Introduction by Michael Wood
My version: Paperback
Genre: Non Fiction, History
Publisher: Penguin Books
First published: 2004
ISBN: 0-141-01312-5
Pages: 145
Bought
From the cover:
Alexander the Great was the most successful conqueror the world has ever seen. Already a renowned commander in the Macedonian army, he inherited his father’s empire at the age of twenty and immediately set out to expand it.
He ruthlessly suppressed all who dared to rebel, and led violent and bloody campaigns throughout Persia, Egypt, India and Babylon – establishing new cities to glorify his name and destroying others in his path. Inspired in his leadership, fearless in battle and boundless in his ambition, Alexander’s empire covered most of the known world and comprised two million square miles by the time of his death at thirty-two.
Pieced together afresh from Alexander’s earliest biographers, this selection is the definitive portrait of a man who was worshipped as a god in his own lifetime and whose legend has only grown with time.
I can’t rightly remember now where I got this one from. I can’t find this cover / copy on Amazon either. I think however, it must be this one (left). Probably without the introduction by Michael Wood. The picture on the front also seems to be one of the few near contemporary pictures of the great man, as I’ve seen it used on several books, one of which I have myself.
It’s an interesting one, being stuff written about Alexander The Great, closer to his time. Than we are now, any way. As I understand it, there isn’t an awful lot of factual evidence or writings to go on, so even these writings by the period’s, or period-adjacent authors, cannot be relied upon as totally accurate, there is surely some polishing of his image going on. But I think the idea is to read this and cut through to the character himself, if you can. I’ve seen many other books, mostly fiction-based books recommended about Alexander The Great – on Reddit mainly, so there is certainly still a market for books about this, no matter how you look at him, amazing character.
It’s a good read, once you get into the period language and formular, whích despite – obvously – having been translated into English, from Latin, Grek etc, can sometimes take a bit of getting used to. And it’s an excellent starting off point for further reading, should you wish.
You can buy Alexander from Amazon
*I’m pretty sure the header image is AI generated, but I can’t remember where from, sorry, will do better
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