Over the years, some 20,000 books and articles have been written about
Alexander the Great, the vast majority hailing him as possibly the
greatest general that ever lived. Richard A. Gabriel, however, argues
that, while Alexander was clearly a successful soldier-adventurer, the
evidence of real greatness is simply not there.
The author presents Alexander as a misfit within his own warrior
society, attempting to overcompensate. Thoroughly insecure and unstable,
he was given to episodes of uncontrollable rage and committed brutal
atrocities that would today have him vilified as a monstrous psychopath.
The author believes some of his worst excesses may have been due to what
we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, of which he displays many of
the classic symptoms, brought on by extended exposure to violence and
danger. Above all the author thinks that Alexander's military ability
has been flattered by History. Alexander was tactically competent but
contributed nothing truly original, while his strategy was often flawed
and distorted by his obsession with personal glory. This radical
reappraisal is certain to provoke debate.