Envy of the Gods: Alexander the Great's Ill-Fated Journey Across Asia

by John Prevas

Alexander the Great accomplished more than any ordinary human could even hope to dream, yet at the end of his life, his empire, his army, and even his own life were unraveling. While the world knows well how the Macedonian king conquered the Persian Empire, few people know the full story of his decline and fall as he sought to bring the most remote areas of the Persian empire under his control.Alexander was a complicated mix of ruthless tyrant and incurable romantic. This schizophrenic interplay of conflicting psychic forces characterized his rise to power and was largely responsible for his downfall. In the last seven years of his life, Alexander the Great grew increasingly unpredictable, sporadically violent, megalomaniacal, and suspicious of friends as well as enemies. In the end Alexander the Great was not defeated by any external enemy but by himself. John Prevas brings this riveting story of the fall of Alexander to life with a compelling narrative informed by his personal retracing of much of the route trod by Alexander through what is now Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Genres: History, Greece, Nonfiction

242 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prevas's dislike for Alexander is palpable. If there's an opportunity to characterize an event in a light that reflects negatively on Alexander, he does so -- by my count, he only misses one, and that's the death of Hephaestion, which Prevas ascribes to a combination of fever and overeating, or poisoning at the hands of Anitpater's clan. In nearly every other event that we know of, Alexander is shown behaving badly. Prevas's Alexander is a megalomaniacal, impulsive, reckless, narcicisstic, vain, sheltered, deluded daydreamer who cares nothing for those around him, and thinks only of his immortality, literally and figuratively.

A fine antidote to some of the hagiography that's developed around Alexander, but Prevas tilts too far in the opposite direction, and isn't measured in his use of the sources.

Oh, and Prevas actually recounts the meeting between the Amazon queen and Alexander. Sure, when he's done telling the story, he notes that scholars think the episode is just a bit of embellishment, but the way he describes the encounter, it's not clear what Prevas thinks. A very odd thing to find in a book that's trying to be a serious attempt at biography/history.

Worth a spin if you've read other books about Alexander, but not recommended for those who are hoping to pick up the definitive biography.

[Corey Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I question the author's scholarship. He writes about Alexander meeting the Amazon Queen, Thalestris as if it actually happened, but this event is regarded by reputable historicans as a myth or legend. He also throws in contemporary references (e.g. the Taliban) from time to time, but they add more distraction than depth. The author did a good job describing Alexander's megalomaniac character, however, and the information about Greek ruins and the origin of the Buddha statues (the ones blown up by the Taliban) were interesting. All in all, I think there are better books on the subject so I would give this one a miss.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book about my favorite megalomaniac!