A Pyrrhic Victory Volume Iii Fate

Volume III: Fate follows the first two award-winning volumes in the historic trilogy A Pyrrhic Victory by Ian Crouch. In 279 BC, Pyrrhus has just won the bloody battle of Asculum against the Romans in the battle that gave rise to the expression – “A Pyrrhic Victory” – one that comes at such a great cost that the victory may not have been worth the ordeal that was suffered. While punished, the power of the legions has not been broken. The road to Rome is still barred to Pyrrhus. His peace terms are again rejected. He must gather greater strength to break the deadlock, and accepts the invitation of the powerful Greek cities in Sicily to lead them against the invading Carthaginians. In return, they offer him their support in his war against Rome. Pyrrhus was described by Hannibal as the finest commander the world had seen, after Alexander himself.

Following up from the award-winning first volume of this trilogy, The Shaping of Destiny, Pyrrhus is now comfortable in his role of king of Epirus. It is 295 BC. He is soon to be embroiled again in his dealings with the great power, Macedonia, and his one-time friend, Demetrius. The cataclysmic event of his life then occurs: the invitation to help the Greek city of Tarentum in Italy. He invades Italy and confronts the growing power of Rome. This struggle between Greece and Rome lasted until 146 BC, the year of the sack of Corinth. It was Pyrrhus’ second victory against the Romans at Asculum in 279 BC that gave rise to the expression A Pyrrhic Victory, one that comes at such a cost that it threatens to destroy the victor. Pyrrhus was described by Hannibal as the finest commander the world had seen, after Alexander himself. “Writing with great style, Dr. Crouch brings this ancient age to life once more; maintaining an expert balance between historical accuracy and creative imagination. Dr. Crouch succeeds splendidly in conveying a compelling interpretation of the lives and loves, the achievements and aspirations of great men in a great age.” – Dr. Eoghan Maloney, lecturer in ancient history, University of Adelaide

It is twenty-two years since the death of Alexander the Great. After years of fighting, his empire has been divided up between his generals. Always hostile to each other, they focus constantly on their borders to try and seek an advantage. In 301 BC, their armies are preparing for battle once again. And to the west, Rome and Carthage are preparing to burst onto the world stage, to wrest power from the Hellenistic kings. Into this world comes Pyrrhus, the young disinherited king of Epirus, a region of northern Greece. Pyrrhus will later be described by Hannibal as the finest commander the world has seen, after Alexander himself. A Pyrrhic Victory refers to a victory that comes at such a cost that it threatens to destroy the victor. "Writing with great style, Dr. Crouch brings this ancient age to life once more; maintaining an expert balance between historical accuracy and creative imagination. Dr. Crouch succeeds splendidly in conveying a compelling interpretation of the lives and loves, the achievements and aspirations of great men in a great age." - Dr. Eoghan Maloney, lecturer in ancient history at the University of Adelaide Dr. Ian Crouch is a medical practitioner living in Adelaide, South Australia. Since his early days in medical school, his abiding interest has been Greek and Roman history. He is currently writing the second volume of A Pyrrhic Victory, subtitled Destiny Unfolds. Author Webpage: TheShapingofDestiny.com

Volume III: Fate follows the first two award-winning volumes in the historic trilogy A Pyrrhic Victory by Ian Crouch. In 279 BC, Pyrrhus has just won the bloody battle of Asculum against the Romans in the battle that gave rise to the expression – “A Pyrrhic Victory” – one that comes at such a great cost that the victory may not have been worth the ordeal that was suffered. While punished, the power of the legions has not been broken. The road to Rome is still barred to Pyrrhus. His peace terms are again rejected. He must gather greater strength to break the deadlock, and accepts the invitation of the powerful Greek cities in Sicily to lead them against the invading Carthaginians. In return, they offer him their support in his war against Rome. Pyrrhus was described by Hannibal as the finest commander the world had seen, after Alexander himself.

The compelling opening words to The Fate of Empire set the tone and agenda for the final stage of Simon Schama's epic voyage around Britain, her people and past. Spanning two centuries, crossing the breadth of the empire, and covering a vast expanse of topics -- from the birth of feminism to the fate of freedom -- he explores the forces that shaped British culture and character, from 1776 to 2000. The story opens on the eve of a bloody revolution, but not a British one. The French Revolution never actually crossed the Channel, though its spirit of fiery defiance and Romantic idealism did, sparking off a round of radical revolts and reforms that gathered momentum over the coming century -- from the Irish Rebellion to the Chartist Petition. If the British Empire helped to make Britain stable and rich, did it live up to its promise to help the ruled as well as the rulers? The Fate of Empire makes stops at celebrations, like the Great Exhibition, and catastrophes, like the Irish potato famine and the Indian Mutiny. Amidst the military and economic shocks and traumas of the twentieth century, and through the voices of Churchill, Orwell, and H.G. Wells, Schama asks the question that still haunts the British -- is the immense weight of British history a blessing or a curse or a millstone around the neck of the future?

The second installment of Schama's epic three-part history of Britain is a complete chronicle of the eventful years from 1603 to 1776. 150 color photos. 10 color maps.