Short Synopsis
In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexander's astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror.

Full Synopsis
Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India.

In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, Philip Freeman describes Alexander's astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losing—which he rarely did. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes but instead to unify his empire.

"A well-written, chronological narrative that allows Alexander’s remarkable career and achievements to speak for themselves. . . . General readers will appreciate this fine account of a man truly deserving of the title 'Great.'" ---Booklist

"Alexander the Great is superbly narrated by Michael Page and will provide the listener with a wealth of information in impressive detail about the exploits of this now legendary figure." ---Midwest Book Review

"An accessible biography . . . readers are sure to come away from Alexander’s story with an essential grasp of the details and understanding of his character." ---Kirkus