Jacob Abbott’s Xerxes is part of his celebrated Makers of History series, which brought vivid, accessible biographies of ancient rulers to a popular Victorian audience. Abbott chronicles the life of Xerxes I of Persia — son of Darius the Great, organiser of the massive invasion of Greece in 480 BC, and the king who crossed the Hellespont on a bridge of boats only to suffer defeat at Salamis and Plataea.
This free EPUB edition is clearly formatted for e-readers. Abbott’s engaging narrative style makes Xerxes an excellent entry point into Persian history and the epic conflicts of the Greco-Persian Wars.