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Philip and Alexander : kings and conquerors
2020
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Library Journal Review
Philip II of Macedon (382--36 BCE) inherited a small kingdom and made it the dominant power in Greece; his son and heir Alexander the Great (356--23 BCE) not only overthrew the Persian Empire but conquered territory as distant as India. Alexander and his military triumphs have received the lion's share of popular and scholarly attention, but Goldsworthy's dual biography asserts the importance of both men, further positing that while both were brilliant and capable, their accomplishments also relied on situational benefits and good fortune as much as their skills: Philip's rise was aided by the fractious nature of the Greek states, and Alexander's conquest benefited hugely from Philip's consolidation of Macedonian power and establishment of a well-trained military force. The text also effectively deals with the gaps in sources of knowledge about both men as people, with Goldsworthy avoiding conjecture when possible and presenting famous rumors and legendary incidents as valuable examples of the myth-building around both men but not always verifiable historical facts. VERDICT The thorough and riveting narrative of both Philip and Alexander's lives and accomplishments makes this an ideal choice for the general reader, with some fresh insights to offer to those familiar with the subjects as well.--Kathleen McCallister, William & Mary Libs., Williamsburg, VA
Publishers Weekly Review
Historian Goldsworthy (Cannae: Hannibal's Greatest Victory) examines the lives of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great, in this impressive dual biography. Stressing that "without Philip there could have been no Alexander," Goldsworthy details how Philip transformed the military by instituting the infantry formation known as the "Macedonian phalanx" and how he consolidated power against Greece's more established city-states. When Alexander took the throne after Philip's assassination in 336 BCE, the 20-year-old military prodigy embarked on a decadelong campaign that took the Macedonian army and empire as far east as present-day Pakistan. Along the way, Alexander sacked Thebes, became the Pharaoh in Egypt, conquered the Persian Empire, and crossed the Gedrosian desert in a dangerous trek that nearly broke his army. He turned back toward Greece at the height of his successes, but succumbed to disease--or poison--weeks before turning 33. Without an heir, his vast empire splintered in wars waged by his would-be successors. Goldsworthy expertly mines ancient sources to parse fact from legend, but admits that both Philip and Alexander remain elusive figures, better known for their battlefield accomplishments than for their personalities, about which less is known. Still, this is a fascinating and richly detailed look at two men who "changed the course of history."(Oct.)
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