Campaigns of Alexander

His passion was for glory only, and in that he was insatiable

Although written over four hundred years after Alexanders death, Arrians Campaigns of Alexander is the most reliable account of the man and his achievements we have. Arrians own experience as a military commander gave him unique insights into the life of the worlds greatest conqueror. He tells of Alexanders violent suppression of the Theban rebellion, his total defeat of Persia, and his campaigns through Egypt, India and Babylon  establishing new cities and destroying others in his path. While Alexander emerges from this record as an unparalleled and charismatic leader, Arrian succeeds brilliantly in creating an objective and fully rounded portrait of a man of boundless ambition, who was exposed to the temptations of power and worshipped as a god in his own lifetime.

Aubrey de Sélincourts vivid translation is accompanied by J. R. Hamiltons introduction, which discusses Arrians life and times, his synthesis of other classical sources and the composition of Alexanders army. The edition also includes maps, a list for further reading and a detailed index.