The End of Sparta

Why it’s on the list: A novel of Epaminondas’s Theban campaign that broke Spartan power and freed the helots, written by a classicist who farms.

Where I saw it: A reply to @typesfast’s question on X, June 5, 2025 — “What’s the best history book you’ve read?” — recovered from that thread and saved to Kyle’s Apple Note “Books To Read”. Thread: https://x.com/typesfast/status/1930617097068912787

The thread asked for history; this reply is a historical novel, recorded here as given.

Connections

• What’s the best history book… (tweet) — the saved thread this recommendation came from.
• Victor Davis Hanson
• Historical Fiction