his is an interesting work on Alexander the Great. His adventures, driving across the known world and beyond, are the things that (used to) thrill the imaginations of schoolboys (back when they had imaginations). But the interesting aspect of this work is that it doesn’t do his entire life, not his youth, his father’s assassination (mentioned as an afterthought). And not (as I would have loved) the siege of Tyre. No, this is about his later campaign. It starts with him in Persepolis, with Darius III on the run and his primary objective (stated as revenge against the Persians, but even that was simply an excuse). No, standing on the edge of his known world, Alexander looks east. He knows (from his schooling) that a vast ocean surrounds the world and he wishes to drive his troops to the end of this world, to see this ocean with his own eyes. And so we start with him lighting Persepolis on fire and moving out, to the concerns and dismays of his troops.

The book follows his efforts, pushing across Afghanistan, swinging north to the Black Sea. It’s a constant balancing act – maintaining his troops’ morale, keeping them supplied, keeping the army with its long supply train and camp followers advancing, incorporating local warlords into his “empire” (and dealing with them once the inevitable revolt occurs), melding Greek and Persian cultures together and establishing a franchise of “Alexandrias” across the world. Busy boy.

I’ve never seen it told like this – a sequel floating unattached like this, half-a-history.  But it works. Author Rachel Kousser does a good job following the various aspects of his later efforts, his crazy attempt to rule the eastern half of everything known (and he was thinking, long term, about the west). I found it quite interesting and very detail, good history all around.

So yes, if you are an ancient fan and want to take your knowledge a bit deeper, this one’s for you. And unlike my usual reads, this one is hot off the press!

>>>FOR MORE ON ALEXANDER, CHECK OUT MY BOOK EARLY RETIREMENT, DOWN THIS LINK<<<