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The University of North Carolina Press
248 pp., 6.125 x 9.25, 32 illus., 15 maps, 1 chart, index
The Genius of Alexander the Great
By the time of his death in 323 B.C., Alexander III of Macedonia had built an empire that stretched from the eastern Mediterranean coast through Asia Minor and into the Indus valley. Even before his sudden death, Alexander had achieved mythical status throughout his kingdom, and in the centuries that followed his life became the subject of countless chronicles and biographies.
N. G. L. Hammond, the foremost expert on ancient Macedonian history, here presents a new account of Alexander's fabled career. Based on a thorough analysis of the ancient sources and enriched by a lifetime of research, Hammond's narrative pronounces the Macedonian conqueror a man truly deserving of the title Alexander the Great.
According to Hammond, Alexander was a visionary statesman and general, the force behind a kingdom which rose above racism and nationalism to enjoy peace and prosperity. His intellect and charismatic personality, which earned him the respect, admiration, and devotion of his subjects, also help explain Alexander's endurance as a source of fascination into the present day.
"Hammonds lucid and eloquent prose style, convincing in its fluency and enthusiasm, and its ability in dramatic re-creation makes this an exciting book for the general reader."
--Canadian Journal of History
"A brilliant account of the life of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king who pacified Greece, destroyed the Persian Empire and brought Greek civilization to the Indus River and beyond. Drawing upon a lifetime of research into and understanding of his subject, Hammond has crafted a superb overview of Alexander's achievements prior to his unexpected death in 323 B.C. . . . This is a classic study of one of history's great figures by the scholar who knows the most about him."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Brings the kind of expertise needed to unravel the truths about a figure of legendary grandeur and accomplishment. . . . Amateur military historians will be especially fascinated by the detailed reconstruction of the conqueror's battles, sieges and marches."
--Washington Post Book World
"[A] clearly written book, the distillation of a life's work. . . . [Hammond's] careful descriptions of military maneuvers and the diagrams illustrating successive stages of the operations have a clarity that is often sadly wanting in such accounts."
--Bernard Knox, Los Angeles Times Book Review
"The works of only a handful of Alexander scholars are intensely anticipated; Hammond is one of them. In his 90th year, he has produced a highly readable account of the ancient world's greatest conqueror. . . . The articulate fashion in which Hammond guides the reader through Alexander's life is outstanding."
--Library Journal
"Well-written and authoritative."
--American Way
Paper: $20.00
© 2009 The University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
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