Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past by Paul Cartledge (2004, Hardcover)

This book is written by Paul Vartledge. He is a Professor of Greek History at Cambridge University. And widly acknowledged as a leading expert on the subject of ancient Greece. This seems to be a perfect book for a brief overview of Alexander and is written in an eassy form.

Who could not be drawn to a book about an amazing young man who was a brilliant warrior king and had conquered the known world at the age of 30.

What we do not know is what motivated him. And I do not think we will ever know as this book points out. There is no definitive reference of the time to refer too. There is no question that his victories are amazing and worth studying. His impact is still felt today. You cannot travel our world without finding somthing that leads back to Alexander the Great.

He created the Hellenised Middle East. Preparing them for what would eventually be called the Eastern Roman Empire. But what drove him...the drive to do more than his father, a true ambition for divinity, unification of the people under an Hellensitic world or just unreasoning ambition.

Here the author does a great job of guiding us through Alexander's political and military accomplishments. We follows his victorious armies as he conquers the known world. We see that Alexander had an understand of not just tactics on the battlefield, but he also had an understanding of imperialism, Middle Eastern politics, and had a charismatic leadership.

I reccommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the life of Alexander the Great. And what he accomplished....I think you will be pleasently suprised. And will lead you to further study to try and understand this man.