The Campaigns of Alexander (Classics)
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Product Description
Product Description
Although written over four hundred years after Alexander's death, Arrian's account of the man and his achievements is the most reliable we have. Arrian's own experience as a military commander gave him unique insights into the life of the world's greatest conqueror.
He tells of Alexander's violent suppression of the Theban rebellion, his defeat of Persia and campaigns through Egypt and Babylon - establishing new cities and destroying others in his path. While Alexander emerges as a charismatic leader, Arrian succeeds brilliantly in creating an objective portrait of a man of boundless ambition, who was exposed to the temptations of power.
About the Author
The details of Arrian's life (c.90AD] are uncertain, though the shape of it indicates a man of wide and varied talents. He was governor to the Emperor Hadrian, the author of a number of works of non-fiction and an Athenian citizen. In 145 he rose tobecome a chief magistrate of Athens and thereby part of the governing body of the city. His date of death is not known. De Selincourt was an acclaimed translator of ancient classics.
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First Sentence
Wherever Ptolemy and Aristobulus in their histories of Alexander, the son of Philip, have given the same account, I have followed it on the assumption of its accuracy ; where their facts differ I have chosen what I feel to be the more probable and interesting.1 Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Wherever Ptolemy and Aristobulus in their histories of Alexander, the son of Philip, have given the same account, I have followed it on the assumption of its accuracy ; where their facts differ I have chosen what I feel to be the more probable and interesting.1 Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Arrian's astute and detailed account of the campaigns of Alexander is the most useful surviving ancient source about his life. Anyone interested in Alexander's life will find the book fascinating, although Arrian's views reflect the politics of his time.
This translation is pretty accurate and comprehensive, better than any other I've read in English. The only thing to watch out for is that Arrian makes political points against Alexander as an indirect attack on Imperial Rome's government.
Because of this, you will find dubious references to some war crime events that probably never occurred. Compare with other sources for a fuller picture of Alexander's life and nature ('The Nature of Alexander' by Mary Renault is an excellent analysis and compilation).
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Simply the best! A must for every fan, admirer and ... of Alexander the Great.
Accounts from contemporary historians like Callistenes, Onesicritus, Nearchus and Aristobulus did exist but only bits and pieces have come to us. Arrian was lucky enough to have access to the biography of Alexander written by Ptolemy, one of Alexanders' generals and maybe his half-brother, who became pharaoh of Egypt. What we know today has been recorded by a handful ancient writers (Diodorus of Sicily, Curitus Rufus and Plutarch mainly) who still could consult those old records, and Arrian is one of them.
Lucius Flavius Arrianus, better known as Arrian was a Greek historian from the 2nd century AD, who served as a military commander in the Roman Empire. He had widespread interests in philosophy, topographic-ethnography, history, and military matters, which culminated in his books on Alexander. He writes in a matter-of-fact-tone without being dull or dry. Personally I possess the pocket version of The Campaigns of Alexander which I always carry with me when travelling. Arrian knows how to keep his reader's mind alive, which may or may not have been influenced by the translator, Aubrey de Sélincourt. In any case, it turns out to be very pleasant and fascinating reading material.
Over the years since antiquity up till today, whoever wants to write about Alexander the Great will always have refer to Arrian in the first place. All what the history or science fiction authors tell us, is based on Arrian's accounts. He clearly states the dates and the events, describes the battlefields and positions of the armies involved with nearly analytical precision, and he puts the cities and landscapes in true perspective. Whatever information you need, you can always rely on Arrian to find it, without fringes or inessential details.
Accounts from contemporary historians like Callistenes, Onesicritus, Nearchus and Aristobulus did exist but only bits and pieces have come to us. Arrian was lucky enough to have access to the biography of Alexander written by Ptolemy, one of Alexanders' generals and maybe his half-brother, who became pharaoh of Egypt. What we know today has been recorded by a handful ancient writers (Diodorus of Sicily, Curitus Rufus and Plutarch mainly) who still could consult those old records, and Arrian is one of them.
Lucius Flavius Arrianus, better known as Arrian was a Greek historian from the 2nd century AD, who served as a military commander in the Roman Empire. He had widespread interests in philosophy, topographic-ethnography, history, and military matters, which culminated in his books on Alexander. He writes in a matter-of-fact-tone without being dull or dry. Personally I possess the pocket version of The Campaigns of Alexander which I always carry with me when travelling. Arrian knows how to keep his reader's mind alive, which may or may not have been influenced by the translator, Aubrey de Sélincourt. In any case, it turns out to be very pleasant and fascinating reading material.
Over the years since antiquity up till today, whoever wants to write about Alexander the Great will always have refer to Arrian in the first place. All what the history or science fiction authors tell us, is based on Arrian's accounts. He clearly states the dates and the events, describes the battlefields and positions of the armies involved with nearly analytical precision, and he puts the cities and landscapes in true perspective. Whatever information you need, you can always rely on Arrian to find it, without fringes or inessential details.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this book as I was interested in Alexander's campaigns and wanted to find out more. Heard this book was perfect for the job and in my opinion it is.
The author has put in a lot of detail about all the important things you need to know and explains things in so much detail. This book is also translated really well.
The author has put in a lot of detail about all the important things you need to know and explains things in so much detail. This book is also translated really well.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great book!
Bought this for my son as he is history mad. Did the job. Amazon, again, delivered fast and without any hiccups.
Published 15 months ago by Hayley 39
a personal favourite
My personal favourite in terms of source material on Alexander. Required reading for any aspiring arm chair historian
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by Mr. Nj Mcallister
excellent translation, decent book
This book is excellently structured with an introduction on the author, Arrian, excellent footnotes and a couple of appendices at the end. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2006 by "blinkpsychoofafrica"
Good copy of the text
This work is hard to review, as it is just a translation. The account Arrian gives is pro-Alexander and a biased account on the truth, but this is just how it is. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2003
The Most Reliable Source on Alexander the Great
Written some 4 hundred years after the time of Alexander using the diaries of Ptolemy as the main sources of research, not only is Arrian considered the one of the first serious... Read more
Published on 12 May 2003 by ga1i1eo
Good Book
This book was pretty good. However, the book really slows down with talk of stratagy and archers...
Published on 12 Feb 2001
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