Kindle Price: $11.99

Save $6.00 (33%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Philip Matyszak
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Expedition to Disaster: The Athenian Mission to Sicily 415 BC Kindle Edition

by Philip Matyszak (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 60
See all formats and editions

This thrillingly vivid history recounts a pivotal battle of the Peloponnesian War, bringing the drama and personalities of the Sicilian Expedition to life.

The Athenian expedition to conquer Sicily was one of the most significant military events of the classical period. At the time, Athens was locked in a decades-long struggle with Sparta for mastery of the Greek world. The expedition to Sicily was intended to win Athens the extra money and resources needed to crush the Spartans. With the aid of new archaeological discoveries, Expedition to Disaster reconstructs the mission, and the ensuing siege, in greater detail than ever before.

The cast of characters includes Alcibiades, the flamboyant, charismatic young aristocrat; Nicias, the ageing, reluctant commander of the ill-fated expedition, and Gylippus, the grim Spartan general sent to command the defense of Syracuse. It was he who turned the tables on the Athenian invaders. They were surrounded, besieged, and forced to ask for mercy from a man who had none. Philip Matyszak's combination of thorough research and gripping narrative presents an episode of ancient history packed with colorful characters and dramatic tension.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    246 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Military
  5. Publication date
    January 19, 2013
  6. File size
    1248 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…a riveting account of the conflict, telling of the key players their motivations, their heroism, their failure, providing an educating narrative that does much to bring much understanding to people of the times…is a must for history collections focusing on the Greeks and their military endeavors.”
Midwest Book Review

About the Author

PHILIP ‘MATY’ MATYSZAK holds a doctorate in Ancient History from St John’s College, Oxford University, and has been studying, teaching and writing on the subject for over twenty years. He specializes in the history of Classical Greece and of the Late Republic and Early Imperial periods of Rome. Maty has personal military experience both as a conscript in Rhodesia and with the Territorial Army in Britain. These days he splits his time between writing in his home in Canada’s Monashee Mountains and providing e-learning courses for Cambridge University’s Institute of Continuing Education.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DN5V5KI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military (January 19, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 19, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1248 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 60

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Philip Matyszak

Philip Matyszak

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ancient history has been my job and my hobby for the last 30 years. I spend a lot of time immersed in the world of antiquity, and whenever I come up a story or an idea that I would like to share with the rest of the world I write about it.

At other times, when there's some information I want, and there's no readily available book that offers this, I write that book too. Some of my students (I also teach) have never before been introduced to the ancient world. It's a fascinating place, as different as any alternative universe, but real. I always get excited by exploring there, and there's always something new to find.

At various times, I've lived on three different continents, and spent several wonderful years in Italy living right on top of the material I was writing about. I'm now in Canada with a home deep in the mountains of British Columbia, but there's a part of me that is still in Rome lurking in the shadows of the ancient forum.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
60 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

thedudeabides1001
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining despite it's niche subject matter
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
First I had the hubris of imagining that an audiobook on the topic of the Athenian expedition existed. It does not. Then, I expected to wade through multiple books on the topic by my favorite ancient historians. No. Luckily, Philip Maty took the case.

He's been one of my favorites since his fun book on how to be a Roman Legionaire. He melds keen research with refreshing translations and wit.

My favorite part of this book so far is this translation of a quote by Thucydides: "that wretched Hyperbolus was ostracized not because anyone feared his fame or power, but because he was a scumbag and a disgrace to the city."

What I'm looking forward to as I continue reading is the granular level of detail he employs. To use a metaphor of another kind of historian, reading Maty is kind of like hanging out with a historical reenactor who has a wry sense of humor, as opposed to sitting at a desk in one's classroom. You'll learn more from the reenactor, as well as recall what you've learned, because his manner will stick with you. That by no means implies that he is a hack or less prepared than the dry professor. He just knows better than to teach that way.
Helpful
 Report
Walter T Stanfill Jr
4.0 out of 5 stars Expedition to Disaster is a Expedition to Enjoyment
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
The book is excellent read. As with books covering this period of time, the names and places are confusing. But the author does a good job putting you in the action on the battlefield. But the good news is you won't need a PhD in classical history to enjoy this book. Looking forward to reading many more titles by this author.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Michael Chaly
5.0 out of 5 stars Matyszak Nails It!
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
Once again, Philip Matyszak proves himself a master at conveying a genuine, realistic feel of the times of which he writes. He provides a fresh narrative and interpretation of the Athenian Expedition and does so with an extremely enjoyable writing style. I heartily recommend this (and all other books) by Mr. Matyszak and eagerly look forward to his next foray. One could have done without his thinly veiled criticisms of American companies at the end of Expedition to Disaster but luckily this does not take away from the enjoyment of the whole.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Charles Leopard
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful writing. I knew about the war prior to ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
Wonderful writing. I knew about the war prior to reading the book and thought it wouldn't be anything but a rehash of known facts but I have to say I'm going to be checking out any other books written by Philip. He included insights I had no idea of, kept me on the edge of my seat. It's one of those rare books that you don't want to put down until you've finished.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer William H
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2021
Verified Purchase
Another readable and engaging book by my rapidly becoming favorite ancient history author.
Highly recommended, as all of his books
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
SRA
5.0 out of 5 stars Smoothly written, engaging, and informative.
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book is a pleasure to read. It covers a fascinating and undocumented corner of history with clear, interesting memorable writing.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jesse D Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars and plain bad luck.
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2018
Verified Purchase
The book arrived at the promised time. The book tells how a military expedition can fail from overconfidence, recklessness, hesitance. superstition, and plain bad luck.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Victor Mercieca
1.0 out of 5 stars Amateur
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2020
Verified Purchase
Author plugs his political opinion too often, even referencing biased sources. A disappointment.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Hogster
5.0 out of 5 stars Narrative history at its best
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
The story moves along like an adventure novel but the attention to detail and nuance remains outstanding. Really terrific stuff.
Report
P Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars Take it with you!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
I started reading this in Kindle during six days in Syracuse, and wish I had time to finish it there and to savour the vivid account of the sea-battle and the harbour blockade while in situ. It is a great and well-paced read, with mainly enjoyable colloquiality giving a personal touch to the impressively detailed and well-sourced narrative. I would have given four and a half stars if I could: the missing bit is for some incidental name glitches and typos which slightly affected my relish of it at times, but couldn't detract from the overall enjoyment and profit. Also an appetite-whetter for Thucydides.
One person found this helpful
 Report
josie
5.0 out of 5 stars Friend very pleased
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
Bought for friend, interested in ancient history, very pleased with it.
Report
Joe S
3.0 out of 5 stars A bit low in detail and a few errors
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
A few other reviewers have mentioned that you need to know the background of the Peloponnesian War or Ancient Greece in general to understand this book. Maybe, but it does give background in the opening chapters so that's not too much of an issue in my opinion.

The reason I've scored this book down a bit is because it's relatively short and (as mentioned above) a few of the chapters set the scene rather than give detail on the subject. Therefore I felt I learnt less about the Sicilian venture from this than I did from Donald Kagan's book on the Peloponnesian War (which is excellent and I highly recommend the abridged version and 4 volume unabridged version) despite that book trying to fit in 30ish years of narrative, as opposed to one event in this one.

I find Pen & Sword publications very hit and miss. To give them credit, they publish books about very niche subjects and are often the only choice if you want to read about a certain topic. Many of their books are short and basic and feel like they haven't been edited and checked correctly. This particular author also has a tendency to make errors in his writing, for example, he refers to the island of Sphacteria, on which a group of Spartiates surrendered to Cleon's light armed troops as "Pylos", repeatedly. For such a famous event for fans of ancient Greek history, this is quite a blatant and odd error to make.

However, having pointed out what, in my opinion, are the negatives, the author does have a whimsical and light, conversational writing style. For someone who isn't used to reading history, or perhaps for young adults, this may appeal.
One person found this helpful
 Report
M. Steedman
5.0 out of 5 stars History repeats itself.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2016
Verified Purchase
An excellent account of the disaster that was the Athenian Expedition to Syracuse during the wars with Sparta.
Adolf Hitler should have read this book before he attacked Russia during WW!!, the similarities are amazing.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report