Sparta
About this audiobook
"Sparta made young boys into warriors; it was left to the warriors to restore themselves to men..."
Conrad Farrell's family has no military heritage, but as a classics major at Williams, he saw the sturdy appeal of the Marine ethic: Semper fidelis came straight from the ancient world, from Sparta, where every citizen doubled as a full-time soldier. When Conrad joined the Marines after college, he expected to further a long tradition of honor, courage, and commitment.
Now Conrad has just returned home to Westchester after four years in Iraq, and something is very wrong. Everything should be fine—he hasn't been shot or wounded by an IED, and he's never had psychological troubles—but as he attempts to reconnect with his girlfriend and find his footing in the civilian world, he has an impossible time adjusting to the people and places he used to love and to a commonplace life of hotel reservations, dinner conversation, long showers, and alone time. As the weeks turn into months, Conrad's bitterness only festers, and he begins to fear that his rage, when it comes out, will have irreparable consequences.
Suspenseful and perceptive, Sparta captures the nuances of the unique estrangement that modern soldiers face as they attempt to rejoin the society they've fought for. With the powerful insight and acuity that marked Cost and her earlier novels, Robinson has delivered her best book yet.
About the author
Roxana Robinson is an author, novelist, and art historian. Her definitive biography of O’Keeffe was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Among her books of fiction are This Is My Daughter, Asking for Love and Other Stories, Summer Light, and A Glimpse of Scarlet.
Kirby Heyborne has received critical acclaim for his starring role in the award-winning World War II drama Saints and Soldiers. He has had starring roles in eight other features and two short films and has also appeared on the WB's Everwood and many national commercials. He has garnered rave reviews for his narration over the years and is considered one of the finest narrators working today.
