John Boardman is one of the world鈥檚 leading authorities on ancient Greece, and his acclaimed books command a broad readership. In this book, he looks beyond the life of Alexander the Great in order to examine the astonishing range of Alexanders created by generations of authors, historians, and artists throughout the world鈥攆rom Scotland to China.
Alexander鈥檚 defeat of the Persian Empire in 331 BC captured the popular imagination, inspiring an endless series of stories and representations that emerged shortly after his death and continues today. An art historian and archaeologist, Boardman draws on his deep knowledge of Alexander and the ancient world to reflect on the most interesting and emblematic depictions of this towering historical figure.
Some of the stories in this book relate to historical events associated with Alexander鈥檚 military career and some to the fantasy that has been woven around him, and Boardman relates each with his customary verve and erudition. From Alexander鈥檚 biographers in ancient Greece to the illustrated Alexander 鈥淩omances鈥� of the Middle Ages to operas, films, and even modern cartoons, this generously illustrated volume takes readers on a fascinating cultural journey as it delivers a perfect pairing of subject and author.
John Boardman is a Fellow of the British Academy and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford鈥檚 Beazley Archive. He is Professor Emeritus of Classical Art and Archaeology at Lincoln College, Oxford, and former Assistant Keeper at the Ashmolean Museum. His many books include The Greeks Overseas, The History of Greek Vases, and The Greeks in Asia.
"A vivid survey."鈥�Times Higher Education
"Boardman鈥檚 affection for his subject shines . . . . [Alexander the Great] will entertain and instruct both scholars and the wider public . . . . [Boardman鈥檚] extensive knowledge of ancient literature and even more especially art, ranging far beyond the narrow confines of the classical world, remains unrivalled."鈥擫ucilla Burn, Art Newspaper
"This delightful book will encourage you to take another look [at Alexander the Great]."鈥擬ichael Fallon, Classics for All
"The strength of the work is its rich collection of illustrations of art based on the Alexander Romance. "鈥擲. M. Burstein, Choice Reviews
"[An] engaging study of the evolution of Alexander the Great mythos from antiquity down to the present day through art, literature, music, and film. . . . Alexander the Great: From his Death to the Present Day is a delightful read and has much to offer to anyone interested in the story of Alexander."鈥擳imothy Howe, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Boardman produces an engaging book able to open up the doors of a scholar鈥檚 studio and to give a sense of the innumerable shapes assumed by Alexander over time 鈥� and proving once again how very much alive he has been for the past twenty-three centuries and still is today."鈥擟laudia Daniotti, International Journal of the Classical Tradition
鈥淏oardman relates and confronts, with his usual genial acuity, the 鈥榯raditions鈥� of Alexander head-on, exploiting and displaying to the full his unrivaled expertise in the cross-cultural melding of post-Alexander visual-artistic currents. He takes his story down well beyond antiquity too, providing something for a wide potential non-classicist readership to get their teeth into.鈥濃�擯aul Cartledge, A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture Emeritus, University of Cambridge
"Written by a supremely knowledgeable guide, this is a remarkable survey of fascinating lore and legend about Alexander the Great. Whether in Hades or the Blessed Isles, Alexander will surely smile as he reads this tribute to his memory.鈥濃�擜drienne Mayor, author of The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient World
鈥淎 delightful personal exploration of a vast subject, this is a book for everyone who is interested in antiquity and its legacy.鈥濃�擱ichard Stoneman, author of The Book of Alexander the Great
