“\u2018Popular history at its very best, thought-provoking and accessible. Underpinned by serious research, and written with panache, it summons up a vanished world\u2019 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH This is an astonishing new account of Alexander the Great \u2013 one of the most important figures of the ancient world, whose earlier years have until now been a mystery. Alexander the Great\u2019s story often reads like fiction: son to a snake-loving mother and a battle-scarred father; tutored by Aristotle; a youth from the periphery of the Greek world who took part in his first campaign aged sixteen, becoming king of Macedon at twenty and king of Asia by twenty-five; leading his armies into battle like a Homeric figure. Each generation has peered through the frosted glass of history and come to their own conclusion about Alexander, be it enlightened ruler, military genius, megalomaniac, drunkard or despot. Yet the first two decades of his life have until now been a mystery \u2013 a matter of legend and myth. This extraordinary history draws on new discoveries in archaeology to tell the early story of Alexander and his rise \u2013 including detail on the tempestuous relationship between Alexander\u2019s parents, Philip and the Molossian princess Olympias, his education by Aristotle and the strict military training which would serve him so well in later years. And more than ever, it emerges, the story of Alexander\u2019s reign confronts us with difficult questions that are still relevant today \u2013 of the relationship between East and West, the legacy of colonialism and the impacts of authoritarian rule. Drawing together startling modern archaeological discoveries, this book brings Alexander\u2019s ancient world back into focus. With each fragment of this shattered past, excavated by shovel, pick and trowel, a new history is being written. The forgotten story of young Alexander is being unearthed.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“\u2018Popular history at its very best, thought-provoking and accessible. Underpinned by serious research, and written with panache, it summons up a vanished world\u2019 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH This is an astonishing new account of Alexander the Great \u2013 one of the most important figures of the ancient world, whose earlier years have until now been a mystery. […]\n","protected":false},"featured_media":88232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[712],"product_tag":[],"class_list":["post-88233","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-xenoglossa-vivlia","pa_brand-harper-collins","pa_syngrafeas-alex-rowson","first","pre_order","taxable","shipping-taxable","purchasable","product-type-simple"],"yoast_head":"\n