The Walled Orchard books in order

The Walled Orchard is a two-part historical novel set in ancient Athens, following a comic playwright through the Peloponnesian War.
Series · Historical Fiction · Literary Fiction

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Goatsong 1989 Tom Holt Buy
2 The Walled Orchard 1990 Tom Holt Buy

Published in 1989 and 1990, The Walled Orchard (originally Goatsong and The Walled Orchard) tells the story of a comic playwright living in Athens during the Peloponnesian War. The narrative follows his rise in the competitive world of Athenian theater while the city tears itself apart in conflict with Sparta.

This was an early work in what would become the K.J. Parker side of Holt’s writing. The attention to historical detail, the wry narrative voice, and the refusal to romanticize ancient life are all present here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the The Walled Orchard series?

There are two books in the The Walled Orchard series, published between 1989 and 1990.

What is the first book in the The Walled Orchard series?

The first book in the The Walled Orchard series is Goatsong, published in 1989.

Is The Walled Orchard based on a real person?

The protagonist is loosely inspired by the real Athenian comic playwright Eupolis, though Holt invents most of the personal details and plot events.

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