The story is told chronologically, beginning with Macedonia and Alexander’s childhood, and ending with the struggle of Alexander’s generals for the succession.

The Alexander in Robin Lane Fox’s Alexander the Great is an accessible yet distinctly Homeric hero, driven by a narrative that Lane Fox freely admits is “ written self-indulgently” without a stated desire to be used as a scholarly work by an author who is “bored by institutions.” Given his frustration with academic institutions it is understandable, though not entirely acceptable, that more often than not Lane Fox relays a story from a source with no skepticism whatsoever. Lane Fox’s Alexander roots himself firmly in pop history, thus producing an enthralling tale that doesn’t shy away from gossip and speculation, even if it may be to the detriment of historical accuracy. Even with the acknowledgement, as the modern understanding of historians’ inability to relate the past with total accuracy often requires, that each Alexander is merely the author’s interpretation of the man himself, the author would not publish his book without the belief that his Alexander improves in some way the world’s view of the real man.įor historian cum gardening reporter Robin Lane Fox, his biography, the creatively titled Alexander the Great, seems to pat itself on the back for producing a more accessible Alexander.

Each author believes his Alexander is the best, comes the closest to the real man each biographer claims to show the definitive Alexander. In any given history or biography of Alexander the Great, each author’s examination of Alexander’s life is set out for consideration as the truest possible portrayal of the great king. Abusive behaviour is completely unacceptable.Hollywood films and other media designed for entertainment are not the intended targets for review. Reviews should be of texts explictly or implicitly aimed at historical education.Any criticism offered of a review should be helpful and civil.Downvote reviews that are antagonistic or inaccurate.Upvote reviews of high quality, regardless of whether you agree with the conclusions of the reviewer.Plagiarism of reviews by other authors is treated with zero tolerance.Please do not make threads requesting reviews.Only self posts are allowed in this subreddit.Flair Award Thread - flair requirements and requests.Master Review List - all reviews posted to /r/HistoryResources.Welcome to the Historical Resources subreddit, a community dedicated to reviewing books, magazines, websites, documentaries and other works specifically created to educate people in an area relevant to history.Īnyone can post a review, but expect feedback, and for any inaccuracies to be pointed out!

Alexander the Great by robin-lane-fox