- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (30 Aug 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 014139076X
- ISBN-13: 978-0141390765
- Product Dimensions: 24.4 x 18.4 x 1.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 688,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
More has been written about Alexander the Great than any other figure in history. Like his boyhood hero, Achilles, he traded long life for lasting fame. King of Macedonia before he was twenty, Alexander went on to become the greatest conqueror of the ancient world, inspiring legends in his lifetime and after his death. Every age has interpreted him to suit their own values: either as a ruthless destroyer who eliminated all those who stood in his path, or as a far-sighted statesman pursuing a civilizing mission for the world. He has been condemned for sins that in his time were merits and credited with romantic 19th-century virtues which his own culture despised. In this hard-hitting work, Mary Renault, who spent years studying the Hellenistic world, peels off the layers of wishful thinking to reveal the real Alexander beneath. Re-examining the crucial episodes in his life: the murder of his father, Philip, in which he was implicated, the sacking of Thebes and his dying wishes, this study places him in the rightful context of his times.
About the Author
Mary Renault is justly famous for her sensitive and percipient interpretations of the Hellenistic world. She is the author of three best-selling novels about Alexander the Great: FIRE FROM HEAVEN, THE PERSIAN BOY and FUNERAL GAMES.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Renault's book probably isn't for the serious student of either Alexander or Hellenism, but it is a fascinating book for all that. Written by the novelist who wrote the best trilogy on Alexander, this is her supposed attempt to 'prove' her history was correct, but leaving that argument aside, it is still a fascinating read. Renault's interpretation of Alexander is unremittingly romantic, and yet she still paints an irresistable picture of a man, a king and a commander that I at least want to believe in. For the hard-core historian, you'll probably want to avoid this but for anyone else, read it and be enthralled.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Renault is best known as a novelist, but this work illustrates a very successful transition to non-fiction.
'The Nature Of Alexander' contains a wonderfully written account and analysis of Alexander's life, told in the same outstanding prose Renault employs in her novels. This ensures that the book is extremely readable, unlike many other history books.
The one negative comment I would make is that Renault is too apologetic in her handling of Alexander. She seems to make excuses for his every misdeed, and takes a rather romanticised view of him. Nevertheless, she presents all the facts as well as her opinions, and so the reader is still free to make his own judgements.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Historical > 501-1000
- Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > Europe
- Books > Biography > Historical > Royalty
- Books > Biography > Political > Countries & Regions > Europe
- Books > History > Ancient History & Civilisation > Greece
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
