Within the span of thirteen years, Alexander the Great changed the face of the world more decisively and with more long-lasting effects than any other statesman has ever done. It is therefore no surprise that there has been, and still is, so much debate about both his personality and his achievement. The great merit of Professor Hammond's biography is that, with impressive mastery of the evidence, he sets the record straight between the extremes of romantic hero worship on the one hand and scholarly demolition on the other. Based on his detailed knowledge of the literarysources and on his own experience of warfare in Alexander's native country, Professor Hammond presents a compelling picture of Alexander in his public life as king, commander and statesman.
