First published 2021
Anthony Everitt examines Alexander the Great through the lens of his own era rather than through centuries of myth and legend. The acclaimed biographer presents the Macedonian prince as a figure of profound contradictions: a ruler fascinated by science and exploration who carried Homer's Iliad as his guide, yet also an inveterate conqueror who glorified warfare and committed acts of great cruelty. Everitt traces Alexander's expansion from Greece and Macedonia through Egypt and Persia to India, showing how he respected local traditions while administering his vast territories. The author grapples with the central puzzle of Alexander's death at thirty-three, weighing whether fever claimed him or whether his own marshals, frustrated by his increasingly tyrannical behavior, orchestrated his murder. By grounding Alexander's story in historical context rather than romanticized interpretations, Everitt offers readers a solution to the mystery that has persisted for over two millennia.
Genres: biography, history, ancient-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure, military-leader
Setting: Egypt, Greece, India, Macedonia, Persia
Period: Ancient World
496 pages · Paperback · Random House Trade Paperbacks
Content warnings: violence