A Man at Arms

Written by Steven Pressfield

Narrated by George Guidall

From the acclaimed master of historical fiction comes an epic about a reluctant hero, the Roman Empire, and the rise of a new faith.

Jerusalem and the Sinai desert, first century AD. In the turbulent aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus, officers of the Roman Empire acquire intelligence of a pilgrim bearing an incendiary letter from a religious fanatic to insurrectionists in
Corinth. The contents of this letter could bring down the empire.

The Romans hire a former legionary, the solitary man-at-arms, Telamon of Arcadia, to intercept the letter and capture its courier. Telamon operates by a dark code all his own, with no room for noble causes or lofty beliefs. But once he
overtakes the courier, something happens that neither he nor the empire could have predicted.

In his first novel of the ancient world in thirteen years, the best-selling author of Gates of Fire and Tides of War returns with a gripping saga of conquest and rebellion, bloodshed and faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705020081

Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield has been an enthusiastic golfer since the age of ten. He is the author of the novel Gates of Fire and a well-known screenwriter whose screenplays include "Above the Law" and "Freejack." He lives in the Los Angeles area.

Reviews for A Man at Arms

[vladimiro sousa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

i have a problem with Steven Pressfield. i feel i demand too much because "Tides of war" and "Gates of fire" are books i really love. and so everything else pales in comparison.

[joe73-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a joy of a book. Having read most of Pressfield’s work I have to say I enjoyed this book the most. This story pulls you into the water and throws you out soaking wet and gasping for breath. I would have loved for this to be considerably longer. Some gaps could have been filled in such as. More backstory for Telamon and his connection to men the hunting him and a little more character development for the Roman Officer. The way Telamon is presented is darky and gritty. A beyond seasoned ex roman soldier now Mercenary. He is feared throughout the empire for his guile and ability for self preservation. In short, what makes him dangerous is that he has nothing to loose except what matters to him and nothing will get in the way of those ideals. He is a man of unwavering honor eclipsed by a selfless motivation. The journey taken upon by hour harried and melancholy heroes is beautifully tragic. From Jerusalem to Greece and all the points in between. It was tough to see what some of the characters endured and how they overcame not only the obstacles facing them but their own inner feelings. The connection between Telamon and the girl was so painful and heartfelt at moments it stung. David was brilliantly crafted as well. The heat of the sands and the sting of the desert wind will remain with me for quite some time. Excellent book. The idea of the book is really quite crafty. The message that it seems everyone in the ancient world is seeking is of such importance. Just what it means and what the result could be. As readers we know what will happen. Our characters and heroes have a concept of what will happen, or think they do but really have no idea just how it is going to change the world. A simple message that will hammer the foundations of our world for the next two thousand years.

[jpsnow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was delighted to finally have another Pressfield story to read. Consistent with his track record, this one masterfully immerses the reader in Classical times, via the adventure of a legionnaire-turned-man-at-arms helping an unlikely group deliver a missive critical to the expansion of Christianity. They consistently evade and persists against overwhelming odds as they're hunted by the Roman army and local mercenaries across three different countries.

[viking2917_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, read it in one sitting on a long plane flight. Pressfield has written amazing books about ancient Greece, Thermopylae, and the Peloponnesian war. In A Man at Arms, he turns to the world of the Roman Empire in the Holy Land during the time of Christ. Telamon (a recurring Pressfield character), is a one man killing machine, a former Roman soldier, tasked with tracking down a man and a letter. A letter that might bring down the Empire. A letter you may know from the Bible as 1st Corinthians, Paul's letter to the church at Corinth. The book is filled with the usual wonderful Pressfield stuff - warriors, combat, heroism - and its opposite. The battle scenes and Telamon's mastery of combat are well rendered. But the interesting part of the book traces Telamon's slow transformation away from a cynical, self-interested mercenary to a man committed to a mission larger than himself. The characters are wonderful. And like the best of historical fiction, it's transporting, to a different time and place.

[janerawoof · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Something a bit different, but fascinating. How Telamon of Arcadia, a hard-bitten, stoical veteran of the tenth legion turned mercenary, first is given the task of intercepting a letter written to the Christians at Corinth and its messenger. In his encounter with the mute child Ruth, his thinking changes, and he helps deliver the letter to its destination. On the way are many obstacles, for example, ambushes and skirmishes of Romans and Nabateans attempting to stop him and his companions. I loved the description of the Sinai; I felt it was similar to the U.S. Southwest. The author may not have been completely exact pictorially, but it was vivid and easy to visualize. Tumbleweeds in that vicinity? I was misty-eyed at the last few chapters: such a powerful finish. I only questioned the use of old-fashioned [maybe 19th century or earlier?] language. Was it possibly in keeping with the words of the letter? Very highly recommended.