Author:Richard Stoneman
Mystery surrounds the parentage of Alexander, the prince born to Queen Olympias. Is his father Philip, King of Macedonia, or Nectanebo, the mysterious sorcerer who seduced the queen by trickery? One thing is certain: the boy is destined to conquer the known world. He grows up to fulfil this prophecy, building a mighty empire that spans from Greece and Italy to Africa and Asia. Begun soon after the real Alexander's death and expanded in the centuries that followed, The Greek Alexander Myth depicts the life and adventures of one of history's greatest heroes - taming the horse Bucephalus, meeting the Amazons and his quest to defeat the King of Persia. Including such elements of fantasy as Alexander's ascent to heaven borne by eagles, this literary masterpiece brilliantly evokes a lost age of heroism.
Highly entertaining and informative
—— Times Literary Supplement200 snappy and stylish essays on the topics that dominated British life since 1900
—— IndependentIt is enormous fun... This is a "reference book with attitude"... [And] how can you not admire a book which, in a passing mention of Coco Chanel, describes her as "the Nazi-sympathising French couturier"?
—— Nicholas Lezard , Guardian'A truly delicious history, his homage to the humble sweet is a lovingly detailed account that can't be resisted'
—— Sunday Herald'Full of delights...while the book gets its structure from serious research, it's built on a foundation of joy'
—— The New York Times'Bursting with jolly anecdotes and compellingly useless information... a most enjoyable book'
—— Mail on Sunday