Overview

Paul Cartledge, one of the world's foremost scholars of ancient Greece, illuminates the brief but iconic life of Alexander (356-323 BC), king of Macedon, conqueror of the Persian Empire, and founder of a new world order. Alexander's legacy has had a major impact on military tacticians, scholars, statesmen, adventurers, authors, and filmmakers. Cartledge brilliantly evokes Alexander's remarkable political and military accomplishments, cutting through the myths to show why he was such a great leader. He explores our endless fascination with Alexander and gives us insight into his charismatic leadership, his capacity for brutality, and his sophisticated grasp of international politics. Alexander the Great is an engaging portrait of a fascinating man and a welcome balance to the myths, legends, and skewed history that have obscured the real Alexander.

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9781433295737

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Alexander's legend endures, and with very good reason...A literate rendering of Alexander's life, drawing on the most reliable ancient and modern sources. -- Kirkus Reviews Reading with British ease and assurance, narrator John Lee examines how Alexander used a love of hunting and horses to develop cavalry, siege, and battle strategies that forever changed the course of warfare and civilization. A fascinating final chapter lists the endeavors of subsequent conquerors and kings who emulated Alexander. For this chapter Lee's tone--which projects a kind of verbal wink--acknowledges that Alexander's accomplishments were a near-impossible act to follow. -- AudioFile With his usual riveting storytelling, Cartledge...narrates Alexander's life and rise to power...Cartledge's knack for bringing history to life makes for an absorbing new biography of the legendary Greek leader. -- Publishers Weekly Readable and engrossing...Immediate, discursive, insightful, and highly engaging. -- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Incisive and judicious...What Cartledge does so well is explain the ancient world of Greeks and Persians. -- Sunday Seattle Times May be the most accessible introduction in print...An amazingly solid, balanced, and evocative view of the man. -- Washington Post Book World

With his usual riveting storytelling, Cartledge...narrates Alexander's life and rise to power...Cartledge's knack for bringing history to life makes for an absorbing new biography of the legendary Greek leader. -- Publishers Weekly Readable and engrossing...Immediate, discursive, insightful, and highly engaging. -- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Incisive and judicious...What Cartledge does so well is explain the ancient world of Greeks and Persians. -- Sunday Seattle Times May be the most accessible introduction in print...An amazingly solid, balanced, and evocative view of the man. -- Washington Post Book World Alexander's legend endures, and with very good reason...A literate rendering of Alexander's life, drawing on the most reliable ancient and modern sources. -- Kirkus Reviews Reading with British ease and assurance, narrator John Lee examines how Alexander used a love of hunting and horses to develop cavalry, siege, and battle strategies that forever changed the course of warfare and civilization. A fascinating final chapter lists the endeavors of subsequent conquerors and kings who emulated Alexander. For this chapter Lee's tone--which projects a kind of verbal wink--acknowledges that Alexander's accomplishments were a near-impossible act to follow. -- AudioFile

Reading with British ease and assurance, narrator John Lee examines how Alexander used a love of hunting and horses to develop cavalry, siege, and battle strategies that forever changed the course of warfare and civilization. A fascinating final chapter lists the endeavors of subsequent conquerors and kings who emulated Alexander. For this chapter Lee's tone--which projects a kind of verbal wink--acknowledges that Alexander's accomplishments were a near-impossible act to follow. -- AudioFile Alexander's legend endures, and with very good reason...A literate rendering of Alexander's life, drawing on the most reliable ancient and modern sources. -- Kirkus Reviews May be the most accessible introduction in print...An amazingly solid, balanced, and evocative view of the man. -- Washington Post Book World Incisive and judicious...What Cartledge does so well is explain the ancient world of Greeks and Persians. -- Sunday Seattle Times Readable and engrossing...Immediate, discursive, insightful, and highly engaging. -- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review With his usual riveting storytelling, Cartledge...narrates Alexander's life and rise to power...Cartledge's knack for bringing history to life makes for an absorbing new biography of the legendary Greek leader. -- Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Paul Cartledge has taught Greek history at Cambridge University since 1979 and is also a Fellow at Clare College. Widely acknowledged to be the world's leading expert on the subject of Sparta and ancient Greece, he is the first A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture (2008) which focuses on the study of more than 1,000 years of Greek cultural achievements and highlights the lasting influence they continue to have on society today. In addition to having written and edited scores of articles and books, including The Spartans: An Epic History; and Thermopylae: The Battle that Changed the World, he is also academic consultant to the BBC and PBS for the series The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization. John Lee, a stage actor and writer and a coproducer of feature films, has narrated more than one hundred audiobooks of every conceivable genre, earning forty-four Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award.

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