The Bottom Line
Peter Green's biography of Alexander of Macedon tells a rich, colorful story of the life of Alexander the Great, noting his acts of egomania and growing contempt for mere mortals no less than his military brilliance. If you're looking for a single comprehensive, easy to read, if long, work on Alexander, this should be it.
Pros
- Good writing
- Vivid and colorful depiction
- Mass of background materials
Cons
- Shortage of maps
Description
- The 1991 edition is a revision of his earlier 1974 biography of Alexander.
- Filled with all the anecdotes about Alexander - horses, philosophers, Gordian knot, etc.
- The actions of the Greek poleis and Philip's responses are shown from an uncommon viewpoint.
- Shows how Alexander grew more and more convinced his father was one god or another.
- Shows how Alexander grew gradually more indifferent and blind to the wishes of those under him.
- Contains abundant notes, bibliography, and a very useful genealogical chart for Alexander.
- Clearly and dispassionately explains the battle plans and outcomes.
Guide Review - Review - Alexander of Macedon
Peter Green's biography of Alexander of Macedon tells the fantastic story of one of the greatest military leaders of all time whose battle lessons continue to be studied and marvelled at. Green doesn't stop with Alexander the conqueror but paints his family life, the political realities of the time in which Alexander lived, and the capricious, tyrannical monster he was evolving into when he died. Surpassing Achilles and Hercules -- his "ancestors" -- was Alexander's overarching ambition, as Green shows.
Although Green shows the situation in the various poleis of Greece when Alexander's father Philip of Macedon took the helm, he doesn't show the dissolution of the empire following Alexander's demise. But that is hardly necessary since Green shows how, in the wake of Alexander, dissolution began almost immediately. The Macedonian ruler had done his bit -- the conquering. Imperial administration didn't interest him.
Instead of focusing on Alexander's romantic relationships, Green pays attention to the philosophers, soothsayers, and ministers of propaganda. He also notes the innovations of Alexander's march across Asia, including the first known use of military postal censorship.
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