The March of the Ten Thousand

An eyewitness survival manual in the form of a march, this classic shows how an army escapes after its leadership is shattered. If the Iran War has sharpened your interest in what happens when plans collapse, Xenophon delivers a stark case study in command, morale, and logistics.

After Spartan general Clearchus and other senior officers are killed or captured through the treachery of the Persian satrap Tissaphernes, Xenophon is elected to lead the Ten Thousand across foodless deserts and snow filled passes toward the Black Sea and the relative safety of Greek coastal cities.