Kindle
$11.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$7.99
Paperback
$25.89
Kindle Price: $11.99

Save $6.00 (33%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $30.57

Save: $27.91 (91%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Taylor Caldwell
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Glory and the Lightning: A Novel of Ancient Greece Kindle Edition

by Taylor Caldwell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 480 ratings
See all formats and editions
New York Times Bestseller: A breathtaking saga of ancient Greece and one of history’s most influential political couples, Aspasia and Pericles.

Born in the Greek city of Miletus, Aspasia was destined for a life of tragedy. Her wealthy father vowed to abandon any female child, so Aspasia was secreted away, educated independently of her family, and raised as a courtesan. She discovered at an early age how to use her powers of intellect as ingeniously as those of the flesh.
 
Ensconced in the Persian harems of Al Taliph, she meets the man who will change her fate: Pericles, the formidable political leader, statesman, ruler of Athens, and Aspasia’s most cherished lover. She becomes his trusted confidante, his equal through scandal, war, and revolt.
 
From the eruption of the Peloponnesian War to violent political and family rivalries to a devastating plague, author Taylor Caldwell plunges the reader into the heart of ancient Athens. In bringing to life the tumultuous love affairs and gripping power struggles of one of history’s most complicated and fascinating women, Glory and the Lightning is thrilling proof that “Caldwell never falters when it comes to storytelling” (Publishers Weekly).
 
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Taylor Caldwell including rare images from the author’s estate.
 
 
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    755 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Open Road Media
  5. Publication date
    January 31, 2017
  6. File size
    6265 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Hard Rock apparel
Outerwear, tees, and accessories. Discover the rock shop.

From the Publisher

Taylor Caldwell: A Life

Taylor Calwell

Taylor Caldwell award

Taylor Caldwell Cocktail Party

Taylor Caldwell in the 1930's

A portrait of Caldwell at the start of her career in the late 1930s.

Caldwell Receives an Award

Caldwell receiving an award in Los Angeles, California, for A Pillar of Iron after its publication in 1965.

Taylor Caldwell at a Cocktail Party

Caldwell at a cocktail party with her daughter, Peggy, and the hostess of a research world cruise on the SS President Wilson in 1970.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Puts you right into the classic picture.” —The New York Times Book Review
 
“Seeing an ancient world through a woman’s eyes is handled with intelligence and style by Miss Caldwell.” —Associated Press
 
“Fascinating . . . A masterpiece fashioned by an artist who deserves the attention of thoughtful and sensitive people of both sexes.” —The Jackson Sun
 
“[Glory and the Lightning] doubtless will delight [Caldwell’s] thousands of loyal readers.” —United Press International
 
“One of Taylor Caldwell’s best.” —Delaware Morning News
 
Praise for Taylor Caldwell
“Taylor Caldwell spins a yarn with force. . . . Her sense of timing and her ability to keep even the most alert reader guessing is something readers don’t find very often.” —Hartford Courant
 
“A wonderful storyteller.” —A. Scott Berg, National Book Award–winning author of Maxwell Perkins: Editor of Genius
 

About the Author

Taylor Caldwell (1900–1985) was one of the most prolific and widely read authors of the twentieth century. Born Janet Miriam Holland Taylor Caldwell in Manchester, England, she moved with her family to Buffalo, New York, in 1907. She started writing stories when she was eight years old and completed her first novel when she was twelve. Married at age eighteen, Caldwell worked as a stenographer and court reporter to help support her family and took college courses at night, earning a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Buffalo in 1931. She adopted the pen name Taylor Caldwell because legendary editor Maxwell Perkins thought her debut novel, Dynasty of Death (1938), would be better received if readers assumed it were written by a man. In a career that spanned five decades, Caldwell published forty novels, many of which were New York Times bestsellers. Her best-known works include the historical sagas The Sound of Thunder (1957), Testimony of Two Men (1968), Captains and the Kings (1972), and Ceremony of the Innocent (1976), and the spiritually themed novels The Listener (1960) and No One Hears But Him (1966). Dear and Glorious Physician (1958), a portrayal of the life of St. Luke, and Great Lion of God (1970), about the life of St. Paul, are among the bestselling religious novels of all time. Caldwell’s last novel, Answer as a Man (1981), hit the New York Times bestseller list before its official publication date. She died at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1985.
 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01NCSVVNQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (January 31, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 31, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6265 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 755 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 480 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Taylor Caldwell

Taylor Caldwell

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Janet Miriam Holland Taylor Caldwell (September 7, 1900 – August 30, 1985) was an Anglo-American novelist and prolific author of popular fiction, also known by the pen names Marcus Holland and Max Reiner, and by her married name of J. Miriam Reback.

In her fiction, she often used real historical events or persons. Taylor Caldwell's best-known works include Dynasty of Death, Dear and Glorious Physician (about Saint Luke), Ceremony of the Innocent, Pillar of Iron, The Earth is the Lord's (about Genghis Khan) and Captains and the Kings. Her last major novel, Answer As a Man, appeared in 1980.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by James Seneca at English Wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
480 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sherry
5.0 out of 5 stars Caldwell brings ancient Greece to life
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
Another astounding success for Taylor cauldwell! Superbly laid out so as to make it gripping story telling but a great glimpse into history!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Gerard D. Launay
4.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative biography of a Great Woman
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2006
Verified Purchase
The muse, the inspiration for the great Athenian Pericles is
his female companion Aspasia. How did she learn to enchant and enrich the intellectual and creative men of her time? Taylor Caldwell delivers a rich and powerful study of one of the most fascinating women in history. This book would make a terrific gift to teenagers interested in intelligent role models. Recommended. In fact, I think it is Taylor Caldwell's best piece of writing.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Crystal Leas
5.0 out of 5 stars Your clipboard will be filled!
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
The main characters came alive in this historical fiction novel. Much of my time was spent copying quotes that were amazingly profound. Many of the troubles experienced by Pericle’s can be compared to good men living today. Certainly this novel was a study of good and evil. If you enjoy history and philosophy this book will keep your heightened attention. I dare you to read without seeing life's greater spiritual issues. In addition, Pericles and Astasia"s belief in One God creates perspective into the influence of religion and ultimately faith,freedom and liberty.
33 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Cookie
5.0 out of 5 stars Taylor Caldwell’s book is great reading
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
This story of Ancient Greece was very entertaining. She has put a spin on her characters making them very much alive. Her history of that time is vivid, reminding me that the role of women, once one of equality, was taken away. The political themes throughout brought to mind the challenges similar to 2020.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Dianne Stitz
3.0 out of 5 stars Too much endless description!
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
About the first novel I found too tiring to complete! Too much description. Thought I'd go back in time and read something by Taylor Caldwell, but it was overdone with description!
Helpful
 Report
BAG
4.0 out of 5 stars It is a nice love story.
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
This novel is really a love story. However, it is set in Athens, ancient Greece, and introduces the reader to an acceptable number of Greek deities and philosophers. It is not an history book which I consider a positive attribute. It introduces two major historical figures in detail, the hero and heroine, and does not weary the casual reader with too much detail about other historical figures but touches on these sufficiently. The new vocabulary is not too onerous and a dictionary comes in handy. A good read.
12 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous book
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is not the first time I read it from cover to cover. The historical facts are great, the life style of the rich Greeks and the Persian culture are very interesting. The characters are very real. . Every page fascinating.
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Maureen D. Hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars A deeply satisfying read
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
I read this book 40 years ago and can say that I have enjoyed rereading it even more than the first time. This book was filled with so much information that is extremely relevant today. It is about the past, but surely is a cautionary tale of the present and our probable future.
14 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Seamel
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommens
Reviewed in Canada on November 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
Excellent. This author is gifted and an incredible writer. I was captivated and could not put this book down.
Report
margot koopmans
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2017
Verified Purchase
Loved it
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Too much Philosophy
Reviewed in Canada on September 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
I enjoy historical period and loved Mary Renault's novels of ancient Greece so I had high hopes. I gave up about a third of the way through. Way too much and too repetitive discussion of the way things are in Greece and in Persia as opposed to the way the lead character wants them to be. At first it was interesting - it throws a strong light on the plight of women in both cultures - but it just goes on and on.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report