The Search for Alexander: An Exhibition by Cornelius Vermeule

by Robin Lane Fox

The author traveled hundreds of miles on foot & horseback up into the forbidding mountains of Iran & Afghanistan, Turkey & Pakistan, retracing Alexander's march. In his 20s, both tactitian & intellectual, Alexander struck out on an adventure from Greece, leading 50,000 men. It would span 10 years & 11,000 miles on foot & horseback, beginning in 336 BC. At its end, he was by conquest king of the Greeks, pharoah of Egypt, ruler of Persia, master of the known world. By age 32, he would be dead. A comprehensive & wonderfully illustrated & documented biography of Alexander the Great, published to coincide with a national television special & a major international art exhibition held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC & museums in Chicago, Boston & San Francisco. Published in conjunction with a television series & an art exhibition, this is a comprehensive biography of Alexander, focusing on what is actually known, beautifully illustrated with over 220 photographs throughout.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Greece, Art, Travel

Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 1980

About the author

Robin Lane Fox (born 1946) is an English historian, currently a Fellow of New College, Oxford and University of Oxford Reader in Ancient History.

Lane Fox was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford.

Since 1977, he has been a tutor in Greek and Roman history, and since 1990 University Reader in Ancient History. He has also taught Greek and Latin literature and early Islamic history, a subject in which he held an Oxford Research Fellowship, and is also New College's Tutor for Oriental Studies.[1] He is a lecturer in Ancient History at Exeter College, Oxford.

He was historical adviser to the film director Oliver Stone for the epic Alexander. His appearance as an extra, in addition to his work as a historical consultant, was publicized at the time of the film's release.

Lane Fox is also a gardening correspondent for the Financial Times.

He is the father of the internet entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox, the founder of Lastminute.com.

They are not related to, and should not be confused with Robin Fox, anthropologist, and his daughter Kate Fox, social anthropologist.

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a big book, crammed with all the photos and maps that make such a volume delightful. Alexander continues to be an enigmatic controversial figure, yet it is astonishing to realize what he did in a few years marching around with his army. And yet what actually was accomplished?

The search for Alexander, really, is trying to understand why he has such a grip on the cultural imagination. Is he famous for being famous—a celebrity?

There is enough in this book to keep searchers entertained for a long campaign. Even chasing down all the index references to Hephaistion would keep one very busy. Will the gossips never stop chattering about those two guys? Alexander and his BFF are like the original m/m couple that everyone wants to think about — a lot.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Alexander imitated Achilles right down to the hair-style, so Napoleon imitated Alexander and Rod Stewart, Napoleon. Author Fox appreciates this, even extolls the bloody antics of his alcoholic hero-worshipper. And what, in the end, did Alexander bequeath the world? Athenian democracy? Hardly. What he and his dad did manage to accomplish was to destroy the traditional autonomy of the Greek poleis while spreading the language and culture, if only as a veneer, to the banks of the Indus and Nile Rivers.

[Tristram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good overview from Philip II up until after Alexander's death. It is slightly outdated as it was published about 40 years ago, but I think everything still holds up fairly well. There are lots of beautiful colour photographs throughout on almost every page, which is something I love when dealing with ancient history as it can be difficult to imagine how so much time has changed our environments. It is a very accessible work. As ever, Fox retains his professional approach to dealing with the uncertain truths of Alexander's life and how we can consider these in our modern day.

One thing that disappointed me a little was that the images didn't include dates of when they were taken, which I really would have liked as they could have been taken from decades before the book release.

[Sara Laor · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good overview.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than average coverage of Alexander's complexity.

[Ken Wahe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the pictures merit it a 5 star. This is a major academic work by a renowned ancient history writer and researcher. I perhaps got more out of it as it somewhat follows two podcast that put me to bed at night. Or should I say they follow Fox. That is not to say that Kagan is not an expert on his own. I think Fox gives us a well balanced picture of Alexander especially in terms of his personal life. In short he cuts him no slack . I had the feeling that the author did not read any more into his source material than was there. I really would like to sit in a roomm and have an expert detail everything he sees in a coin or a vase or a wall covering.

[Beatrice Canales · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this book is an older book and I found it by chance, but I can't seem to put it down.

[Tosh Toshniwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had ordered the book from Robin Lane Fox but Amazon delivered An Exhibition. Anyway, it is interesting particularly the opening essays before catalogue of the exhibition.

[Morbo2000 Morbo2000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing photography and wonderful narrative. Takes you there.