Why did you think that we needed another alexander the great biography. Ought we to accept the image of a dashing king enjoying a string of spectacular successes, or adopt a more cynical evaluation, taking note of all the negative aspects of his reign. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Alexander the great, also known as alexander iii of macedon, was the king of macedonia from 336 to 323 b. In an attempt to solidify his rule, he began to dress like a persian. Anabasis also inspired him but in a more down to earth kind of way, xenophon is a favorite of many other leaders aswell from caesar to machiavelli.
Fox had to read 1,468 books and articles to write his celebrated biography of alexander. The best books on alexander the great, as recommended by historian hugh bowden. Alexanders father, philip, was stabbed by one of his bodyguards in 336 b. The process curtius describes sounds much more like what actually. After alexander died he had no heir and it created a vacuum that was. Alexander had no part in the murder of his father, although he may have resented him because he neglected olympias for another wife. Alexander the great was an ancient macedonian ruler and one of historys greatest military minds who before his death established a powerful, immense empire. Alexander the great simple english wikipedia, the free. The story of alexander the greats invasion of india. List of books and articles about alexander the great.
The gothic revival style became popular in the middle of the 19th century. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alexander the great. Tell us what you like and well recommend books youll love. Alexander the great was one of historys most celebrated conquerors. For two thousand years, generals, great leaders and strategists have studied the ways of alexander the great. Born as heir to the macedonian king, his great ambition led him to take on the high persian empire. Architectural plan books like alexander jackson downings the architecture of country houses, published in 1850, and popular magazines helped to spread the style from coast to coast in america. So this book was a great map on persian lands but also it showed how were the persians, the peoples surrounding them and how to fight them. Everything from his complex personality and his sexual life to his military and logistical tactics have been analyzed by historians.
Robin lane fox alexander the great robin lane fox tough, resolute, fearless. Some of these are highly fictionalized accounts, such as the alexander romance. He flashed across the sky of history like a comet, glowing brightly and burning out quickly. Sometimes called carpenter gothic, this style allowed for great creativity by the builder. Fire from heaven by mary renault, the persian boy by mary renault, alexander the great by robin lane fox, the campaigns of a. Kwame alexander recommends 3 poetry books for the holidays. Cultural depictions of alexander the great wikipedia. The real story of alexander the great art of manliness. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the. Alexander the great is interpreted in the light of contemporary imperial and colonial ideas and thats what briant talks about in this book.
The celebrated macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy. Listen to full length audio books online for free on youtube. Alexander was the son of philip ii, king of macedonia, and olympias, the princess of neighboring epirus. While in babylon, alexander became ill after a prolonged banquet and drinking bout, and on june, 323, he died at age 33. He does not lay out a point he tries to prove throughout the rest of the book. Find books like alexander the great from the worlds largest community of readers. Alexander the great alexander iii of macedonia was king of macedonia, from 336 bc until his death in 323 bc.
Alexander has figured in works of both high and popular culture from his own era to the modern day. This is written in a more novel style, very much like freemans later work. Alexander books was opened by gary and barbara alexander on october 31, 1989. The influential women that surrounded and aided alexander. Youth and kingship the son of philip ii of macedon and olympias, he had aristotle as his tutor and was given a classical education. Alexander the great or alexander iii, 356323 bc, king of macedon, conqueror of much of asia. The early stages of this government in 3 to 80 bc was a tale of bloody battles and serves as a stark warning of a grim political climate. Alexander the great book by philip freeman official. He was overlord of the punjab, and under him were many other princes. His parents were philip ii of macedon and his wife olympias. Now, there are a lot of books and biographies about alexander the great. Alexander the great by philip freeman in the first authoritative biography of alexander the great written for a general audience in a generation. He was one of the greatest military leaders of all time. At its height, alexanders empire stretched all the way from modernday italy clear to the himalayas.
Alexander the great served as king of macedonia from 336 to 323 b. Alexander is a wonderful example of the toxic burden of ambition. Keep in mind there is no particular order for the greatest to least great among these books. But every time someone says they are interested in alexander i always say that what happened after he died was even more interesting.
Ancient ones, weve got arrians, campaigns of alexander. Aimed at a general audience, this biography delves into the life of the great conqueror, revealing everything you need. It promises to be an easy read and that is what it exactly is. His death at the age of thirtytwo spelled the end of that unity. Alexander the great, perhaps the most commanding leader in history, united his empire and his army by the titanic force of his will. This exclusive modern library edition, excerpted from plutarchs lives, is a riveting tale of honor, power, scandal, and bravery written by the most.
Alexander the greats accomplishments and legacy have been preserved and depicted in many ways. Alexander the great is one of the latest, most updated, and contemporary books on the life of the ancient, macedonian king, who would extend his empire from a little slide of land in greece through persia, egypt, all the way to india, forming the greatest empire the ancient world had ever seen. Alexander the greats military tactics and strategies are still studied in. He was born in pella in 356 bc and succeeded his father philip ii to the throne at the age of twenty. From spain to india, from scotland to ethiopia, the romance of alexander has gained mythical status.
Campaigns of alexander anabasis complete audiobook 12 hours in english macedonia. Alexander the great was a king basileus of the ancient greek kingdom of macedon and a member of the argead dynasty. The great thing is, like most middle school kids, the characters get caught and are punished. Creating a top ten list for books on alexander the great is not easy, since few ancient historical figures have been written about as much. Those 2 books he carried in his campaigns in persia, the iliad inspired him religiously and served him as a guide of how a hero was while anabasis served him as a map and guide to persian lands. Some of these princes were ready to rebel against porus, and they welcomed alexander gladly. Alexander was educated by the philosopher aristotle. Creating a top ten list for books on alexander the great is not easy, since few ancient. In 2006, renault was the subject of a bbc 4 documentary, and her books. Fire from heaven by mary renault, alexander the great by robin lane fox, the persian boy by mary renault, the campa. Why was gregs mother more upset when she found out he lied. The store is located in lafayette, louisiana the heart of acadiana. Achilles, like alexander, aimed not to be simply the fastest runner, though he was. With his unprecedented conquests from greece in the west to india in the east, alexander the great was the type of man that legends are made of.
A life from beginning to end military biographies book 2 kindle edition by history, hourly. Which are the best books to read about alexander the great. Stone did, after all, direct a movie about the doors. So here is the list for the top ten books on alexander the great. There are three main histories of alexander the great that have come down to us from classical times.
From awardwinning historian robin lane fox, alexander the great searches through the mass of conflicting evidence and legend to focus on alexander as a. The legends associated with his exploits have gripped peoples imagination for centuries. Most often arguments erupt over whether, because he was a macedonian like the ptolemies in egypt, including cleopatra, alexander counted as a true greek. Alexander was a born warrior and a ruler of passionate ambition who understood the intense adventure of conquest and of the unknown. One third of that was known by heart and has survived, but even that was all legends and traditions, and men knew not the. Alexander was born july 20, 356 bc in pella, a city in the ancient. Alexander gets tied to ideas related to the great game, the world of espionage between the british empire and russia in the 19th century. Learning more about the beginning and the end of the roman republic means studying great figures like alexander the great who is covered in this novel.
A life from beginning to end military biographies book 2. Kwame alexander recommends 3 poetry books for the holidays nprs rachel martin talks to poet in residence kwame alexander,who shares his. Alexander was born in 356 bc in pella, the ancient capital of macedonia. He spent most of his ruling years on an unprecedented military campaign through asia and northeast africa, and he created one. The part of india which alexander invaded is called the punjab, or land of the five rivers. Everyone seems to want a stake in alexander the great, even those focused on hair color.
If this makes alexander sound like a 1960s rock star, it is perhaps not entirely coincidental. I liked the illustrations because they are very detailed. In the first authoritative biography of alexander the great written for a general audience in a generation, classicist and historian philip freeman tells the remarkable life of the great conqueror. Paul cartledge, one of the worlds foremost scholars of ancient greece, illuminates the brief but iconic life of alexander 356323 bc, king of macedon, conqueror of the persian empire, and founder the acclaimed biography of alexander the great. During his time of leadership, he united greece, reestablished the corinthian league and conquered the persian empire. I didnt like the part where alexander did something bad to one of his knights. There was much speculation about the cause of death, and the most popular theories claim that he either contracted malaria or typhoid fever or that he was poisoned. Alexander the great was lucky to have very supportive women at his side throughout his life. Alexander the great i thought that this book was quite good because it had nice descriptions.