A brilliant evocation of the moment when the Persians invaded Greece and landed at Marathon, the place that enshrined forever because of the runs named after it.
When the news of the forthcoming invasion reaches Athens, young Philip is sent out to cross the mountains and to warn his family of the imminent danger. It’s a tough journey and one that most be undertaken at speed. Can Philip succeed?
The dangers of the past are vividly brought to life in this thrilling short story.
A story set in Ancient Greece. When news reaches Athens that Persian ships are about to invade Greece, Philip knows that his uncle and grandmother are in great danger. As his brothers and father are busy preparing for war, he is the only one who can cross the mountains and warn his family. The race is on... but will he reach them in time?
Geoffrey Trease, who was born in Nottingham in 1909 and died in 1998, was a prolific writer, publishing over 110 books between 1934 (Bows Against the Barons) and 1997 (Cloak for a Spy). His work has been translated into 20 languages.
He is best known for writing children's historical novels, whose content reflects his insistence on historically correct backgrounds, which he meticulously researched. However, with his ground-breaking study "Tales Out of School" (1949), he was also a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for study and debate. When he began his career, his radical viewpoint was a refreshing change from the conventional and often jingoistic tone of most children's literature of the time, and he was one of the first authors who deliberately set out to appeal to both boys and girls and to feature strong leading characters of both sexes.
