Cirrus@Austlit

'It is twenty-two years since the death of Alexander the Great. After years of fighting, his empire has been divided up between his generals. Always hostile to each other, they focus constantly on their borders to try and seek an advantage. In 301 BC, their armies are preparing for battle once again. And to the west, Rome and Carthage are preparing to burst onto the world stage, to wrest power from the Hellenistic kings. Into this world comes Pyrrhus, the young disinherited king of Epirus, a region of northern Greece. Pyrrhus will later be described by Hannibal as the finest commander the world has seen, after Alexander himself. A Pyrrhic Victory refers to a victory that comes at such a cost that it threatens to destroy the victor.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Following up from the award-winning first volume of this trilogy, The Shaping of Destiny, Pyrrhus is now comfortable in his role of king of Epirus. It is 295 BC. He is soon to be embroiled again in his dealings with the great power, Macedonia, and his one-time friend, Demetrius. The cataclysmic event of his life then occurs: the invitation to help the Greek city of Tarentum in Italy. He invades Italy and confronts the growing power of Rome. This struggle between Greece and Rome lasted until 146 BC, the year of the sack of Corinth. It was Pyrrhus' second victory against the Romans at Asculum in 279 BC that gave rise to the expression - A Pyrrhic Victory - one that comes at such a cost that it threatens to destroy the victor.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.