Alexander the Great
by Robin Lane Fox
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robin Lane FoxEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); Old English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-11-04
ISBN: 0141020768
Number of pages: 576
Publisher: Penguin Books
Book Reviews of Alexander the Great
Book Review: Homeric hero and oriental potentate
Summary: 4 Stars
I knew something about Alexander the Great before reading this book but it's still full of surprises. Firstly has to be Robin Lane Fox's mass of knowledge (and informed speculation) about such distant events. I never realized the depth of Alexander's Homeric influence or the extent that he adopted the Persian imperial style after his Asian conquests.
He shows Alexander to be an interesting blend of detailed practicality and wild ambition. He believed that he was a Greek God and had an endless reckless drive but could still make detailed preparations, careful tactical decisions and work out successful relations with troops, allies and defeated nations. So successful in fact that by age 32 he was by far the richest man in the world with an empire covering some 2 million square miles.
One difficulty with the Classical world is that it's so different from own. The Homeric ideal of conquest, valour and generally Might = Right doesn't sit too comfortably with modern ideas of democracy and peaceful co-existence. Lane Fox can see the problem but opts firmly for the glory of Alexander in his Homeric ancient world context.
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