Alexander the Great

Philip Freeman

Jan 2011 · Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

An accessible yet authoritative biography of the Macedonian king and legendary conqueror—“as racy and pacey as any novel . . . a rollicking read” (Wall Street Journal).

Alexander the Great is one of the most enduring figures in history. His military mastery was of such renown that future leaders from Hannibal to Napoleon studied his strategy and tactics. In the brief spa of his life—crowned at age nineteen and dead by thirty-two—he established the greatest empire of the ancient world.

Born into the royal family of Macedonia, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle as a boy. Shortly after taking command, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India. Within a short time after Alexander’s death in Baghdad, his empire began to fracture.

In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexander’s astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would not have been nearly as great as it was.

Ratings and reviews

A fantastic book. You truly feel as if you are accompanying Alexander on his conquest. Not only that, but you get a rare glimpse into the mind of this historical world shaper, all while enjoying useful (and occasionally quite funny) anecdotes. I highly recommend it!

This is the most complete and easy to read biography I've ever read. To be able to capture his entire military campaign, while also subtlety annotating what it was that made the man and what motivated him, was incredibly satisfying. As I continued to tell myself " I'll stop reading once this conflict is resolved" .... only to keep reading for 2 more hours! Great source for intro, or deep diving into his life. 5 out of 5

Like Alexander, at the end of this tale, I can finally rest.

About the author

Philip Freeman is the Fletcher Jones Chair of Western Culture at Pepperdine University and was formerly professor of classics at Luther College and Washington University. He earned the first joint PhD in classics and Celtic studies from Harvard University, and has been a visiting scholar at the Harvard Divinity School, the American Academy in Rome, the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, and the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, DC. He is the author of several books including Alexander the Great, St. Patrick of Ireland, Julius Caesar, and Oh My Gods. Visit him at PhilipFreemanBooks.com.