OT: Has anyone else read Valerio Massimo Manfredi's Alexander trilogy?

**Conan** · 01-25-2011, 00:08

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone else has read Valerio Massimo Manfredi's Alexander trilogy?

There three of the best books I've ever read. Especially the 1st of the 3. His character writing is just excellent. My favourite by far is King Phillip... The way he portrays him as a savagely motivated man, borderline alcoholic + hardened soldier, is brilliant. As Alexander is growing up his memories of his father over the years returning from campaigns looking ever more scared + grizzled are vivid.

In the later books he really brings to life the hardships Alexanders men had to suffer on his campaigns, from exposure, exhaustion + the perils of military life on campaign.

His description of battle and violence are not great and can be difficult to follow at time but he more than makes up for it with his characters writing skills.

I also great enjoyed his book on the march of the 10,000... The lost Army. A really great read.

**jerjes78** · 01-25-2011, 04:41

I read it like 10 or 11 year ago. I remember back then I was totally fascinated with Alexander because of this book. I personally prefer the 3rd one

**NIKOMAHOS** · 01-25-2011, 04:58

I also red it about 6-7 years ago and I liked it.
Having the privilege to be born somewhere between Pella, Aiges and Mieza (Aristotels' school, where Alexander and his companion studied) everything regarding Alexander is a must read for me.

NIKOMAHOS.

**anubis88** · 01-25-2011, 09:55

I've read them as well in high school... It really sparked my interest in hellenistic history... Very good books... But of course they are only novels. I think plenty was made up :)

**QuintusSertorius** · 01-25-2011, 11:17

Is the writing any better than the purple prose of The Last Legion?

**Titus Marcellus Scato** · 01-25-2011, 15:58

Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

Is the writing any better than the purple prose of The Last Legion?

That was a dire book.....

**QuintusSertorius** · 01-25-2011, 16:29

A good fictionalisation (without any fantasy elements) of Xenophon's Anabasis is Michael Curtis Ford's The Ten Thousand. Told from the perspective of Xenophon's battle squire.

**Conan** · 01-25-2011, 20:48

Ain't read The last Legion... but the film was pretty awful.

Michael Curtis Ford's The Ten Thousand... will be looking for that book :-)

I really did enjoy Manfredi's version of the The ten thousand especially his portrait of Menon.

**ziegenpeter** · 01-25-2011, 22:03

I read Pressfields Gates of Fire about the battle at Themropylae and it was entertaining although I am in no position to make any judgments on hist. accuracy