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scipio_africanus's review against another edition
5.0
Solid bio of Alexander. Enjoyed this stoic historians take on Alexander's life. Arrian was a true historian giving us multiple takes and offering us his educated opinion on which were most likely and which were spurious. Up there with Polybius and Herodotus as far as my favorites go regarding ancient historians.
Alexanders life was epic. Always enjoy reading about it.
Alexanders life was epic. Always enjoy reading about it.
soniavzk's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.25
It was interesting to hear how much he conquered and how even seemingly objective historical accounts can lend insight into the thinking and mindset of the writer. I’ve read other historical accounts (i.e. Herodotus, Thucydides) of ancient greek authors so this was just something I’ve always been interested in. One common thing that I definitely can’t get into is all the minutiae of geographical details like what river flowed into what or why the name of something is actually wrong, etc. So all together an alright read but not anything groundbreaking - if you’re not already interested in historiography (I believe that’s what this counts as?) then I don’t recommend it.
binstonbirchill's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorites, and, as such, I'm now disappointed with myself. I really should have read this earlier, but, as Arrian says in the last few brilliant pages...
"Most people, if they know they have done wrong, foolishly suppose they can conceal their error by defending it, and finding a justification for it; but in my belief there is only one medicine for an evil deed, and that is for the guilty to admit his guilt and show that he is sorry for it. Such an admission will make the consequences easier for the victim to bear, and the guilty man himself, by plainly showing his distress at former transgressions, will find good grounds of hope for avoiding similar transgressions in the future."
I feel better now. My next step is to head to ____ and buy Xenophon, Plutarch and the rest of Livy.
"Most people, if they know they have done wrong, foolishly suppose they can conceal their error by defending it, and finding a justification for it; but in my belief there is only one medicine for an evil deed, and that is for the guilty to admit his guilt and show that he is sorry for it. Such an admission will make the consequences easier for the victim to bear, and the guilty man himself, by plainly showing his distress at former transgressions, will find good grounds of hope for avoiding similar transgressions in the future."
I feel better now. My next step is to head to ____ and buy Xenophon, Plutarch and the rest of Livy.
cakereads's review against another edition
5.0
i get it now. why we’re all still obsessed with alexander the great even after over two millennia since his death. as mary renault says, his face haunts me. this mad, great king.
siria's review against another edition
3.0
De Selincourt's translation is over forty years old now, but still remains my preferred version of Arrian; his rendering provides a lot of the elasticity and fluency which Arrian's original didn't have because of his choice of prose style. It's a nice compromise which adds to the accessibility of the work. What didn't, and what is nearly always my quibble with Penguin editions of the Classics, is the complete dearth of any useful maps. I was surprised that the one in this even managed to show Issus, it was that basic.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
This review is of the translation by Aubrey de Sélincourt.
Aubrey de Sélincourt's translation is excellent, and surprisingly not that outdated, despite having been done in 1958. Arrian's Alexander only made me love more this absolute bastard of a man.
Aubrey de Sélincourt's translation is excellent, and surprisingly not that outdated, despite having been done in 1958. Arrian's Alexander only made me love more this absolute bastard of a man.