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A review by binstonbirchill
Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 B.C. by Peter Green
informative
medium-paced
4.5
The story of Alexander necessarily begins with his father Philip, who Alexander rarely saw and had a complicated relationship with. The foundations Philip laid provided Alexander a with weapon he was all too well-equipped to wield.
What we get is a picture of the political machinations of the time, bribery, backstabbing, the politics of self-preservation. The picture drawn from his campaigns shows Alexander to be the most brilliant field general to have ever lived, and as long as his army was willing, there seemed to be no end to his ability to conquer. Alexander is perhaps a less complicated figure than all the varied scholarship makes him out to be. Maybe he just wanted to be like Achilles, the perfect warrior and not much else. We can appreciate his military genius and, for many reasons, be glad he was not of our time.
Green provides a detailed, but not exceedingly detailed, account of political and military history with analysis that will be appreciated by the experienced reader of history. It may be a bit much for someone rather new.
What we get is a picture of the political machinations of the time, bribery, backstabbing, the politics of self-preservation. The picture drawn from his campaigns shows Alexander to be the most brilliant field general to have ever lived, and as long as his army was willing, there seemed to be no end to his ability to conquer. Alexander is perhaps a less complicated figure than all the varied scholarship makes him out to be. Maybe he just wanted to be like Achilles, the perfect warrior and not much else. We can appreciate his military genius and, for many reasons, be glad he was not of our time.
Green provides a detailed, but not exceedingly detailed, account of political and military history with analysis that will be appreciated by the experienced reader of history. It may be a bit much for someone rather new.