Wyman, Portsmouth NH on Amazon.com: A fascinating tale that reads like a movie

• "I found myself stopping and reflecting on my own life."
• "We all struggle within ourselves to grow into becoming the best person we can be. Life is a journey that tests our resolve and purpose, but can also reveal our greed, envy and jealousy. The Olympian for me captured the essence of personal growth ..."

Stinson, New York NY on Amazon.com: Worth More Than Gold Medals

• "While this story really does touch on all of the things that I typically enjoy in books and movies, it really gets down to a deeper matter, which is what I hope peopple take from this book."
• "... the underlying message is one that isn't reflected upon often enough in today's society ... it's a profound message and the author was very cheeky in making that point clear, all the while telling a gripping story. "
• "The scene at Thermopylae will choke the reader up ... In a time when terrorism steals the headlines, this scene will make you think of some modern day events like 9/11 and Madrid."
• "... the language is different from what I expected. It's almost as if you really are being told the story in the tongue of the ancient Greeks."

Alexander, Fargo ND on Amazon.com: This Book Has It All

• "You see triumph, you feel defeat, you cry at loss. This story encompasses so many lessons that we often forget every day."
• "E.S. Kraay makes us re-evaluate how we think."
• "Once you start reading, you do not want to put it down! The further you get into it, the better it becomes."

Golan, West Point NY on Amazon.com: E.S. Kraay - Bard, Poet, Historian

• "This book uses events from ancient Hellas to deliver a message that still rings true to us today. "
• "Honor and redemption are tools that build great civilizations. Pride and personal glory are weapons that can tear down a civilization. The Olympic champion Theagenes and the '300 Spartans' demonstrate the power of choosing a higher cause than personal glory. "
• "While this book is a tale of ancient Hellas, its message is one for all ages and this is the mark of an amazing storyteller. "

Michalenko, Georgetown University

• "The message deserves to be promoted to the high school population. There's so much competition going on that we need to hear the message of cooperation and how much more fulfilling that is than trying to get to the top of the ladder ... "
• "... powerfully packed writing. "
• "I hope people won't just follow the story. As good as it is, I don't want the reader to miss the philosophy, theology and anthropology that are at the heart of the book. "

Slusarz, Florida

• "... a metaphor for everyman's true values and contributions as he goes through life. "
• "... an academic masterpiece. "

Eichin, Durham, NC on Amazon.com: Exciting Epic

• "A tale of integrity and intrigue. "
• "Men can live at peace with themselves after they've taken care of matters of grave import. "
• "Screenwriters ought to check this one out!"

Spartan World, Germany on Amazon.com: The Olympian

• "Rather than focus on the well known struggle of the 300 Spartans, The Olympian concentrates on the reasons why ... What drives a warrior to march against insurmountable odds ... do the gods affect man's actions or does man affect the decisions of the gods? What is the correlation between honour on an individual basis and that of honouring the Polis? "
• "The Spartans are represented in a way which has rarely been presented. Their respect and obedience to the laws of Lycurgus is emphasised in a way which lets the reader see the efficiency and professionalism of this warrior race while not destracting from the main characters."
• "A book titled The Olympian would not be fitting if the Olympic Games were not to play an integral part of the story. This they do with an uncanny graphical representation which brings the reader into the games themselves. "
• "In short, Mr. Kraay has written a book which will no doubt belong in the row of 'Classic' books on Ancient Greece and the Battle of Thermopylae."

Trikeriotis, Maryland on Amazon.com: A Masterful Tale

• "Exhaustive research has yielded a fascinating story of Theagenes, one of ancient history's overlooked Olympians. "
• "With Kraay's colorful storytelling, we see a champion of great complexity who is tormented by an inner drive which is unflinching in its will to defeat all competitors. "
• "The Olympian pays homage to no only the immortalized 300 Spartans, but to the ideals and spirit of the Olympic Games which makes this a book I highly recommend."

Margaret Donsbach, Historical Novels.info

• "The suthor writes with comfortable authoriy about the ancient Greek setting."
• "The elegiac tone of his graceful, rhythmic prose suits the subject matter."
• "Readers with an interest in philosophy may enjoy this."