't be more thrilled that I did; in short, this extraordinary story of Theagenes, the bull of Thasos, is an absolute gem.
Reading the summary of the book on Amazon does this book little justice, though one line certainly does hit the nail on the head: "Two men, one a boxer, the other a poet, come to the revelation that the true worth of a man is based on more than what he does for himself." The truth behind this statement is as firm today as it was in 480 BCE.
The story is free flowing and an easy read. It is narrated by the old and wise Simonides, a well known poet, who will no doubt remind the reader of a favorite teacher, grandfather, etc. Theagenes, a boxer is "The Olympian" as referred to in the title of the book. Born through a "divine birth," Theo is the epitome of an athlete physically, though his cockiness and behavior aren't up to par with his physical presence. Theo's goal in life is to defeat Lampis, the Spartan champion at the 75th Olympiad, 480 BCE (that is the year that King Xerxes and his army marched on Greece). However, when Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans march to the Hot Gates at Thermopylae, Lampis leaves Olympia before the games had commenced to join his King in battle knowing that the attacking Persians would not honor the sacred truce, which was issued during the Olympic games, no wars would be fought.
I'll not reveal the secrets contained in this story. I will tell you you will get a good look at the ancient Olympics and ancient Greek life. I emphasize that the book is more about the summary line I referred to earlier, "the worth of a man." This book is not about the Battle of Thermopylae though the final scene is stunning. Other authors, notably Steven Pressfield have done that justice. But what happens at Thermopylae in this book will linger on your mind for a long, long time.
I highly recomend giving this book a shot; the story is a gripping and compelling page-turner. I, for one, am eager to see what E.S. Kraay will bring us next.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Gold Medal Aug 29, 2008
By joe woods
"joe"
Gene Kraay masterfully introduces us into the ancient world of Greece. Kraay's enthusiasm for his characters, their thoughts, and their challenges, quickly become our characters, our thoughts, and our challenges. It is evident from the outset that the author loves this story and is genuinely anxious to share that love with us. He succeeds in grand fashion. As he develops each character, and their unique and distinct personalities, we seamlessly slip into their shoes, recognizing a slice of our own personalities in each. We have all thought ourselves a poet, like Simonides, a peacemaker like Parmenides, self centered, in our youth, like Xeno, and all of us dream of being a hero and champion, like Theagenes
While Kraay leads us through the landscape of ancient Greece, he subtlety educates us on this most critical time of our history, and he does so with passion and fervor. The excitement of olympic competition is interwoven within this history and is experienced in both victory and defeat. This novel will evoke a multitude of your emotions, from love and compassion, to fear and anger, and ultimately, reflective satisfaction and joy.
Ancient Hellas would be proud of E.S. Kraay and his Olympian.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Worth more than gold medals Sep 26, 2008
By M. Stinson
I heard an interview with the author here in New York City, and he struck me as the type of guy I'd like to have a beer with. Greek history seems like a hobby for him, but one that he has mastered. That's why I bought the book.
I'm into epic stories about heroes rising to the occassion, saving the day by making the ultimate sacrifice. While this story really does touch on all of the manly things that I typically enjoy in books and movies alike, it really gets down to a deeper matter, which is what I hope people really take from this book. The story, like others have said, is captivating and this is indeed an "easy read," but the underlying message beneath it all is one that isn't reflected upon often enough in today's society: A man's true worth is not found in what he does for himself. It's a very profound message and the author was very cheeky in making that point clear, all the while telling a gripping story.
Two points I would like to make about the content of the story:
1. The scene at Thermopylae will choke the reader up. In that moment, you are watching these Spartans get slaughtered, and there's nothing you can do about it. In a time when terrorism steals the headlines, it will likely make you think of some modern day events (ie 9/11, Madrid, etc).
2. The way the characters speak, their language, is different from what I expected. It's almost as if you really are being told the story in the tongue of the ancient greeks.
Very good stuff.
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