The Bottom Line
If you like Steven Pressfield's historical fiction or war movies, you'll probably love this book about Alexander the Great's campaign in Afghanistan in 330 B.C. Although I found it exciting at first, by a third of the way through, I was nauseated by the gore and so restless that I could only skim the remainder until I reached the depressing, final chapters.
Pros
- Well-written
- Full of the exciting scary encounters that many people like
- Does transport readers to the battleside
Cons
- Only the weapons and lack of modern technology feel ancient
- One battle is much like the next
- Nothing uplifting
Description
- Matthias is the last man of his family to go off to join Alexander the Great.
- Matthias, the narrator, has a lot of trouble with his first kill.
- Matthias tries to stay faithful to his fiance back home.
- A Dear John letter from his fiance helps alleviate the guilt Matthias feels for his womanizing.
- The "Macks" endure surprise attacks and learn the lethal tricks of the Afghan tribes.
- There are some foil-type characters, like a scribe who is criticized for euphemizing slaughter.
- Features the mass marriage centering on that between Alexander and Roxane.
- Sad ending.
Guide Review - The Afghan Campaign
The Afghan Campaign has been described as exciting. It has been said that you might need eyedrops because you'll be up all night finishing it. It is exciting, true. And I couldn't wait to be done with it. But the actions are monotonous (as probably matches the life of a soldier in battle) and the narrative quickly lost its appeal: (1) Slash the enemy and foul yourself (2) drink some kind of colloquial alcoholic beverage or ingest some opiate (3) take one of the Afghan women until morning (4) then start the battle/trek all over again. The Afghans are presented as monotheistic Zoroastrians with customs that the non-religious Macedonian narrator doesn't understand. An ill-fated love affair adds a couple of funny bright spots. I gave The Afghan Campaign 3 stars instead of the 2 I have given Pressfield before because I sensibly skimmed sections once I got too numb/bored/disgusted with the brutality. Since Pressfield is a best selling author for the earlier volumes I have not enjoyed, my lack of pleasure might be taken as a ringing endorsement.
