Persian Fire by Tom Holland

I'm closing out my study of the Archaic Period in Greek history with this volume on the Persian Wars.  Although I've read extensively about this period and the wars that defined them, I enjoyed this book greatly for at least two major reasons:

• The perspective was equally balanced between the Persian and the Greek.  Holland dug deeply into Persian history, indeed going back all of the way to early Mesopotamian history, providing a thorough analysis of Persian history and its antecedents.  Although I understand the Persian records are scanty compared to the Greek, I appreciated his effort to provide a balanced report.
• His narrative approach, unveiling the history as a story rather than dry history, appealed greatly.  I always appreciate great writing, and far few historians do it really well, focusing rather more on facts and analysis than great storytelling.  Holland does both.

A fascinating read about a hugely important series of events, well told.  What else can I ask for?