Pyrrhus by Jacob Abbott is an engaging 19th-century historical biography that chronicles the life of Pyrrhus, the famed King of Epirus. Originally published in 1854 as part of the Makers of History series, the book traces his turbulent conquests, battles against Rome, and the origin of the "Pyrrhic victory". Key Details & Themes: Subject: Pyrrhus (319–272 BC), a brilliant but impulsive Hellenistic military commander and an early, fierce opponent of the Roman Republic. The "Pyrrhic Victory": The book details his costly military campaigns—particularly the Battle of Asculum—where his immense losses gave rise to the phrase for a victory achieved at too great a cost. Scope: Abbott covers his dramatic political entanglements, his early life in Macedon, the Sicilian campaign, and his bizarre, unexpected death in Argos.