Alexander the Great by Jacob Abbott - Macedonian Conqueror | Ancient History | Military Genius | Classic Biography of Alexander the Great| Insights into Ancient Greek History | Portrait of a Remarkable Military Leader

Alright this is basically the only good biography you will find if you take inspiration from Alexander's life, his entire life from his superiority fight with his father and the way he believed he was destined for greatness and how he nearly conquered half of the known world back then is perfectly portrayed in a very dramatical and yet interesting manner. Plus, I take a lot of inspiration from Alexander's life and the portrayal of Macedon as an empire, I would speak strongly of exploring this.

Good book to read

The greatest soldier and legendary,unconquered king of ancient world seems appealing enough for the rapidly changing world to still worship him for the ASTONISHINGLY brave qualities AND fine military and political genius miles ahead of time which he had in him. Drawing inspiration for conquest and courage par excellence from his goddess of a mother and his magnetic and universal philosophical mentor and guide cum teacher and political adviser ARISTOTLE, THIS BOY KING ESTABLISHED THE MOST WIDESPREAD AND MAJESTICAL EMPIRE, TO HAVE BEEN DONE OR ACCOMPLISHED EVER BY ANY MORTAL WARRIOR,EVER IN HISTORY WITH A LOYAL BAND OF FOLLOWERS AND UNCOMMONLY STRONG, SKILLED AND ABSOLUTELY, LETHAL,DEVOTED SOLDIERS WHO WERE ALWAYS READY TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING AT ONE COMMAND OF THEIR IMMORTAL,UNMATCHEDLY VALIANT KING, WHOSE WISH WAS THE LAST WORD FOR THEM. ALEXANDER MARCHED FROM MACEDONIA CONQUERING AND INFLICTING TOTAL DESTRUCTION ON THE PERSIAN EMPIRE EMPIRE UNDER DARIUS THE GREATEST EMPEROR EVER TO HAVE RULED BABYLON OR MODERN BAGHDAD HE AND HIS ARMY PILLAGED THE ACHAEMENID DYNASTY RULED BABYLON AND THEN HE FACED A MORE STRONG RESISTANCE AS HE MARCHED ON TOWARDS THE EAST TO THE VERY BORDERS OF INDIA,UNBEATEN ON THE WAY. AS SOON AS HE REACHED THE REGION OF THE PRESENT NWFP OF NOWADAYS PAKISTAN, THE TREACHEROUS KING AMBI ALIGNED WITH HIM AND BECAME HIS VASSAL AND TOLD HIM HOW TO MARCH OR CROSS THE OVERFLOWING RIVER WHICH CONNECTED HIS KINGDOM AND KASHMIR TO PUNJAB WHERE THE NOBLE PATRIOTIC,JUST AND FAMOUSLY BRAVE KING PURU RULED HIS LOYAL SUBJECTS BY AN ETHICAL AND RESPECTABLY FREE AND FAIR CODE OF LAWS. AMBI DID THIS OUT OF SHEER RIVALRY AND BITTER JEALOUSY AS HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO DEFEAT PURU IN BATTLE TO WIN OVER HIS KINGDOM. ALEXANDER WON OVER PURU IS WHAT ANCIENT RECORDED GREEK HISTORIANS'ACCOUNTS SAY THOUGH THE BEST SOLDIER EVER BORN GOT BADLY WOUNDED AND LOST MANY MEN AND BEASTS IN THE PROCESS OF BEATING,KING PORUS. LATER HE IMPRESSED BY PURU'S BRAVE ATTITUDE EVEN GAVE HIM BACK ALL WHICH BELONGED TO PORUS, RIGHTFULLY. NOW, MANY RECENT HISTORIANS SAY THAT ALEXANDER HAD NEVER WON THE WAR AGAINST PORUS DECISIVELY AND INSTEAD AFTER HIS HISTORIC ARMY SUFFERED HUGE LOSSES BOTH IN MEN AND MATERIALS, COMPELLED BY A VERY UNIQUE GENERAL DISSATISFACTION AMONGST HIS SOLDIERS,AND SOME OF HIS INTIMATE CIRCLE OF COMMANDERS, HE WAS FORCED TO RETURN BACK TO HIS MOTHERLAND, HIS OWN KINGDOM, MACEDONIA LEAVING, HIS TRUSTED AIDE SELEUCUS NIKATOR AS GOVERNOR OF HIS CONQUERED REGIONS IN INDIA. Our indian HISTORIANS SAY that CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA,DISCIPLE OF THE GREAT CHANAKYA, DEFEATED THE GREEKS, LATER AND SELEUCUS HAD TO ACCEPT A VERY HUMILIATING TREATY OF PEACE WITH CHANDRAGUPTA AND THUS, THE GREEK INFLUENCE OVER OUR COUNTRY CAME TO AN EMBARRASSING IMMATURE CONCLUSION. SOME ACCOUNTS HAVE SAID THAT ALEXANDER THE GREAT, DIED DURING THE RETURN JOURNEY BACK, AT PERSIA, FROM THE VERY DEBILITATING YELLOW FEVER AFTER A VERY PAINFUL ORDEAL LEAVING THE FATE OF HIS CONQUERED TERRITORIES, UNDECIDED AND HIS GENERALS IN TOTAL DISAGREEMENT AND IN A STATE OF CIVIL WAR,AS TO WHO WOULD BE THE NEXT GREEK EMPEROR. SOME PEOPLE ALSO CLAIM THAT ALEXANDER DIED OF THE GRAVE WOUNDS, WHICH HE HAD GOT IN THE PROCESS OF FIGHTING WITH PORUS. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WITH ALEXANDER THE GREAT, MACEDONIAN KING, REMAINS ONE OF THE GREATEST UNSOLVED MYSTERIES OF ANCIENT, WORLD HISTORY UPTO CURRENT TIMES. YET ALEXANDER REMAINS A GRAND AND COMPLEX ALSO MAGNIFICENT CHARACTER IN THE CHAPTERS OF ANCIENT HISTORY, AN IMMORTAL WARRIOR AND DYNAMIC LEADER OF MEN, FOR ALL OF TIMES, ETERNAL. THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING WESTERN TAKE OF A BOOK WRITTEN IN A LUCID AND CONCISE MANNER OFFERING A WONDERFUL ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT ALEXANDER AS A GRAND KING AND AN INFORMATION SOURCE OF THE MAGNIFICENT FEATS OF THE MACEDONIAN RULER, WITH A PEEK INTO HIS HISTORIC AND ALMOST MYSTICAL BACKGROUND. DANKE. GUTEN MORGEN. JAI HIND. NAMASHKAR. ANKUR BANERJEE.

Very nice book for history lover . Very detailed the biography of Great Alexander's life . Value for money. Definitely buy it.

Every teacher of History should read it.

Great historic story of a Great King. The binding quality and paper quality is top notch

This enlightening account of the great king’s remarkable life, highlights not only his phenomenal military accomplishments, unparalleled success and victories and adept leadership qualities, but also brings for us an insight into this extremely interesting man’s life.

Good quality

Ritratto di una figura storica che ha del leggendario, questo bel libro si legge molto facilmente; i vari aspetti sono ben considerati ed esposti in modo chiaro, la scrittura è semplice, ma al tempo stesso sebbene si tratti di un testo storico non priva di una certa poesia.

I haven't read any other interpretations of the events of Alexander the Great's life, and so I cannot assess the reliability of this book by Jacob Abbott. However, I can guarantee that it will provide almost any reader a fun few hours. This happened to be the first book I read cover-to-cover on my Kindle, and the writing style and knowledge of Abbott has encouraged me to begin reading another of his works (on Genghis Khan.) Abbott provides the perfect amount of back-story in my opinion; informative and giving insight without diverting away from Alexander's story too much. Having read this book, I can see why Alexander the Great is one of the most revered leaders in history. The stories of his campaigns and numerous battles, if true, more-than-earn his place amongst the greatest leaders.

I throughly enjoyed this instalment in the Makers series. It was incredibly easy to read and covered the key points of Alexander's life and career. This is a great starting point for anyone interested in Alexander The Great and his conquests.

I would say that this is the best book that I have read up to date in this year. The author was quite successful in bringing about the chronological events of Alexander, right from his birth to his death, in very simple English, that could be understood by people who yearn to learn about history, across the world. Alexander (B.C., 356-336), son of King Philip of Macedonia, the northern province of the then Grecian territory, has been a prodigal son right from his childhood. He was under the able tutorship of Aristotle until the age of sixteen, but soon took keen interest in accompanying his father, in wars. His inborn traits of leadership, camaraderie, nobleness, organizing skills, ferociousness, and great thirst to conquer the world has made him one of the greatest warriors of ancient history, which is narrated in every history book of the world with great awe. He was highly successful in conquering each and every nation in his voyage towards the East of Macedonia, with an army as small as just 50,000. His empire consisted of almost all kingdoms of Thebes, Thessaly, Athens, Sparta, entire Persia, Egypt, Gaza, Tyre, Afghanistan and some parts of northern India. All this, just within the age of 32 years. In his great voyage of ruthless conquests, he plundered each and every kingdom which opposed him but treated all those who surrendered with great nobility and kindness. His main target of capturing his great rival King Darius of Persia could be achieved but he repents later for being responsible for the fall of such a great kingdom. He, over a period of time, when he reached the age of around 28 years, yielded to worldly pleasures like wealth, wine and women which led to his downfall in character and great qualities, for which he was adored, worldwide. At one stage, after conquering Egypt, he even went to the extent of declaring himself as the descendant of God Jupiter and wished to be called as Son of God. He ultimately loses all his friends and those who accompanied/assisted/protected him throughout his great voyage due to his vices. At one point even his great army refused to go with him further, as they lost confidence in his leadership and nobleness. This morally degraded Alexander to a great extent and he one night, put himself to intense alcohol consumption, after which he falls terribly ill, and dies due to multiple organ failure, and mostly confidence to live further. His vast kingdom broke into pieces of independent kingdoms after his death, only to remember him as the greatest and cruelest thief of the world. Positives: A great book of knowledge of Alexander’s history, beautifully written, describing each and every phase of his life in minutest of detail. The reader would not like to put off the book until he finishes it at one go. The adventures of young Alexander and his speeches are very enticing to know. One gets to know about many ancient places, towns, cities and terms of history, which are regarded as the marks of great civilizations, wars and kings in those days. A great learning experience to young and old as to how the fire in one’s belly to achieve something can get him to the target with careful and able planning, organizing, directing and controlling ones emotions, skills, environment and resources available to him or her. At the same time, Alexander’s deplorable end teaches one, as to how arrogance and power, can bring him down in no time, however great he could be! A must read by every young person and get inspired by the magnificent traits of Alexander the Great. Negatives: The author suddenly ended Alexander’s voyage with the death of King Darius. His further adventures beyond Persia into India were not described. There seemed to be equal interesting and fascinating facts to be revealed in the Indian subcontinent. That would have justified his complete voyage in a single stretch. My rating is 4.75 out of 5

Excelente livro sobre a história de Alexandre. Apesar de ser uma obra antiga, as referências continuam válidas. E a vantagem de ser de domínio público.