Book Description
Inspired in his leadership, fearless in battle, and boundless in his ambition, Alexander the Great was worshiped as a god during his lifetime, and his legend has only grown since— he remains in the forefront of the public imagination with no fewer than two upcoming major motion pictures devoted to his life. Inheriting his fatherÂ's empire at the age of twenty, Alexander resolved to expand it, and by the time of his death at thirty- two, his empire covered most of the known world—from Greece to India—encompassing two million square miles. Comprising selections from the writings of Arrian, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius Rufus, this definitive biography of the greatest conqueror in history features an introduction on AlexanderÂ's enduring legacy by acclaimed British television personality Michael Wood.
Customer Reviews:
Ruler by 16 ... Commander by 20 ...Conqueror by 26 ...Alexander the Great.......2006-09-13
Pupil of Aristotle, ruler at 16, commander at 20 of armies when modern men are only just legally eligible to drink in America, and conqueror of half of the entire known world by age 26 .... the historical accounts of Alexander the Great's imperial military campaigns ... and its enduring legacy centuries later. A man who truly belongs to history.
Not even Napoleon, Douglas MacArthur, or General Patton could match the military legacy of Alexander the Great. Both Alexander's youth and his zeal created a legend that is unrivaled.
Alexander the Great.......2006-03-23
As with all history, one never knows all, one can only assume, because, one was never there, or so we think.
The "GREATEST" OF THE "GREAT".......2006-02-10
Alexander the Great, was born on or around July 20, 356 B.C.E., and is my favorite personality to read about in history. To me he is the whole package general, statesman, conqueror, and philosopher. The smartest man who ever lived, Aristotle, tutored him. Alexander conquered more of the known world than any other figure in history, accomplishing all this before he dies at the ripe old age of 33. Some people called him conqueror and violent overlord. Some other called him civilizer and even God! All of them yet, called him "The Great". He was the first man in modern history that took this name, "The Great"! Even as a young boy, he shows great promise.
Curtius' work is the oldest extant work available and based on eyewitness accounts. He does a better job than most in explaining the battle scenes, and seems to be more balanced in his admiration and criticism of Alexander then any of the other early biographers. I love his Bucephalus Story, and I recount it here so you get a flavor of the promise this young Alexander shows.
The legend begins with Philoneicus, a Thessalian, bringing a wild horse to Philip for him to buy. None of the hands was able to handle it, and Philip grew upset at Philoneicus for bringing such an unstable horse to him. Alexander, however, publicly defied his father and claimed that he could handle the horse. The bet between Philip and Alexander was that if Alexander could ride the horse, Philip would buy it, if not, Alexander would have to pay the price of the horse, which was 13 talents, an enormous sum for a boy of Alexander's age to have.
Alexander apparently noticed that the horse had been shying away from its own shadow, and so he led it gently into the sun, so that its shadow was behind it, all the while stroking it gently and whispering into its ear, (Alexander seems to be the original horse whisperer). Eventually the horse let Alexander mount him, and Alexander was able to show his equestrian skill to his father and all who were watching. The incident so impressed Alexander's father, King Philip that he told the boy "Look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of you, for Macedonia is too little for thee". He named the horse Bucephalus, which means Ox head, and rode it across Asia, founding a city in its honor in India after its death. This story gives you an inkling about the man.
This book is a must read for students of Alexander, I also recommend Plutarch's and Arrian's work. Contemporary writers, J.F. C. Fuller and Tarn. Most of Alexander's greatest military traits are in the area of military logistics and to understand his genius in this area I highly recommend reading, "Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army," by Donald W. Engels.
As a retired U. S. Army Major, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient warfare, and history.
The life of a conqueror.......2005-08-12
Born in Macedonia in 356BC Alexander The Great changed the political face of the Middle East to such an extent that the present age is affected. He only lived 32 years but created an Empire that spanned 1000's of miles and included many cultures. He was tutored by Aristotle and raised to be a king. He toppled Darius of Persia, conquered the surrounding areas and invaded India. When he took on a task, he stayed with it with dogged determination. He was a brilliant battlefield tactition and motivator of men.
The story of his life was recorded by the classic biographers, Arrian, Plutarch and Curtius. In this book, Michael Wood presents Alexander's story by compiling the different accounts in chronological order. There is very little additional text, editorial, background, etc. Sometimes, he interjects comments where the original accounts vary (due to the biases of the biograhpers). This is a simple book to read and understand. It is an excellent resource for someone who wants an introduction to Alexander.
The map, list of sources and gloassary of main characters are quite helpful.
Dump the movies, read this instead.......2004-11-20
Or watch the movies and read this as well. This is a great little book that contains excerted translations of the three ancient biographies of Alexander, written by Plutarch, Arrian and Quintus Curtius Rufus, all Roman writers. The book is edited so that it forms a continuous narrative throughout Alexander's life. Aside from archeological finds, these three ancient writers are the sole sources of reliable information on the historical Alexander. The introduction by Wood is useful.
I do have to note that I find it odd that on the Amazon page under "Language Notes" it says "Latin, English," since there is no Latin here. The original texts were in Latin, but they are not reproduced here.
Book Description
In Paris and London, the crowds hailed him as the man who had conquered Napoleon, as the liberator of Europe, and as a benevolent, enlightened monarch. At home he came to be feared as a reactionary, oppressive autocrat in a country where millions of serfs were still treated as little more than personal property. A grandson of Catherine the Great, a conspirator in the assassination of his own father, and an idealistic and ineffective participant at the Congress of Vienna, Alexander was torn all his life between his liberal illusions and the hard realities of autocratic Russia. In a brilliant biography of one of the most unorthodox of Russia's tsars, Henri Troyat -- winner of the Prix Populiste and the coveted Prix Goncourt -- delivers a masterful portrait of Europe during a momentous period in its modern history. "[Troyat's] broad-brush narrative restores to center stage important personalities and their interplay in the politics of the era." -- James H. Billington, The New York Times Book Review "[A] briskly moving, richly illustrated, flesh-and-blood portrait." -- Publishers Weekly "Troyat's biography of Alexander ... turns out to be more enthralling than most of the novels I've read lately." -- Pamela Marsh, The Christian Science Monitor
Customer Reviews:
Not a page turner.......2006-08-24
Am currently reading this; a chapter at a time. I find it interesting but it's not as exiting as other Czarist bio's I've read. Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, and Catherine the Great were more interesting. Overall it's not a bad book and worth the money. Will certainly finish it.
A book with staying power.......2006-03-22
This has been around for a while now and that is very good, given the paucity of good books in English about this fascinating Tsar.
Having said that, I it seemed to me that this is a bit lighter than it could be. Maybe it is due to a more popular style of message or maybe just due to the translation. In any event, this is highly worthwhile.
The Man who beat Napoleon Revealed. Great Biography .......2005-10-21
Henri Troyat's "Alexander of Russia" stands as one of the best accounts of the life of the man who beat Napoleon and helped restore peace to Europe. In the Early 19th century Alexander was rivaled only Napoleon in terms of esteem yet today men like the Prussian general Blucher Furst von Metternich and lord Wellington seem to get far more recognition in our modern histories. Perhaps this is because Alexander was a Russian but perhaps it is because we don't know exactly how to feel about this sovereign who wavered between enlightened despot ruling by divine right, religious man and liberal thinker. These things all seem incongruous for a single man let alone a ruler of the largest country of Europe. Troyat's work helps illustrate the man and also helps us to reconcile the man who helped to define 19th century politics and geography.
The book reads much like the life of Alexander. In the early part of the book it is centered around how Catherine the Great felt about her grandson and the political climate during her reign and the reign of her son Paul. This portion is rather dull from a literary standpoint although necessary to understanding the man. In these years he is taught by French enlightenment thinker Laharpe who helps mold Alexander's liveral sentiments. In 1801 when Paul is murdered to the period of the Congress of Vienna the book takes a much more active tone and is written brilliantly. Alexander naturally fel some amount of shame for his fathers murder although he only had implied responsibility for it. Alexander's interaction with Napoleon at Tilsit is very interesting and the account of Napoleon's Russian campaign is very well done. Further the Allied advance on Paris, led by an Alexander who felt that god was impelling him to act, too is great. Troyat uses just the correct amount of quotes to make the work scholarly and yet readable. After the Congress of Vienna, Alexander becomes even more religious and the book takes a less enjoyable style during these later years.
Overall I found this work to be highly useful and very enjoyable. It provides a great insight into the Napoleonic era from the Russian perspective which is relatively rare. Troyat writes in a straight forward manner and is able to cover a very eventful life in only 300 pages. Highly recommended.
Ted Murena
Brian Wayne Wells, Esquire, reviews Alexander of Russia.......1998-02-28
Henri Troyat's "Alexander of Russia" (1980)serves as a nice sequel to his "Catherine the Great" (1977). Alexander I, Emporer of all the Russias (1801-1825) succeeded Catherine the Great (1762-1796) to the throne of the Russian Empire separated only by the brief reign of Alexander's father, Paul (1796-1801). Troyat's presentation of Alexander is a wonderful, vivid portrait of man known to history as the "enigmatic Tsar." Alexander had been provided an "enlightenment education" by his grandmother Catherine the Great. He had a fondness for liberty and a hatred of despotism and serfdom. Yet Alexander was frustrated in his hopes for reform of the Russian nation throughout the entirety of his reign.
Napoleon came to power in France and proceeded to conquer much of Europe. Suddenly, France, the traditional ally of the Russian Empire was an enemy. Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 but was defeated. Alexander then played a major role in the restoration of Europe following the Napoleonic Wars. Meanwhile, reform was postponed.
Troyat has a lively writing style that holds the interests of the reader all way to the end of the book.
Book Description
Combining cinematic drama and a sprawling historical narrative, this is gripping history at its finest.
Alexander the Great is a towering figure in world history, but despite our long-held fascination with him, his burial site is unknown. Alexander's Tomb is the epic tale of the ongoing quest to unlock one of the world's great mysteries.
Customer Reviews:
Must read the first 20%, skip the rest.......2007-10-02
Saunder's picked a great subject and goes begening is great. After a while he gets a bit boring. He should have written the book about the life of Alexander and that would have been good. The tomb thing kind of looses steam. Even with the life of Alexander, he seems to think of the man so highly that he forgets what a butcher Alexander was. But then, Alexander won and the rules make him a hiro. Saunders shortchanges Iran and seems to not get into the skin of Alexander
Think of what it would be like to be Alexander. I don't know how many legends we know about Alexander's birth existed back then but we do know that Olympia never tired of telling her son of his lineage to Achilles and Phillip traced his lineage to Hercules and Dionysus. Then at the age of 13 Alexander goes to study under Aristotle.
Let's see. How would this be in our time? Your favorite aunt on mother's side is Queen Victoria, your uncle on father's side is the president of United States, Einstein, out of his love for you invited you to stay at his place in Princeton and is now your full time friend, mentor and teacher. You go on vacation to Brazil with Richard Feynman.
What is his childhood activity? It seems that he was busy when he was young. Translated into our language; his parents paid a lot of attention to his education. Did they see Education as we see it? Read the first part of the book, skip the rest.
The Fascinating Story of Alexander's Tomb.......2007-04-10
The first couple of chapters of this book briefly present the highlights of Alexander's life, accomplishments and ultimately his death. The remainder is about Alexander's corpse, mummy and tombs (he had more than one) and what has and may have happened to them throughout the ages. The story is quite fascinating and full of uncertainty, speculation, false leads and wishful thinking; this is mainly due to the lack of ancient documents that clearly describe what happened to Alexander's body and his "final" resting place during the course of time. The writing style is quite engaging, clear and authoritative. However, for some, the many ancient names and places that are mentioned in the earlier parts of the book can be a bit confusing. Fortunately, the author has included glossaries at the end that the reader may refer to as needed. This intriguing book will likely be of most interest to history and archaeology buffs.
Engrossing Archeological Mystery.......2007-04-03
Saunders does a good job in laying out the facts in the mystery of what became of one of the Holy Grails of Archeology, the search for the Tomb of Alexander the Great. He gives us a breif history of the life and death of Alexander and how his General Ptolomy used possession of his body to legitimize his claim to the throne of the Pharoes of Egypt.
He give us a glimpse of how the building of the Tomb by Ptolomy and his descendants built the Conqueror's namesake city Alexandria into one of the marvels of the ancient world. People traveled from all points of the Hellenic then Roman World to view the Tomb.
The location of the tomb was lost during the dark ages. Saunders postulates several possible scenarios for what became of the grave. He also records several incidents over the years involving people obcessed with its discovery.
Overall an enjoyable book for people interested in History or Archeology
How Alexander's Unknown Tomb Still Lives.......2007-01-06
Entertaining book, no doubt. How the remains of Alexander, his mummy and the place where it lied trough centuries until it disappeared of common knowledge and historic testimonies, are and were very alive trough old and current politics, but also how the obsession to find his body still pervades the mind of scholars and laymen, all of that is certainly a tale worthy of a book and this one fulfill the task very well.
Saunder deliver the merchandise. We see a parade of scholars, amateurs, crazy or deranged people of all description, fake histories, rumors and archaeological discoveries trying to say the last word, but we also see the politics of his age, all kind of kings messing around this famous corpse, making use of it to legitimate patched kingdoms with an artful mixing of myth and legend.
A worthy reading and at last the thought that the aura of Alexander's tomb will vanish -as happened with the Titanic- the very same day it is discovered. Tombs of famous people only lives in imagination if far from museum life.
Stones and Bones in Alexandria .......2006-12-20
A puzzling thing is that books about ancient Greece usually end with the death of Alexander in 323 BC. Yet it was after that time -- not before -- that Hellenism became a world civilization. For some reason, however, historians have chosen to rap rhapasodic about the small city of ancient Athens -- and ignore the huge empire of Alexander and his successors. Author Saunders writes about what happened after Alexander's death. That's ground that hasn't been plowed often and is very much worth the effort of learning about it. The story of the diadochi -- the successors of Alexander -- is as dark and bloody as any in history.
The book focuses on what happened to Alexander's body and its significance as a symbol of power and legitimacy for the successors of the great conqueror. It's interesting stuff and the author, with limited material to work with, conjures up a cult of Alexander and his body in Alexandria, as exemplified by his tomb and the visitors who came to pay homage. However, reading this book I came to a conclusion opposite from the author. Within a few decades after Alexander's death, nobody really gave a damn about his remains. His fabled tomb wasn't on the list of Alexandria's major tourist attractions, is rarely mentioned in ancient sources, and disappeared without a trace.
Saunders brings the story up to date with tales of medieval and modern efforts to find Alexander's tomb and remains. This book is worth reading for the well-described and lucid picture it gives of the city of Alexandria and its society in the several centuries after Alexander's death.
Smallchief
Customer Reviews:
Quick and to the point.......2007-01-23
The idea is to cut-and-paste segments from classical biographers into a relatively cohesive narrative of Alexander's life and exploits. Over all, the project comes off fairly well. It reads quickly, hitting all the expected the highlights. A nice sampling of the "original" sources; a short book that would serve well as an introduction to the topic.
Customer Reviews:
Good book, easy read, interesting life.......2006-05-05
I never would have read this book if i didnt have to, but once again, im glad i did. This book is really no different than anything about Alexander, except its short, easy, and it covers the important points of his life.
If you have to read it- dont worry its not too bad, and if you ever wanted to know about Alexander the Great, this book is perfect for you, both academically and casually
Just learning history.......2006-03-02
History frequently expresses strong views of Alexander. Alexander was not the first cult figure but one of the greatest characters of history. I thought that history books were dates and footnotes and Greek passages. But it has come down to many more questions than answers. Why did more Greeks fight against Alexander as mercenaries than for him?
I like the readability of the book. I knew something about Alexander the Great from high school. And then I learned on the History Channel about how his father Philip was killed. That's all I knew up to reading the book. Through this book I found the spirit of Alexander. The book provides a glossary which is very helpful. The book is a easy read. It's like a series of guest lectures and reviews that helped shaped the work . Frank Holt is the leading scholar working on Alexander and the East, as well as Greeks in Asia. I liked it and read more.
I learned to like the word Arete meaning excellence, but it really means the "capacity for excellence" or "prowess." It is the Homeric ideal to which all heroes aspire and the driving principle in Alexander' s character. I took this took to heart.
I never thought that money was so important to history. From the Persians 3 Billion dollars alone was the prize catch. I learned that many came over to Alexander the Great's side and he was met along the road and then cities would surrender their fortresses and treasuries to him. I enjoyed the book and liked it very much there were times I got into the action of the book. The topic of Alexander is 2300 years old. Alexander ordered a journal kept and even had a staff to keep it up to date. This was the Ephemerides ( or the royal Journal or "Day Book"). Today they survive in fragments. The literature published on Alexander in German, French, Italian and of course Greek is immense. I think I would like to read some day "William Woodthorpe Tarns, Alexander the Great 2, Cambridge, 1948.
I have started another book,"Alexander the Great" by Paul Cartledge which tells of another Alexander, the Spartans and his ancient world. The book talks a lot about history but does not get into Alexander's relationship with his father Philip or his his career in terms of alcohol. Alexander favorite pastime was hunting. In Macedonia you did not become fully a man until you had passed the key manhood test of hunting and killing, without a net, one of the ferocious wild boars that roamed the heights of western Macedonia. Only then could you recline, as opposed to sitting, when participating in the daily ritual of the symposium, the evening drinking party. Another kind of hunting, the killing of enemies in battle entitled a Macedonian to wear a special belt, as a visual signal and reminder of his attainment and prestige.
Alexander's legacy unites East and West in it's traditions including art and music. Alexander is a world legacy as well as a Greek Hero. Alexander is seen as hero, bad guy, holy man, Christian, as a new achilles, prophet and visionary, King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire. No sexual relationship ever distracted Alexander from his purpose.
From the reading I still question if Alexander was poisoned. I think he died because of a contracted fever and broken heart. I think he knew that his men wanted him to come home and finish his war in other lands. He left no heirs, nor did he establish any permanent structure for the empire. The League of Corinth had been dissolved. His empire fell apart.
This book is presuming that the reader is beginning the study of Macedonia and Alexander the Great. Another book he wrote that I would love to read is In the Shadow of Olympus: the Emergence of Macedonia ( Princeton ,1990) by E. N. Borza which describes Aristotle teaching him at thirteen and combat training at seven.
Alexander the Great introduced Greek as an official language throughout his vast empire. Alexander kept a copy of Homer's Iliad under his pillow. I liked how this man took care of his sick and wounded on the battlefield and disabled veterans. And he also took care of veterans as they got older.
The first historical novel " The Alexander Romance" celebrated his many feats and Alexander coin portraits continue to be struck. Caesar as a pretorian governor in Spain, on seeing a portrait of Alexander, lamented that he was in his late thirties and had yet to do any thing great. This was the greatness of Alexander
Alexander the Accessible.......2005-02-18
Biographies of figures from the ancient world are often written, in the words of one of my old professors, "as if the author were being paid by the word." Lindsay Adam's new biography of Alexander the Great manages to avoid that trap. This book demonstrates that scholarship and readability are not contradictory. Adam's scholarly grounding is top-notch, but he does not clutter up his narrative with the usual wordy footnotes and passages in classical Greek. Both the professional historian and the history fan will find much to enjoy here. The author handles the complex and fascinating story of Alexander's conquests and their legacy with considerable grace and mastery. The professor looking for a text for undergraduates and the reader simply interested in a retelling of one of history's most compelling careers would both profit from this book.
Book Description
In May 323 BC Alexander of Macedonia fell ill in Babylon. Within ten days he was dead. A military genius who raged through the Persian empire, Alexander believed he was the son of God, with a desire for everlasting glory and an urge to march and conquer the world. The Death of Alexander the Great critically analyzes this extraordinary conqueror who achieved so much before he died at the early age of 33. Alexander was a man who wanted to be a God, a Greek who wanted to be a Persian, a defender of liberties who spent most of his life taking away the liberties of others, and a king who could be compassionate to the lowliest yet ruthlessly wipe out an ancient city like Tyre and crucify 3,000 of its defenders. Doherty scrutinizes the circumstances surrounding Alexander’s death as he lay sweating beside a swimming pool in the summer palace of the Persian kings. Did Alexander die of alcoholism, a hideous bout of malaria, or were other factors involved? Alexander had been warned not to enter Babylon, so he surrounded himself with outstanding captains of war. This book is a dramatic reassessment of the leader’s mysterious final days.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating Topic - Needed Better Editing.......2007-09-25
This important and complex topic deserves ongoing analysis and research and this book is a good contribution with some well thought out hypotheses and ideas. However, the book needed better editing - sections appear repetitive and some arguments are not fully constructed and concluded. If you are an Alexander-phile, you may find this enjoyable, but not fully satisfying.
fiction stranger than fact.......2004-11-05
Thought provoking. Green's iconoclastic 1973 work set out to show us Alexander's (A.) darker side, Doherty finishes it. Doherty has set out his stall to prove A. was assassinated and nothing it is going to get in the way. It's a well researched work, a fusion of scholarly argument but with some awkward theorising. It is also guilty of oversimplification and scurrilous use of sources- dismissing them as unreliable at times or quoting them verbatim when it suits his case. His denigration of Plutarch almost seems personal. The use of terms such as 'its is obvious' or `the conclusion is inevitable' try to lure the reader into easy conclusions against all evidence which can perhaps be dismissed as author enthusiasm. There plenty of hyperbole and there are some inaccuracies. Antigonus for example is referred to as an `eye-witness' present at the time of Alexander's death. He has Alexander reciting from Euripides `Andromache' (much quoted from by Doherty) at the ill-fated `comus' when it should have been `Andromeda'. The book ultimately decides it's one of the Bodyguards, citing a forged Royla Journal and here he may be correct. Yte the evidence is hardly conclusive. This is a clever book, if you let yourself be taken. What it does provide is good insight into source problems if you ignore Doherty's `Ephippus- like' propaganda. What is perplexing is that this is extremely well researched with all the right source references and yet heads off on uncomfortable conclusions .Yet for all that it remains a thought provoking read. It provides clear insights into the political intrigues and power-plays of the time. But as a work definitively attempting to pinpoint an assassin, it doesn't work. Nevertheless, it ought to be an essential read for any student of Alexander.
Book Description
No individual has made his mark on the world more profoundly than Alexander the Great, the young man who, through war, diplomacy, and Machiavellian means, expanded his empire to include most of the known world--all before he died at age thirty-three. A remarkable man whose path crossed with some of the most influential people, places, and events of all time, Alexander began his combat training at age seven, studied philosophy with Aristotle at age thirteen, kept a copy of Homer's Iliad under his pillow until his death, and introduced Greek and oriental cultural influences throughout his vast empire.
Alexander: The Conqueror follows the progression of his conquests through the Near East and Central Asia to the Indus Valley, and introduces Alexander's family, the personalities of his generals, and the cultures of the lands he conquered. Author Laura Foreman examines the complex character of Alexander as student, friend, lover, military genius, and emperor, and explores the many unsolved mysteries surrounding his life: Who did Alexander turn to in passion and for comfort? Was Alexander a careful, amiable mastermind or a drunken brute? Could Alexander have been responsible for his father's murder?
Gorgeous landscape photography, numerous images of ancient art and artifacts, and informative, beautifully crafted maps complement the narrative, offering a visual feast along with a lively, insightful narrative of Alexander's life of conquest and intrigue.
Customer Reviews:
Greek or Macedonian?.........................2005-11-13
"It is a lovely thing to live with courage,and die leaving an everlasting fame". These are Alexander's words. Whether he was Greek or Macedonian, it does make a difference of course, but it does not change who the man was.The pictures, in this book are gorgeous.Having read so much and still reading about Alexander's life, I strongly feel that Greece and Macedonia were entertwined together,and it shall be so regardless of what we human say about old Macedonia and Greece.After all we are all God's creatures.
The cover of the book by itself is so stunning!!!!!
PROPAGANDA!!!.......2005-10-29
Another pseudo history book claiming Alexander was not Greek..
I have come across many books recently with the sole purpose
of revising ancient greek history..Among the many topics being that non hellenic origin of alexander, and that alexander despised greeks...if so i ask Borza and the rest of the "scholars" why did Alexander idolize Achillies a greek hero.
Why did alexander keep a copy of the Illiad by his bedside which was written by Homer another greek..The one that I find most absurd is that Aristotle is well known to be greek but alexander is not..How can this be when they were both macedonian?
Ok let me try this again here we have Alexander taught by a greek, idolized greek heroes, spread greek culture,
believed in greek gods and all of his family had greek names.
Here is one more---->If macedonians were not greek why were they allowed to compete in the ancient olympic games where only greeks could compete!!!!!!!!!
If you still have any doubts about the lack of quality and truthfulness of this book just look at the 144 people willing to sell it. Starting bid 23 cents!!! I REST MY CASE
ignore it!.......2004-12-29
facts:
1)ancient macedonians worshiped the greek gods.There is no
evidence whatsoever in books written from Fox,Fuller,Green etc
of a "makedonian" god!
2)Alexandros and Philipos are greek names.If so-called "professors" like Gandeto,Borza cannot explain once and for all why they beared greek names then they are real amateurs.
(at least someone provide us with their "makedonian" names...!)
3)Alexander cultivated the greek culture in his entire empire.
This age is called the hellenistic period not the "Makedonian"
period.Why?I think it is obvious.
4)There is no book whatsoever written by a decent historian
in the 19th century claiming that the ancient macedonians where not greek.This whole nonesence whas a conspiracy from Tito to
claim greek teritory.This was aknowledged even from the NATO allies!
5)the so called "MaKedonians" have slavic origins.They
arrived almost 700 years after Alexander's death!!
Macedonian Specialist.......2004-11-23
Eugene Borza is a specialist in ancient Macedonian studies and his latest work is a testimony to that. He is of the majority of scholars who now reject the claims that Macedonians were Greek in light of the ever growing evidence to support the fact that the ancient Macedonian population was a distinct ethnic group in the Balkans.
Great all around book-not too deep and outstanding photos.......2004-09-03
I have been studying/collecting books on Alexander for many years and this one ranks up there as one of my favorites. I was not sure what to expect from this book since there were no customer reviews so I took a chance and got lucky. The book is not too thick and is divided into interesting chapters/topics. Most of the information covered is standard Alexander lore but hidden throughout are tasty nuggets of little known facts about Alexander and his life. Details on military exploits and the battles seems a bit light but I do not think that the author planned to cover these like a military textbook. One can always pick up Green's classic or many other options for these details.
What really makes this book stand out are the photos. This book is PACKED full of gorgeous photographs and illustrations that I have never seen before in any book on Alexander. Due to the current situation in the Middle East few Westerners will ever see the sites of Persia and Afghanistan. This book gives one the chance to catch a glimpse of the lands Alexander added to his kingdom. I have been to Greece a few times and the pictures made me long for another trip to the Agean in the near future. The only negative I can find with the book is the inclusion of a comment/sticker from Oliver Stone. Doing a movie on Alexander does not make one an expert. I am sure this was done because of his upcoming movie on Alexander the Great. Hollywood has already ruined a classic tale with "Troy". Let us hope that Stone's production will not repeat this. Buy this Book!
Hannibal
Book Description
Within a period of only eleven years, Alexander the Great conquered the largest empire the ancient world had ever known. Stretching from Greece in the West to India in the East, Alexander's conquests were the result of his brilliant military strategies, thirst for power, and desire to spread the culture and ideas of Greece. This handsomely illustrated graphic
Book Description
Judith Tarr returns to the always fascinating character of Alexander the Great in this fantasy novel that springs from the legend that the Queen of the Amazons came to meet him in Persia, and became his friend.Hippolyta was Penthesilea, or Queen of the Amazons. She ruled as war leader and high priestess of a scattered tribe of women warriors who had dwelt on the high plains to the north and east of Persia for time out of mind. They were not isolated---travelers came and went through their territory, bringing news from the west, and carrying tales of the warrior women back home with them.But the Queen had a great grief in her life: her daughter and heir was a strange child. The girl had been born, so the Priestesses said, without a soul. And it was true that she was like no other child alive. She did not speak, and often seemed not to even see the people around her. She could not dress or feed herself, but she could ride and hunt like no other woman of the tribe. Many of the Amazons believed that the child must never be Queen, but that was a problem for a later time---Hippolyta was young and strong.Selene, the niece of the tribe's Seer, was put in charge of the child, to be her nursemaid and guardian. And it was a good, though sometimes difficult, life for many turns of the years. But then one day news came from the West of a new Conqueror, a young man who came out of Macedon with a spirit like flame, intending to rule the whole world. The Queen's daughter responded to the tale as a woman in the desert would to the sound of falling water. That very night she stole out of the camp and rode west. Selene could not stop her, and so she must follow, praying that the Queen would understand. Hippolyta herself followed the next day, and so they rode together, controlled by the child's compulsion, until they had crossed the mountains and entered into Alexander's Empire, and under the sway of Alexander's powerful personality.
Customer Reviews:
Lack of Flavor and Bite.......2005-11-28
I have a great love for anything regarding the legendary tribes of the Amazon women. Judith Tarr could have spent a little more time on this book before having it published. The beginning started out beautifully. I was hooked the first few pages but towards the middle of the book, the story lost some of its flavor. It starts out by Hippolyta, the fabled queen of the Amazons giving birth to Etta, a girl child born without a soul. From there, a number of events happen that lead Hippolyta and her daughter Etta to the presence of Alexander The Great.
This is where she lost me. From there the rest of the story is nothing but about Alexander! What really made me wince was the fact that she told the story from Etta's guardian, an Amazon warrior with the ability to see the future yet reluctant to share her gift. Worst yet was the fact that she couldn't decide what her sexuality was. But I have to say, for a child born with a soul, Etta's character enchanted me. I loved her ability to speak with other animals, especially horses. BUt even for all of Etta's charm, I was never so happy to see the end of this book. But in a strange way I was happy with the ending. The mystical twist added something to the story that it had lacked, even with Etta's powers. Granted, the movie about Alexander with Colin Ferrel was something to be desired. (Not even Angelina Jolie's appearance saved that movie, and I'm a huge fan of hers)But honestly, if I had been interested in buying a book about Alexander The Great, I would have. His presence overwhelms Etta's in this story and just when you think you've had enough of hearing about his travels and his battles, it ends in a way that will leave a little knot in the middle of your eyebrows. Be it in a good way or a bad way, you decide. I had bought the book on the slide that it would be a keeper. The title and the cover both interested me but sad to say it turned out to be a dud and I returned it. Better luck next time Judith.
A great setup to an anticlimactic finish .......2005-11-11
Is there such a thing as plot-us interruptus? If so, then Tarr is definitely guilty. The first two thirds of this book were great, but just when you thought things were really going to heat up, someone lets the air out of the tires.
Back up. OK, the book starts with the birth of a daughter to Hippolyta, the Queen of the scattered Amazon tribes. It should be a joyous occasion, but something is obviously wrong with the child - she has no soul. Even though the queen accepts this, she makes the child - unnamed, but called "Etta", or "that thing" - her heir anyway, sparking a rebellion led by her niece Phaedra. The first rebellion fails, and Phaedra is sent into exile. Then, Etta happens to hear about a new king in the west who has conquered Persia. The king is Alexander the Great, and Etta, still mindless and soulless but now with a purpose, is seized with a compulsion to find Alexander. Her mother and her guardian, a reluctant Seer named Selene, follow her. When they find Alexander, he is a likable, charismatic, sympathetic man who takes Etta in (rather like a pet). Alexander and Etta's fates are obviously intertwined, and Selene, who stays with his army to protect Etta, must figure out why and how - before the exiled Phaedra tries again to steal Hippolyta's throne.
The twist in this book could have been brilliant - when it first happened, I was thrilled, figuring that NOW the fun would start. But... no. The last 1/3 of the book was barely even readable! Why bother with such a great, original plot twist if you're not going to use it? I admit it, that ticked me off. The only thing worse than a book that's just bad from the beginning is one that really does have promise, and then squanders it.
The characters were OK, if a little sketchily drawn. I would have preferred more depth, particularly in Alexander and Selene, as well as some more detail on the Amazonian life, which was really shortchanged. Steven Pressfield's "Last of the Amazons" did such a great job in that regard that Tarr's depiction of the Amazons seemed watery in comparison. The first part of the book had me hooked, but by the end, I couldn't wait to finish it and move on. A definitely inconsistent effort overall.
Queen of the Amazons.......2005-04-21
The characters were interesting; the plot itself was well done, however the concept that bothered me greatly about this book was the fact that the "queen" was actually a male soul in the body of a female! It defeats the purpose of an female warrior race, when that race is led by a queen that was an infamous male warrior in his previous body!
Seek out a copy of "Lord Of The Two Lands" instead!.......2004-05-12
When I heard that Judith Tarr was writing another book involving Alexander the Great, I eagerly awaited its publication. Instead I found it a huge disappointment!! I enjoyed much of her first book about Alexander, "Lord Of The Two Lands", but her latest book is a sorry conclusion to her Alexander story. Her writing style comes across as forced and awkward, and the surprise twist that occurs two/thirds of the way through just made me groan and want to throw the book to the side. (Even though I saw that 'surprise' coming after the first few chapters, I had hoped I would be wrong and it would turn out to be a TRUE surprise, but no such luck!). I found this to be a ridiculous attempt at Alexander fiction, and such a great historical figure deserves better than to be such an insignificant character and no more than a goofy plot device. Skip this one and seek out her first Alexander novel for a much better read.
Such a waste of time!!.......2004-05-02
If a new author had been trying to get this book published they would not have succeeded. It's only because Judith Tarr is firmly established in the biz that "Queen of the Amazons" made it to print. It's quite dreadful and tedious, and not up to her usual quality. I kept waiting for it to get better, but it never did. To fans of Alexander the Great, BEWARE! He is only a very minor character, and what Tarr does to his character just past mid-way is one of the silliest things I have read in fiction in many years. It had me rolling my eyes and groaning. I nearly didn't finish the book because of it, and I really wish I hadn't finished, as the ending was rushed and chopped off and not worth the journey there. I hate to think of all the talented new writers of Alexander fiction who just can't get a break from publishers because those publishers are content with churning out junk like this and unwilling to take a chance on someone untested.
For much better Alexander the Great/historical fiction, check out Mary Renault's books. You won't be disappointed.
Average customer rating:
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Alexander the Great: World Conqueror (Signature Lives)
Michael Burgan
Manufacturer: Compass Point Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0756518725 |
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