The Genius of Alexander the Great

“Hammond’s lucid and eloquent prose style, convincing in its fluency and enthusiasm, and its ability in dramatic re-creation makes this an exciting book for the general reader.” — Canadian Journal of History

“A brilliant account of the life of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king who pacified Greece, destroyed the Persian Empire and brought Greek civilization to the Indus River and beyond. Drawing upon a lifetime of research into and understanding of his subject, Hammond has crafted a superb overview of Alexander’s achievements prior to his unexpected death in 323 B.C. . . . This is a classic study of one of history’s great figures by the scholar who knows the most about him.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Brings the kind of expertise needed to unravel the truths about a figure of legendary grandeur and accomplishment. . . . Amateur military historians will be especially fascinated by the detailed reconstruction of the conqueror’s battles, sieges and marches.” — Washington Post Book World

“[A] clearly written book, the distillation of a life’s work. . . . [Hammond’s] careful descriptions of military maneuvers and the diagrams illustrating successive stages of the operations have a clarity that is often sadly wanting in such accounts.” — Bernard Knox, Los Angeles Times Book Review

“The works of only a handful of Alexander scholars are intensely anticipated; Hammond is one of them. In his 90th year, he has produced a highly readable account of the ancient world’s greatest conqueror. . . . The articulate fashion in which Hammond guides the reader through Alexander’s life is outstanding.” — Library Journal

“Well-written and authoritative.” — American Way

“The Genius of Alexander the Great tells with pace and clarity of style a dynamic tale of a military and administrative genius. Quoting frequently from the ancient sources, Hammond supports his story with his unparalleled knowledge of ancient Macedonia and numerous figures and plates showing military equipment, archaeological finds, and historical sites.” — Philip A. Stadter, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“Hammond probably knows more about Macedonian history than any other living scholar. He has already written more specialized work on Alexander the Great; in this book he has produced a lively and readable text.” — P. J. Rhodes, University of Durham