By the time of his death in Babylon on June 10, 323 BC, Alexander the Great had conquered more than two million square miles and was only thirty-two years of age. He was an intrepid Macedonian warrior, superb strategist and masterful diplomat. He accepted and respected other peoples, cultures, treated women with respect, and was exceptionally considerate of the disabled. He loved animals, large and small, domesticated and wild. His legacy is felt all over the world. This slim volume serves as an introduction to Alexander, hoping to whet your appetite and lure you into a more extensive and deeper investigation of the questions that still resonate from his meteoric rise and mysterious demise. What follows is a lyrical biography — the first poem covering his life from birth to death since the nineteenth century. The poem is simple and unadorned, readable and rooted in historical research. It was written for curious teenagers as well as lifelong learners.
Table of Content
Introduction 7
I - A Royal Son is Born 9
II - Coming of Age 25
III - A Heroic King 45
IV - The Transformation 64
V - The Ambivalent victor 68
VI - India 103
VII - Death in Babylon 112
A Select Bibliography 123
Table of Dates 124
Endnotes 126
About the Authors 127
About the author
John Maxwell O’Brien is an emeritus professor of history at Queens College (CUNY).
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