The Genius of Alexander the Great: in Ancient and Medieval Greek Poetry

In what respects was Alexander ‘Great’? It is an exciting task for the historian to answer that question, and in this fascinating study Nicholas Hammond undertakes it with enthusiasm. His thorough acquaintance with the ancient sources enables him to judge whether the many recorded incidents of Alexander’s brilliant life are drawn from reliable contemporaries or fictional writers.
As a commander of men of many races, Alexander was and is incomparable. As a statesman he envisaged, and to some extent created, an ecumenical kingdom which rose above race and nation and which enjoyed peace and prosperity, extending from his birthplace in Macedonia to the borders of Kashmir. His intellect and charismatic personality so fascinated those he conquered that they served in his army and administration and adopted him as the hero of their quasi-mythical romances. We have much to learn today from this genius of a man who died having achieved so much at the age of thirty-two.