Italian archaeologist and author of historical novels that retell episodes of classical antiquity.

Author of historical novels such as L'Ultima Legione and works on ancient Greece and Rome; professional background in archaeology is reflected in his narrative detail.

Readers praise Manfredi's archaeological detail, classical references and fluent style. The Ulysses trilogy and novels set in antiquity receive particular acclaim. Some reviews note slow openings, occasional caricatured characters, or disappointing endings. Overall the books are recommended for fans of historicized retellings.

For:Readers of historical fiction, fans of classical antiquity and archaeologically-informed novels.

 But then the miracle happened: towards the end of the first part, it begins to enrich (from the Battle of Thermopylae) with particular, delicious, and well-written details and deeds (for example when Talos and his Spartan brother Britos, who does not know he is his brother but they still suspect it even though they are not sure, start a private war against the Persians, although it takes on the characteristics of a comic book).

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 The studies in classical literature permeate the work, a romanticizing of the Odyssey, with references to the Theogony, "in the beginning there was chaos," says Hesiod, practically the Old Testament of classical Greece, from that poem the Homeric writings are born.

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 The novel indeed draws inspiration from the epos but presents unequivocal elements aimed at "historicizing" it to make it more distant from the imaginary and closer to a more sober and truthful narration.

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 Manfredi wrote this book with very simple language to be well understood by everyone and thus involve readers in the fantastic events, sometimes he used words from that era, or military technical terms.

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