Book Review | The Young Alexander

The Young Alexander - Alexander the Great - BUY NOW

THE YOUNG ALEXANDER: The Making of Alexander the Great | Alex Rowson, William Collins, (2022) 6070p.

Most know the general arch of the life and campaigns of Alexander the Great. As the title suggests, this book focuses on the pre-military experiences of the man who would never lose a battle, conquer the known world, and die of a fever. The author takes a deep dive into new archeological discoveries to create the context in which Alexander was reared. 

At age 14, Alexander was sent to be tutored by Aristotle - clearly an unparalleled benefit. The Stagirite was undoubtedly a tough instructor, given his infamous dictum, “Drive those in front hard and leave those who can’t keep up.” Nevertheless, Aristotle used a technique that would still serve students better today: the walking classroom. Instruction was delivered amidst a stroll. 

But even before his teenage years, there was something different about Alexander -from the taming of Bucephalus to the questioning of Persian diplomats on the logistics of their armies to his early prowess with a sword and javelin. The author argues that his father - King Philip II - was the single largest influence in his life and not his mother, Olympias, who claimed lineage from Achilles. He argues that the Iliad - as a framework for an honor code - was Alexander’s sacred text. 

He had a near Spartan upbringing - no hot baths, no lying on couches, and days spent in tense physical conditioning - which helped shape his iron will. 

Recent archeological discoveries have uncovered King Philip’s burial place and palace, confirming that he had red hair. The latter reinforces previously known fragments that suggested there was a Celt lineage. After all, Philip was done in by his daughter's hand as she thrust a Celtic dagger deep between his ribs. 

Because Rowson pulls together discoveries on the generalities of Macedonian society and confers specifics, serious scholars will be rightly skeptical. But this new work is a welcome and substantial bridge to the curious of the formative inputs on Alexander’s life.
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The Young Alexander - Alexander the Great - BUY NOW