By the time of his death in 323 B.C., Alexander III of Macedonia had
built an empire that stretched from the eastern Mediterranean coast
through Asia Minor and into the Indus valley. Even before his sudden
death, Alexander had achieved mythical status throughout his kingdom,
and in the centuries that followed his life became the subject of
countless chronicles and biographies.
N. G. L. Hammond, the foremost expert on ancient Macedonian history,
here presents a new account of Alexander's fabled career. Based on a
thorough analysis of the ancient sources and enriched by a lifetime of
research, Hammond's narrative pronounces the Macedonian conqueror a man
truly deserving of the title Alexander the Great.
According to Hammond, Alexander was a visionary statesman and general,
the force behind a kingdom which rose above racism and nationalism to
enjoy peace and prosperity. His intellect and charismatic personality,
which earned him the respect, admiration, and devotion of his subjects,
also help explain Alexander's endurance as a source of fascination into
the present day.