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A Man at Arms: A Novel Hardcover – March 2, 2021

by Steven Pressfield (Author)

4.4 2,222 ratings

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From the acclaimed master of historical fiction comes an epic saga about a reluctant hero, the Roman Empire, and the rise of a new faith.

Jerusalem and the Sinai desert, first century AD. In the turbulent aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus, officers of the Roman Empire acquire intelligence of a pilgrim bearing an incendiary letter from a religious fanatic to insurrectionists in Corinth. The content of this letter could bring down the empire.

The Romans hire a former legionary, the solitary man-at-arms, Telamon of Arcadia, to intercept the letter and capture its courier. Telamon operates by a dark code all his own, with no room for noble causes or lofty beliefs. But once he overtakes the courier, something happens that neither he nor the empire could have predicted.

In his first novel of the ancient world in thirteen years, the best-selling author of Gates of Fire and Tides of War returns with a gripping saga of conquest and rebellion, bloodshed and faith.

Editorial Reviews

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"A master storyteller’s searing epic. Steven Pressfield brings to life a warrior’s limitless devotion and the total commitment to serving humanity. Powerfully told yet humbling, A Man At Arms will remain with you long after you put it down."
― General Jim Mattis, US Marines (Ret.) and 26th Secretary of Defense

"An enthralling epic from the master of historical fiction with tremendous character development, fast-paced action, and extraordinary combat scenes! A truly wonderful read."
― General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former director of the CIA

"An incredible book that I devoured in one sitting. The master behind Gates of Fire does it again!"
― Ryan Holiday, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Stillness Is the Key

"A Man At Arms explores the warrior ethos through the eyes and heart of a mercenary whose calling is tested on a journey of transformation. A masterpiece!"
― Jack Carr, Navy SEAL sniper and New York Times best-selling author of Savage Son

"A brilliant tour de force."
― Ann Scott Tyson, award–winning journalist and author of American Spartan

"A great warrior comes face to face with the only thing that could ever change him: a little girl who holds both hope and humanity in her heart. This is Pressfield’s best work."
― Jim Gant, ex–Green Beret, Silver Star recipient, and author of One Tribe at a Time

"A Man at Arms captures not only the ferocity and shock of battle, but also the relationships and emotions that make warfare so awful and yet so glorious."
― Jocko Willink

About the Author

Steven Pressfield is the author of the best-selling novels Gates of Fire and Tides of War, as well as The Legend of Bagger Vance. He is also the author of the classics on creativity The War of Art and Turning Pro. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company (March 2, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393540979
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393540970
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #635,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,406 in Military Thrillers (Books)
- #6,001 in Historical Thrillers (Books)
- #7,034 in War Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 2,222 ratings

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Steven Pressfield

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Steven Pressfield is the author of The War of Art which has sold over a millions copies globally and been translated into multiple languages. He is a master of historical fiction with Gates of Fire being on the required reading list at West Point and the the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs. His other books include A Man at Arms, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Artist's Journey, Tides of War, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The Profession, The Lion's Gate, The Warrior Ethos, The Authentic Swing, An American Jew, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and The Knowledge.

His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance was over 30 years in the making. He hasn't stopped writing since.

Steve lives and writes in California. You can following him on IG @steven_pressfield. Sign up for his weekly writing newsletter at stevenpressfield.com

"It is one thing to study war, and another to live the warrior's life."

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2,222 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and gripping. They praise the skillful storytelling and narrative. The writing quality is praised as great, with confident prose and superb dialogue. Readers appreciate the historical accuracy and the spirituality in the story. They find the characters engaging and the connection with them grows with every page. Overall, customers describe the book as a good, enjoyable read that satisfies their thirst for a satisfying read.

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Readability Story quality Writing quality Historical accuracy Spirituality Character development Pacing Pace

94 customers mention "Readability"78 positive16 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read. They describe it as a gripping storyline that makes them want to read the entire New Testament with an adventurous eye. The author is described as a fine writer and military-action storyteller.

"...Nothing is wasted. I found it sublime and inspiring...." Read more

"...My strong suspicion is that this book will endure among the greatest of his greatest books, including the ones that have sold a million copies...." Read more

"...A truly amazing work in the same vein as the old gunslinger tales, The Mandalorian, Lonewolf and Cub, Seraphim Falls, "A Man at Arms" is a..." Read more

"...Mr. Pressfield is a fine writer and military-action storyteller, especially with fiction set in the Greek and Roman classical world...." Read more

92 customers mention "Story quality"70 positive22 negative

Customers find the story engaging and skillfully told. They appreciate the relatable narrative about the many factions and the fractious nature of the world. The book is described as an adventure yarn set in Roman times.

"...tap the archetypes of the timeless monomyth -- yet are both relatable and relevant. He skillfully deploys his knowledge of the ancient world...." Read more

"...Still, on the whole the book is a compelling story, particularly since I read it leading up to Easter, and the magnificence of the first half..." Read more

"...It is, however, both surprising and inevitable in the manner of the greatest works, and left me stunned in the afterglow of its power and..." Read more

"...that we all need to revisit in our lives, except packaged in a killer adventure yarn about a former Roman Legionary turned mercenary, the companions..." Read more

58 customers mention "Writing quality"43 positive15 negative

Customers find the writing quality good. They appreciate the real characters and interesting details. The author's strong background in screenplay writing is clear in all of his works. The book is easy to read, with superb dialogue and narrative. They praise the command of language and chronological accuracy. Overall, customers consider it the author's best effort to date and a truly in-depth look into the complex character of Telemon.

"...His confident prose has a hypnotic rhythm. His characters tap the archetypes of the timeless monomyth -- yet are both relatable and relevant...." Read more

"...The first half of the book is simply outstanding, with vividly written scenes and impeccable attention to historical detail...." Read more

"...The trade paperback version is by far my favorite. Portable, easy to read, durable, this is the best way to own Pressfield's books for readers,..." Read more

"...A Man at Arms failed on both counts. First, the book wasn’t a page-turner...." Read more

36 customers mention "Historical accuracy"29 positive7 negative

Customers find the book provides an accurate historical account of ancient times and the Mediterranean region. They appreciate the gripping storyline and well-developed characters. The author's knowledge of early century Rome is incredible, and the book explores new angles on familiar concepts and figures. Readers are inspired and relatable by the book.

"...the archetypes of the timeless monomyth -- yet are both relatable and relevant. He skillfully deploys his knowledge of the ancient world...." Read more

"...Like most of Mr. Pressfield’s novels, it is fast paced and has a realistic, gritty feel for the times and environment he is writing about...." Read more

"...Great quote at the front of the book: “It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior’s life...." Read more

"...Pressfield has been a reliable, historic yeoman creating immersive, character-driven narratives swept up in climactic historical contexts...." Read more

33 customers mention "Spirituality"30 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's spirituality profound and inspiring. They describe it as a historical fiction with a strong element of faith. The story is thought-provoking, emotional, and exciting. Readers appreciate the message about mentorship and living a life with purpose.

"...He delivers a compelling adventure story with devastating emotional and spiritual impact. His confident prose has a hypnotic rhythm...." Read more

"...Lonewolf and Cub, Seraphim Falls, "A Man at Arms" is a spiritually uplifting, nourishing retelling of the Hero's Journey that we all need to..." Read more

"...of Mr. Pressfield’s novels, it is fast paced and has a realistic, gritty feel for the times and environment he is writing about...." Read more

"This book is a great companion to Tides of War. Great quote at the front of the book: “It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior..." Read more

31 customers mention "Character development"23 positive8 negative

Customers find the characters memorable and engaging. They say the book is an easy read with a growing connection to the characters. The protagonist is a pagan Greek mercenary who is hired by the Roman military to hunt an escaped criminal.

"...His confident prose has a hypnotic rhythm. His characters tap the archetypes of the timeless monomyth -- yet are both relatable and relevant...." Read more

"...The characters are fascinating, and I couldn't put the book down...." Read more

"...The characters are stereotyped and don't evolve in any meaningful way over the course of the story, in spite of a lot of foreshadowing that suggests..." Read more

"...I wanted more. The characters were well written and hashed out. The story was more than compelling. The pace was just right...." Read more

13 customers mention "Pacing"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They appreciate the fast-paced fiction with lots of action and short chapters. The confident prose has a hypnotic rhythm that keeps the story moving and provides an ongoing tension. The characters are exciting and maintain constant excitement. Overall, readers find the book captivating and difficult to put down.

"...His confident prose has a hypnotic rhythm. His characters tap the archetypes of the timeless monomyth -- yet are both relatable and relevant...." Read more

"...The middle section, especially, keeps the tension high and pulls the Reader along with “what’s he gonna do now” situations...." Read more

"...Pressfield writes fast-moving fiction, with lots of action and short chapters...." Read more

"...The story moves, is thought-provoking and provides an ongoing tension that got me excited about the characters, their quest(s) and their fates...." Read more

15 customers mention "Pace"7 positive8 negative

Customers have different views on the book's pace. Some enjoyed the writing style and found it engaging, finishing it in two sittings. Others felt the book lacked depth and was rushed, with scenes wrapping up too quickly. Overall, opinions were mixed, with some finding the beginning engaging and the plot sustaining their interest, while others felt it was rushed and laborious to finish.

"...Like most of Mr. Pressfield’s novels, it is fast paced and has a realistic, gritty feel for the times and environment he is writing about...." Read more

"...This book kind of felt rushed to me, and does not get to in depth with the various character developments, but his writing style and the story..." Read more

"...The pace was just right. Not too fast and not too slow. It was even the whole way through. I give this book 5+out of 5 bookmarks." Read more

"...The writing style was definitely not my style. Sometimes it's to simple ( one hour later they were there ), where it doesn't have to...." Read more

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Jesse Alexander
A masterpiece. Not clickbait.
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2021
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An intimate epic of historical fiction. Pressfield is relentless. Always pushing his craft and genre to new levels. He delivers a compelling adventure story with devastating emotional and spiritual impact. His confident prose has a hypnotic rhythm. His characters tap the archetypes of the timeless monomyth -- yet are both relatable and relevant. He skillfully deploys his knowledge of the ancient world. Leaving you believing that not only did all of this really happen. But you were there to experience it. Where many authors are content to write the same book over and over again, Pressfield continues to grow and refine his approach to his arena of expertise. Master at Arms is just as rich and detailed as his other works. If not more so. Yet the clarity and structure of the story have the simplicity of a Samurai Kata. Nothing is wasted. I found it sublime and inspiring. And the way all of the characters and narrative threads come together in the third act -- I won't lie, it left my eyes sweating. A masterpiece.

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ExNavyDoc
Excellent read, highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
Having never read anything from Mr. Pressfield before, I was unsure what to expect, and I am unable to compare with his previous work.

The first half of the book is simply outstanding, with vividly written scenes and impeccable attention to historical detail. The characters are fascinating, and I couldn't put the book down.

However, the latter half of the book is seems less well-crafted, and the author seems to lose interest in one of the early principal characters in favor of a later character. There are also a few moments of deus-ex-machina that are a bit jarring. The latter half also has a rushed feel to it, with less lavish attention to detail and character development.

Still, on the whole the book is a compelling story, particularly since I read it leading up to Easter, and the magnificence of the first half outweighs the pedestrian second half, for me at least. I am eager to check out other titles by Mr. Pressfield.

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5 people found this helpful

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Michael McClellan
Tremendous -- Pressfield at his Finest
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021
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I wish I could give this six stars.

The ending literally took my breath away and moved me to tears (I will omit saying anything specific that could be a spoiler). It is, however, both surprising and inevitable in the manner of the greatest works, and left me stunned in the afterglow of its power and beauty.

The phenomenal premise gripped me from the beginning. From the back cover:

"Jerusalem and the Sinai desert, AD 55. In the turbulent aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus, agents of the Roman Empire receive information about a pilgrim bearing an incendiary letter from a religious fanatic calling himself Paul the Apostle to insurrectionists in Corinth. What's in the letter could bring down an empire.

"The Romans hire a former legionary, a solitary man-at-arms named Telamon to intercept the letter and destroy the courier. Telamon fights for money, not principles. He's been promised a rich reward; should he fail, the punishment is death by crucifixion. But once he meets the courier, Telamon experiences an extraordinary conversion, and instead of carrying out the mission, takes on an Empire . . ."

And Pressfield delivers. My strong suspicion is that this book will endure among the greatest of his greatest books, including the ones that have sold a million copies.

This one feels like it arrived on a straight pipeline from the Muse. A Man at Arms is undoubtedly a great work of art, but perhaps even more than that, it puts a timeless message straight into the heart of the reader. And that message may be what we all need to hear as the antidote to this precise moment in time.

Bravo, and I hope this book moves you as much as it moved me.

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46 people found this helpful

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Jonathan A. Goss
Peace be with you, warrior...now in paperback!
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
As a long-time fan of Steve's, it's been a rewarding adventure watching his writing go on such a journey, from the Narrows of Thermopylae to the squalid back-alley streets of Bactria. With "A Man at Arms", you will see what fate awaits the warrior who is tired of being a warrior and must become something more, something better, something ascendant.

If you're a fan of Pressfield's work, you'll appreciate the journey of Telamon. If you're a Christian, you'll find yourself wiping away tears of catharsis at the powerful moments. And believe me, Pressfield knows how to craft powerful moments of catharsis.

A truly amazing work in the same vein as the old gunslinger tales, The Mandalorian, Lonewolf and Cub, Seraphim Falls, "A Man at Arms" is a spiritually uplifting, nourishing retelling of the Hero's Journey that we all need to revisit in our lives, except packaged in a killer adventure yarn about a former Roman Legionary turned mercenary, the companions he collects along the way, the enemies who hunt them, and a message from the Lord that will change lives...and leave an empire rattled to its core.

The trade paperback version is by far my favorite. Portable, easy to read, durable, this is the best way to own Pressfield's books for readers, fans and writers on-the-go. Take them with you, toss them in the backseat, mark up the pages with notes, pass them on to friends or buy them unsullied copies as gifts! It's only a matter of time before this is a major motion picture. Get your copy today!

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Top reviews from other countries

Johannes W. H. van der Bijl
Gripping
Reviewed in the Netherlands on July 31, 2024
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I can’t remember when last I enjoyed a book this much! The end of every chapter propelled you into the next. It was well researched and well structured, my only disappointment as a Pauline scholar was that the writing and content of the letter and the recipients of the letter didn’t quite fit the storyline.

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Another great Pressfield well researched read.
Reviewed in Australia on August 20, 2021
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A great Pressfield book, A little more hollywood and less heartbreakingly savage and unjust as previous novels, but nonetheless a great read and shorter than some of his other historical epics. Well researched and puts you there in that time and makes you reflect on how easy life is these days.

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Alex Stewart
Promise unfulfilled
Reviewed in Canada on March 11, 2022
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Having read Pressfield’s ‘The War of Art’ and liking his insights and style I sought out this novel. The sample seemed promising but for me the promise was not fulfilled.

If you are expecting insights into the life and philosophy of a warrior you will be disappointed. The protagonist does not speak much more than his female ward who is a mute. Very hard to get into the mind of such a character. In fact, none of the characters are much developed.

The screenwriter knows that action should drive the story but the novel quickly becomes a progressively grim and grey travelogue with very little relieving humour, character exposition or philosophical insight. The evolution such as it is of every character seems to me implausible.

The author often falls into what I can only call a ‘subject verb object’ style of short sentences for pages at a time, which begins to have a rhythm like a neighbour hammering at a fence. The modern use of ‘absent’ as a substitute for ‘without’ crops up jarringly many times. Short sentences are given a new paragraph one after the other, often 6 or 8 in a row. This should be used very sparingly for effect, not every other page or it begins to look like padding. For these reasons one never quite forgets to notice ‘the narrator.’

So, an OK novel for me, I think the author can do better. Maybe I had too high expectations after reading the very good ’War of Art.’

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Philip Thomas-Hands
The brutal world of early Christians
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2025
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Really interesting perspective on Christian struggles in the early days after the ascension of Christ . Gritty reality of the harshness and complexity of the diverse world of that time ( 1st century AD)

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Brian Weston
another great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2023
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Always a safe pair of hands although his original works of Gates of Fire ,Tides of War and The Afghan Campaign will always be the best in my view

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece. Not clickbait.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous -- Pressfield at his Finest

5.0 out of 5 stars Peace be with you, warrior...now in paperback!

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Pressfield well researched read.

2.0 out of 5 stars Promise unfulfilled

5.0 out of 5 stars The brutal world of early Christians

5.0 out of 5 stars another great book

A masterpiece. Not clickbait.

Excellent read, highly recommended.

Tremendous -- Pressfield at his Finest

Peace be with you, warrior...now in paperback!

Gripping

Another great Pressfield well researched read.

Promise unfulfilled

The brutal world of early Christians

another great book