Alexander the Great

Author: [Ancient Greek] Plutarch
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: This book originates from Plutarch's Lives and J.F.C. Fuller's Alexander the Great. Plutarch lived during the Roman Empire, roughly the same time as Ban Gu of the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. He is a representative figure among Western historians who upheld the "Spring and Autumn Annals" style. His purpose in writing biographies of historical figures was not to verify historical records but to promote his own ethical ideas, praising the virtuous and condemning the wicked. His later work, Lives, is considered an "essential" classic for studying Greek and Roman history, a "pioneer" of biographical literature, and the "precursor" of realistic fiction. Schools in Britain and Europe list it as a "World Classic Must-Read for the Year." His writing is simple, fluent, vivid, and engaging. He influenced German Goethe, French Montaigne, English Shakespeare, and Bacon. His style and literary style "possess broad appeal and enduring charm." He was first an ethicist and philosopher, then a biographer. He became immortal through his historical biographies. Will Durant described him as "the soul of a conqueror," "glory," and "divine." Although he lacked Caesar's stability and maturity or Augustus' wisdom and intelligence, he possessed the courage to stand against half the world and incredible explosive energy. He died at the age of only thirty-three. If you want to know what a person in their thirties can achieve, read his biography; if you want to know how great a person's potential is, read his biography; if you want to know the "peak" and "extremes" of life and existence, read his biography. He simultaneously served as the King of Macedon and the leader of the Greek League, thus holding complete political and military authority. Otherwise, he could not fully unleash his genius as a statesman or achieve such great accomplishments. He was not just a warrior but also had a strong sense of culture. He deeply understood that Athens represented the essence of Greek spirit, so despite the repeated plots by Athenians to overthrow him, he consistently adopted a policy of appeasement toward them. Only Athens was the crown of his great achievements, and he preferred to preserve its culture rather than subjugate it. His unchanging grand ideals and ambitions were to forge the eastern Mediterranean into a cultural unity and then govern and enlighten it with the ever-expanding Greek civilization. This book is suitable for young people in their thirties, those with short-sightedness or far-sightedness, those in or out of the official circles, military strategists or military enthusiasts, war historians or biography lovers.