The definitive biography of the father and son who reshaped the ancient world.
“Brings to life the full drama of ancient history.” —Wall Street Journal
Alexander the Great's conquests staggered the world. He led his army across thousands of miles, overthrowing the greatest empires of his time and building a new one in their place. He claimed to be the son of a god, but he was actually the son of Philip II of Macedon.
Philip inherited a minor kingdom that was on the verge of dismemberment, but despite his youth and inexperience, he made Macedonia dominant throughout Greece. It was Philip who created the armies that Alexander led into war against Persia.
In Philip and Alexander, classical historian Adrian Goldsworthy shows that without the work and influence of his father, Alexander could not have achieved so much. This is the groundbreaking biography of two men who together conquered the world.
An Exciting and Informative Book
"If you have any interest in Ancient Greece and/or Alexander the Great, then this book is right up your alley. Adrian Goldsworthy does a tremendous job of setting the stage for Alexander's conquests by beginning with his father, Philip. Goldsworthy describes the relationship which Macedon had with the Greek city states and its neighbors, and how Philip built the Macedonian kingdom up from a low point during his inheritance to the dominant state of Hellas. This leads into Alexander's eventual inheritance and his wars of conquest. Goldsworthy takes the tale of one of the most influential father/son duos in history and translates it into a book with a tremendous amount of depth, while still making it accessible for people less familiar with the subject matter. I fully recommend for both history buffs and readers who want to dip their toes into antiquity."
