The Campaigns of Alexander (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)

By Arrian

Book Overview

The Campaigns of Alexander stands as a seminal work in the annals of classical literature, providing the most comprehensive account of Alexander the Great's monumental campaigns to conquer the Persian Empire from 336 to 323 BC. Composed in the second century AD during Emperor Hadrian's reign, this historical narrative, complete in seven books, delves into the military strategies and exploits of Alexander, starting from his ascension to the Macedonian throne.

Arrian aimed to provide a meticulous military history, drawing primarily from the contemporary but now-lost accounts of Ptolemy and Aristobulus, and for the latter parts, from Nearchus. His narrative seeks to challenge and correct the prevailing "Vulgate" version of Alexander's reign, thereby offering a more nuanced and perhaps more accurate portrayal of the legendary conqueror's campaigns. Through The Campaigns of Alexander, Arrian not only commemorates Alexander's military genius but also contributes significantly to the understanding of ancient historiography, making his work an invaluable resource for historians and classical scholars alike.

Included are more than 5,000 indexed page numbers and almost 1,000 footnotes. This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1778783376
• ISBN13: 9781778783371
• Release Date: March 2024
• Publisher: Royal Classics
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 2.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Of Myth and Men

The most amazing thing that about this book is that Arrian somehow managed to rescue the man from the legend, the god from the myth and the story from the soothsayers. He intended to write a factual history of the great leader but by necessity was forced to rely on word of mouth, old stories, past recollections and hardly any authoritative manuscripts. Considering what he had to work with, the outcome is simply amazing. Like Thucydides, Herodotus and Livy, his goal was to write a factual work that was to have been definitive...and it was. The campaigns are given much attention as well as the character of Alexander. For a more scholarly and literary work I recommend Robin Lane Fox and his biography of Alexander - just stupendous.

An unbiased account.

Arrian gives us a picture of the "total" Alexander. Though he constantly praises his every virtue he never forgets to detail his faults. Slow going and a bit bewildering at first but moves to a fast paced and exciting end. Highly recommended.

alexander; hero or villan.

To review a book on such a great man and great book takes an open mind, to some alexander was a god and to others he was a kin to Hitler. This book was translated from Greek and roman authors but mainly by the greek historian Arrian. Born some four hundred years after the death of alexander arrian spent his life"s work writing account of alexander"s campaigns. Arrian refers to the Royal diaries of alexander, they tell of of a man of divine descent, a god, decendent of heracles, a brave man, a king who would fight with his men in battle. Alexander was born in Maceddonia in 356 B.C. and came to the throne on the murder of his father Philip in 336 B.C. What he did then was to conquer somethink like two million square miles, covering over eleven thousand miles in eight years. This book tells us how we took the persian empire and defeating Darius at the battle of Issus out numberd seven to one. Nearly thirteen years later this same young man, still only thirty-three years old died at babylon, in the heart of the persian empire. Brave to the point of rashness, passionate to the point of murder, a military genius, administrator and empire builder, but above all am inspiring leader of men.