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Alexandria: The City that Changed the World
A SUNDAY TIMES AND TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR
'Monumental and vividly imagined . . . a fitting tribute to a city that has survived, changed and grown for so many centuries'
Daily Telegraph
'Wonderfully entertaining . . . written with vim and vigour'
Sunday Times
'Lively and engrossing . . . Issa has brilliantly illuminated the history of a great city'
Literary Review
A city drawn in sand.
Inspired by the tales of Homer and his own ambitions of empire, Alexander the Great sketched the idea of a city onto the sparsely populated Egyptian coastline. He did not live to see Alexandria built, but his vision of a sparkling metropolis that celebrated learning and diversity was swiftly realised and still stands today.
Situated on the cusp of Africa, Europe and Asia, great civilisations met in Alexandria. Together, Greeks and Egyptians, Romans and Jews created a global knowledge capital of enormous the inventive collaboration of its citizens shaped modern philosophy, science, religion and more. In pitched battles, later empires, from the Arabs and Ottomans to the French and British, laid claim to the city but its independent spirit endures.
In this sweeping biography of the great city, Islam Issa takes us on a journey across millennia, rich in big ideas, brutal tragedies and distinctive characters, from Cleopatra to Napoleon. From its humble origins to dizzy heights and present-day strife, Alexandria tells the gripping story of a city that has shaped our modern world.
'A multifaceted history of an enthralling city'
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, author of The Age of the Great Kings
'A cornucopia of fascinating details, every page revealing a new delight'
Paul Strathern, author of The Godfathers of the Renaissance
'Monumental and vividly imagined . . . a fitting tribute to a city that has survived, changed and grown for so many centuries'
Daily Telegraph
'Wonderfully entertaining . . . written with vim and vigour'
Sunday Times
'Lively and engrossing . . . Issa has brilliantly illuminated the history of a great city'
Literary Review
A city drawn in sand.
Inspired by the tales of Homer and his own ambitions of empire, Alexander the Great sketched the idea of a city onto the sparsely populated Egyptian coastline. He did not live to see Alexandria built, but his vision of a sparkling metropolis that celebrated learning and diversity was swiftly realised and still stands today.
Situated on the cusp of Africa, Europe and Asia, great civilisations met in Alexandria. Together, Greeks and Egyptians, Romans and Jews created a global knowledge capital of enormous the inventive collaboration of its citizens shaped modern philosophy, science, religion and more. In pitched battles, later empires, from the Arabs and Ottomans to the French and British, laid claim to the city but its independent spirit endures.
In this sweeping biography of the great city, Islam Issa takes us on a journey across millennia, rich in big ideas, brutal tragedies and distinctive characters, from Cleopatra to Napoleon. From its humble origins to dizzy heights and present-day strife, Alexandria tells the gripping story of a city that has shaped our modern world.
'A multifaceted history of an enthralling city'
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, author of The Age of the Great Kings
'A cornucopia of fascinating details, every page revealing a new delight'
Paul Strathern, author of The Godfathers of the Renaissance
620 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
March 30, 2024
I love books which just explore the history of one city over millennia! This was fantastic, highly recommended to anyone interested in Alexandria.
June 19, 2025
4.5-Star Review: Alexandria: The City that Changed the World by Islam Issa 🌍
What a wonderful read! Islam Issa has written a book that feels both sweeping in its historical reach and deeply personal. His love and enthusiasm for the city of Alexandria radiate from every chapter, and what makes this book truly stand out is the way he interweaves his own family’s history with that of the city. Hearing about his ancestors and how they helped shape Alexandria gave this monumental city a human scale—it’s not just a place on the map, but a living, breathing community with roots that reach deep.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was learning more about the ancient history of the city, particularly the era of the Ptolemies. Cleopatra, as Issa portrays her, is not only the powerful female figure we know from legend, but a deeply political and intelligent leader who played a central role in her city’s—and the world’s—destiny. The diversity of Alexandria through the centuries was striking: a true crossroads of civilizations, where different peoples and faiths coexisted in a way that feels almost utopian compared to the modern city’s monotheistic homogeneity. That loss of religious and cultural pluralism feels like a theft of the city’s thunder, a fading echo of what once made Alexandria a beacon of intellectual and social energy.
The section on the battles between Lord Nelson and Napoleon was especially intriguing. I had no idea just how pivotal Alexandria was in those global power struggles. Issa brings the drama and stakes of those moments to life with skill.
If I have one small complaint, it’s that a few Roman-era details felt a bit rushed or uneven in their research. With nearly 3,000 years of history to cover, though, that’s understandable—and it doesn’t detract much from the overall achievement of the book. There’s simply so much to learn here, and Issa has managed to open a window into a city that truly helped shape the world.
This book was informative, moving, and full of heart. I walked away with a greater appreciation for Alexandria’s grandeur and complexity—and a desire to learn even more.
Immersive digital and audio. I also have the hardcover. It has some nice pictures
What a wonderful read! Islam Issa has written a book that feels both sweeping in its historical reach and deeply personal. His love and enthusiasm for the city of Alexandria radiate from every chapter, and what makes this book truly stand out is the way he interweaves his own family’s history with that of the city. Hearing about his ancestors and how they helped shape Alexandria gave this monumental city a human scale—it’s not just a place on the map, but a living, breathing community with roots that reach deep.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was learning more about the ancient history of the city, particularly the era of the Ptolemies. Cleopatra, as Issa portrays her, is not only the powerful female figure we know from legend, but a deeply political and intelligent leader who played a central role in her city’s—and the world’s—destiny. The diversity of Alexandria through the centuries was striking: a true crossroads of civilizations, where different peoples and faiths coexisted in a way that feels almost utopian compared to the modern city’s monotheistic homogeneity. That loss of religious and cultural pluralism feels like a theft of the city’s thunder, a fading echo of what once made Alexandria a beacon of intellectual and social energy.
The section on the battles between Lord Nelson and Napoleon was especially intriguing. I had no idea just how pivotal Alexandria was in those global power struggles. Issa brings the drama and stakes of those moments to life with skill.
If I have one small complaint, it’s that a few Roman-era details felt a bit rushed or uneven in their research. With nearly 3,000 years of history to cover, though, that’s understandable—and it doesn’t detract much from the overall achievement of the book. There’s simply so much to learn here, and Issa has managed to open a window into a city that truly helped shape the world.
This book was informative, moving, and full of heart. I walked away with a greater appreciation for Alexandria’s grandeur and complexity—and a desire to learn even more.
Immersive digital and audio. I also have the hardcover. It has some nice pictures
March 7, 2025
This book on the history of the city of Alexandria makes me want to travel there.
There are so many stories to tell, of its founding, of the famous people who've visited the city, of the history, and of its welcome to all peoples of all religions. It was the centre of the known world for hundreds of years.
It was founded by Alexander the Great, it was home to Cleopatra and Hypatia, it had a wonder of the world with the Pharos Lighthouse (named after the island it stood on), it had the most magnificent and famous library there's ever been, its astronomers were the first to postulate the heliocentric model of the universe in the 3rd Century BC, its scientists almost created a working steam engine in the first century AD (they were just missing coal), its religious leaders were amongst the earliests advocates of Christianity as well as believers in what became later heresies, it was fought over by various Arab dynasties.
Alexandria is a survivor who's known great times and sad times, but has always come back . The book shows how we can all be inspired by Alexandria's story with all its layers, nuances, and tolerances. I can't wait to go there.
There are so many stories to tell, of its founding, of the famous people who've visited the city, of the history, and of its welcome to all peoples of all religions. It was the centre of the known world for hundreds of years.
It was founded by Alexander the Great, it was home to Cleopatra and Hypatia, it had a wonder of the world with the Pharos Lighthouse (named after the island it stood on), it had the most magnificent and famous library there's ever been, its astronomers were the first to postulate the heliocentric model of the universe in the 3rd Century BC, its scientists almost created a working steam engine in the first century AD (they were just missing coal), its religious leaders were amongst the earliests advocates of Christianity as well as believers in what became later heresies, it was fought over by various Arab dynasties.
Alexandria is a survivor who's known great times and sad times, but has always come back . The book shows how we can all be inspired by Alexandria's story with all its layers, nuances, and tolerances. I can't wait to go there.
April 1, 2024
It's a real pleasure to read about a place that's very clearly been written by someone who simply adores it. Alexandria–both its history and current times–is dear to the heart of this author, and, to me, reading this was like sitting down with someone, asking them, "Why do you like this thing so much?" and them pulling out a binder of information and being like, "I'm so glad you asked. Let me tell you everything..."
I learned many things and was interested the entire time. This month was busy, so I didn't always have the focused time I wanted. But, when I did sit down with this book, I enjoyed it and appreciated the history lesson. I can see myself tracking down texts on some of the figures mentioned here from ancient history. Glad I picked this one up on a whim at the library!
I learned many things and was interested the entire time. This month was busy, so I didn't always have the focused time I wanted. But, when I did sit down with this book, I enjoyed it and appreciated the history lesson. I can see myself tracking down texts on some of the figures mentioned here from ancient history. Glad I picked this one up on a whim at the library!
March 2, 2025
very interesting read, but i have to admit to side-eyeing the indexing somewhat. let me give you some figures real quick:
> palestine: 31 mentions
> gaza: 4 mentions
> israel (not modern state): 3 mentions
> israel (modern state): 25 mentions (all but one occurred in the final chapter since that related to the period of 1948-1973 & a recap in the epilogue)
> zionism: 7 mentions (included anti-zionism mentions)
you have one guess as to which of these entries were indexed and which not (i've split them nicely for you too). just to make a quick comparison, to ensure we can't just say there weren't enough references (although 31 mentions of palestine should disabuse us of that notion), the ancient egyptian town of pikuat (canopus) was mentioned once & made it into the index. ditto lawrence of arabia. and both of these were fairly fleeting mentions.
anyway, as i said, fascinating book but i remain confused.
> palestine: 31 mentions
> gaza: 4 mentions
> israel (not modern state): 3 mentions
> israel (modern state): 25 mentions (all but one occurred in the final chapter since that related to the period of 1948-1973 & a recap in the epilogue)
> zionism: 7 mentions (included anti-zionism mentions)
you have one guess as to which of these entries were indexed and which not (i've split them nicely for you too). just to make a quick comparison, to ensure we can't just say there weren't enough references (although 31 mentions of palestine should disabuse us of that notion), the ancient egyptian town of pikuat (canopus) was mentioned once & made it into the index. ditto lawrence of arabia. and both of these were fairly fleeting mentions.
anyway, as i said, fascinating book but i remain confused.
June 16, 2024
Yours truly here feels like she conquered a mountain by finally finishing this one...and in need of a vacation before writing a review.
Mind boggling the amount of detail in these pages, its beautiful to see the love and respect the author has for Alexandria, and I for one think this book does the city full justice...she shines strong and bright across the ages.
I will try to whip up a "proper" review once i can make sense of my notes .... yes i had to take notes while reading this...and would suggest you keep a notepad in hand too, jic!
It is 100% worth your time...and it deserves your undivided focus.
Happy Readings!
Mind boggling the amount of detail in these pages, its beautiful to see the love and respect the author has for Alexandria, and I for one think this book does the city full justice...she shines strong and bright across the ages.
I will try to whip up a "proper" review once i can make sense of my notes .... yes i had to take notes while reading this...and would suggest you keep a notepad in hand too, jic!
It is 100% worth your time...and it deserves your undivided focus.
Happy Readings!
Read
May 2, 2025Θα μπορούσες να το πεις και βιογραφία μιας πόλης, όμως το γεγονός είναι ότι πρόκειται για ένα πολύ ενδιαφέρον, γεμάτο ιστορία βιβλίο, που διαβάζεται ευχάριστα, ενώ η έκδοση είναι ιδιαίτερα προσεγμένη. Το συστήνω σε όλους τους φίλους της ιστορίας αλλά και του πολιτισμού.
Δείτε περισσότερα στο Ex Libris.
Δείτε περισσότερα στο Ex Libris.
August 12, 2024
When I was in high school, a math teacher of mine used to say that that due to the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, the development of Human civilization was delayed by some 200 years. I don't know whether that's true or not, or what his source was, but ever since the story of the city of Alexandria and its library has been alluring to me.
This book is a solid effort by professor Islam Issa. In this large volume (almost 500 pages), Issa recounts the history of the fabled city of Alexandria.
Starting with the prehistory sketches about the area, he then moves onto detailing Alexander's the Great role in the conception and development of the city. From the very beginning, and thanks to its location, Alexandria became a center of trade. That meant that people from different parts of the region moved to the city, looking for prosperity. Issa does a good job in telling the story of the city by explaining the coming and going of different ethnic groups, which a constant throughout the book. Another aspect that stands out is the development of Alexandria as the center of knowledge creation and development in ancient times thanks to its notable library. That's another area that I took an immense delight in learning about, and Issa spared no effort in recounting the names and achievements of the many scholars who studied at the Library of Alexandria.
Then the book moves on to tell the evolution of the city as ruling dynasties came and went, all the way until the present time.
As much as I liked it, I'm afraid I cannot give it 5 stars. I think there were some editing blunders in here, such as referring to the water expanse in front of Alexandria as “ocean”, when as a matter of a fact it's a sea, the Mediterranean Sea that is. Furthermore, perhaps it's just me, but I felt that the history of the last couple of centuries could have been more condensed. There seemed to be a repetition of content for me (i.e., transition from Ottoman to Arab rule).
All in all, this book is highly recommended, it does much better than a Wikipedia article.
This book is a solid effort by professor Islam Issa. In this large volume (almost 500 pages), Issa recounts the history of the fabled city of Alexandria.
Starting with the prehistory sketches about the area, he then moves onto detailing Alexander's the Great role in the conception and development of the city. From the very beginning, and thanks to its location, Alexandria became a center of trade. That meant that people from different parts of the region moved to the city, looking for prosperity. Issa does a good job in telling the story of the city by explaining the coming and going of different ethnic groups, which a constant throughout the book. Another aspect that stands out is the development of Alexandria as the center of knowledge creation and development in ancient times thanks to its notable library. That's another area that I took an immense delight in learning about, and Issa spared no effort in recounting the names and achievements of the many scholars who studied at the Library of Alexandria.
Then the book moves on to tell the evolution of the city as ruling dynasties came and went, all the way until the present time.
As much as I liked it, I'm afraid I cannot give it 5 stars. I think there were some editing blunders in here, such as referring to the water expanse in front of Alexandria as “ocean”, when as a matter of a fact it's a sea, the Mediterranean Sea that is. Furthermore, perhaps it's just me, but I felt that the history of the last couple of centuries could have been more condensed. There seemed to be a repetition of content for me (i.e., transition from Ottoman to Arab rule).
All in all, this book is highly recommended, it does much better than a Wikipedia article.
June 12, 2025
I picked up this book on a whim as it looked interesting. And surprise... it was!
I am not very experienced reading non-fiction, and it always requires determination from me to read and finish. That was no different for me with this book. However it is very well written and Alexandria is a very interesting topic. I'm quite happy to have read about this fascinating city.
It is a journey through time, starting with Alexander the Great and his plan for the city up to the modern day. There are little jumps and references to other moments or persons in history here and there. It is centered on Alexandria (obviously) but it takes on a broad range of subjects, from its people, cultures, science, wars. There were some bits which I found hard to follow, with lots of names, but I guess that is par for the course.
I personally found the early Ptolomean and Roman period the most fascinating and surprising. However the entire history of Alexandria is fascinating and tumultuous.
The journey through time centered on one place really helped me connect and place various major historical moments in time. Things I would be familiar with from history lessons long ago, personal interests, games, movies, etc. Most often it would just be one historical place and moment in time, covering one (interesting) place, from its beginning to now, really helped connect some historical dots.
I am not very experienced reading non-fiction, and it always requires determination from me to read and finish. That was no different for me with this book. However it is very well written and Alexandria is a very interesting topic. I'm quite happy to have read about this fascinating city.
It is a journey through time, starting with Alexander the Great and his plan for the city up to the modern day. There are little jumps and references to other moments or persons in history here and there. It is centered on Alexandria (obviously) but it takes on a broad range of subjects, from its people, cultures, science, wars. There were some bits which I found hard to follow, with lots of names, but I guess that is par for the course.
I personally found the early Ptolomean and Roman period the most fascinating and surprising. However the entire history of Alexandria is fascinating and tumultuous.
The journey through time centered on one place really helped me connect and place various major historical moments in time. Things I would be familiar with from history lessons long ago, personal interests, games, movies, etc. Most often it would just be one historical place and moment in time, covering one (interesting) place, from its beginning to now, really helped connect some historical dots.
February 20, 2025
this was my first time reading a history book, and at first it felt overwhelming ALL this history in just a small (430 pages) book, and so many names and countries and i'm so bad at geography and...
In the end I fell in love with the city. I need a plane ticket to Alexandria. I never realised how much History books could be interesting because it tells of our history, obviously, but also on what is going on today in the world, and if sometimes i feel the absurdity of life it feels good to see that so many people have lived, and among all the wars and rebellions they still managed to fall in love and create art and well - that's why i love life i guess
In the end I fell in love with the city. I need a plane ticket to Alexandria. I never realised how much History books could be interesting because it tells of our history, obviously, but also on what is going on today in the world, and if sometimes i feel the absurdity of life it feels good to see that so many people have lived, and among all the wars and rebellions they still managed to fall in love and create art and well - that's why i love life i guess
June 19, 2025
This was a very enjoyable read and I learned a lot. The next time I'm in Egypt I will definitely have to visit Alexandria iA. The city has a fascinating history, and Islam Issa does a great job taking the reader through different eras and into the present.
March 21, 2025
Very colourful biography of a very colourful and historic city.
April 12, 2024
I really loved the first 30% of this book—basically all of the chapters about the ancient city were engaging and I read them very quickly. To me the most interesting part of Alexandria is that it was a city far ahead of its time.
But then the book became a bit of a slog—and this is because the author (who has a personal connection to Alexandria and it shows in the care he took to catalog its history in this book) wants to walk you through decade after decade leading up to the present time. So it starts to feel repetitive, and more like a text book reciting dates, names and facts rather than an engaging piece of history.
And I understand this is a history book about Alexandria so this information needs to be included—but if I wanted to read about facts I would read a Wikipedia page. There is just way too much information being condensed and it starts to feel dense and kind of boring. That said, I learned a lot and got a great picture of Alexandria’s rise and fall over two millennia, and the first third was so good!
But then the book became a bit of a slog—and this is because the author (who has a personal connection to Alexandria and it shows in the care he took to catalog its history in this book) wants to walk you through decade after decade leading up to the present time. So it starts to feel repetitive, and more like a text book reciting dates, names and facts rather than an engaging piece of history.
And I understand this is a history book about Alexandria so this information needs to be included—but if I wanted to read about facts I would read a Wikipedia page. There is just way too much information being condensed and it starts to feel dense and kind of boring. That said, I learned a lot and got a great picture of Alexandria’s rise and fall over two millennia, and the first third was so good!
November 25, 2024
It is an interesting way to enjoy history by hearing the story of one city. Alexandria has a fascinating past that is both inspiring and heartbreaking. The great accomplishments - the Lighthouse, the Library, multiculturalism as a choice for prosperity, leveraging location and resources for economic vitality - are, all none the less, tarnished with vanity, greed, imperialistic arrogance, religious zealotry.
Issa is a passionate and articulate chronicler of Alexandria. One senses a bit of sadness he may feel for the current state of affairs but still the reader feels his hope. and his deep respect for the city's past. I did struggle with keeping all the Islamic sects straight (imagine a Muslim trying to track the Christian sects) but I appreciated being exposed to a culture I admittedly don't understand well.
All in all a very orderly, interesting and thoughtful history. Worth the read.
Issa is a passionate and articulate chronicler of Alexandria. One senses a bit of sadness he may feel for the current state of affairs but still the reader feels his hope. and his deep respect for the city's past. I did struggle with keeping all the Islamic sects straight (imagine a Muslim trying to track the Christian sects) but I appreciated being exposed to a culture I admittedly don't understand well.
All in all a very orderly, interesting and thoughtful history. Worth the read.
May 5, 2025
As someone with little-to-no knowledge of Alexandria prior to reading this book, I found it immensely informative. The writing is succinct and engaging. The history of this city quite literally at the center of the world relayed in an understandable and interesting way. Not to mention the amount of history not included in education in the States. This book taught me a lot.
April 11, 2026
What a fascinating history. I very much enjoyed it. Though I do find the author's reading of it to be kind of distracting on audio - the way he pronounces some words, like "con-fide-ant" instead of "con-fid-aunt" throws me off. Might be his accent, but I've listened to many audiobooks read by many different accents and that's one I've never heard before, and it really snags my attention. Also, at times, the volume drops out of the audio... like he's talking and then steps away from the mic for a few moments, and then steps back. Very annoying.
So the history - 5 star; the audio performance - 3 star
This is exceptionally well-researched and well-written though. It covers the history of Alexandria from before it was even founded (by giving a history of the man who founded it, Alexander of Macedon) up through the (relative) current day, along with contextual historical relevance and events to help illustrate how Alexandria influenced and was influenced by world events.
Utterly fascinating and wonderful.
Also, as a side quest, I had a whole "Ooooh historical easter egg!" moment when I recognized Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, as the name of a pivotal ship in the Expanse series. Probably should have known it was something like that, all things considered, but I didn't, and love this additional layer of meaning and context now that I know it. Random detour concluded.
This book was great. Highly recommended. If you enjoy history, you can't go wrong with this one. It is very detailed, but never overwhelming or dense, and it reads very easily. And I will say that the audio also makes it feel like someone telling a story, even though I personally found the author's reading a little distracting at times.
So the history - 5 star; the audio performance - 3 star
This is exceptionally well-researched and well-written though. It covers the history of Alexandria from before it was even founded (by giving a history of the man who founded it, Alexander of Macedon) up through the (relative) current day, along with contextual historical relevance and events to help illustrate how Alexandria influenced and was influenced by world events.
Utterly fascinating and wonderful.
Also, as a side quest, I had a whole "Ooooh historical easter egg!" moment when I recognized Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, as the name of a pivotal ship in the Expanse series. Probably should have known it was something like that, all things considered, but I didn't, and love this additional layer of meaning and context now that I know it. Random detour concluded.
This book was great. Highly recommended. If you enjoy history, you can't go wrong with this one. It is very detailed, but never overwhelming or dense, and it reads very easily. And I will say that the audio also makes it feel like someone telling a story, even though I personally found the author's reading a little distracting at times.
February 9, 2026
Islam Issa presents a definitive, comprehensive, digestible, and all around fascinating history of one of the world’s greatest cities of all time. Delving into every era in detail - ancient precursors, Ptolemaic Greek, early Christian, caliphate conquest, Napoleonic, all the way to the modern Egypt Issa knows well - it still manages to teach me much I hadn’t known before. Like how Alexander himself never saw this city built in his honor, or how Egyptian figs are actually the fruit of a sycamore tree. But as a cosmopolitan center of world culture and politics back in the day, it’s the model city to which all others today must strive to follow, if they are to leave nearly as much of a mark even when their time appears to have come and gone.
May 15, 2026
This book helped put into perspective a few things I knew about Alexandria, reminded me of things I forgot, allowing the Big Picture of Alexandria to roll along in a audio montage. Enjoyable.
February 11, 2024
An enjoyable book that unfortunately has several inaccuracies. I don’t know enough about Alexandria itself to speak for the history of the city, but multiple myths about the wider world (such as medieval Europeans believing the world is flat and Napoleon being short) are treated as fact. Other information, like a claim that the idea of creating a more organized Crusade only began after the People’s Crusade was defeated, is inaccurate. There’s also several times where it was unclear whether the author was stating something as fact, conveying a theory, or discussing historical rumors.
On a more positive note, this paints a very vivid picture of Alexandria through time and was a compelling read. Overall, topics of religious conflict were handled in a mostly neutral way (I was disappointed but not surprised to see a couple classic antisemitic “dual loyalty” comments, and the neutrality towards religious conflicts suffered in the modern day section). Definitely not the worst history book I’ve read, and I really enjoyed the author’s personal stories of connection to the city. Just be aware that there are inaccuracies and double check before accepting its claims as fact, which is good advice for any book.
On a more positive note, this paints a very vivid picture of Alexandria through time and was a compelling read. Overall, topics of religious conflict were handled in a mostly neutral way (I was disappointed but not surprised to see a couple classic antisemitic “dual loyalty” comments, and the neutrality towards religious conflicts suffered in the modern day section). Definitely not the worst history book I’ve read, and I really enjoyed the author’s personal stories of connection to the city. Just be aware that there are inaccuracies and double check before accepting its claims as fact, which is good advice for any book.
September 12, 2024
This is a history of the city of Alexandria. I didn’t find Issa’s writing style particularly engaging, which honestly made this a bit of slog for me, especially once I got through the founding parts. Issa’s family has a long history in Alexandria, and it shows because he treats some things as credible that I would definitely not. He also spends pages and pages lovingly categorizing the fact that the city fell into disrepair and lost all its importance after the Muslims assumed control (with the creation of their own capital at Cairo). Also, for some reason he really, really wants the Ptolemies to be well regarded, most especially Cleopatra—who I will admit does suffer from Augustus’s propaganda campaign—but there’s honestly only so much redemption I can hack for a despotic, fratricidal absolute ruler. If you can afford to cruise around the Nile on a mega yacht, I can only summon up so much sympathy for the fact history did you dirty.
May 7, 2025
The most insightful piece of work of the city of Alexandria; very well written. I’m glad that I take the initiative to read this book.
February 10, 2024
Despite how long it took me to read I really enjoyed this.
This was the first history book I've read to completion so i'm still not sure exactly what makes a great history book.
But I thought is was engaging, it at times read less like a historical text and more like an epic saga...which I suppose in a way it was. I liked that this book shone a light on a city which I feel in modern times is often overlooked. It was interesting to see how Alexandria stood for so long at the centre fo world events and hosted some of histories most famous names.
I especially appreciated the authors own connection to the city and the deep understanding he had for its identity and heritage.
This was the first history book I've read to completion so i'm still not sure exactly what makes a great history book.
But I thought is was engaging, it at times read less like a historical text and more like an epic saga...which I suppose in a way it was. I liked that this book shone a light on a city which I feel in modern times is often overlooked. It was interesting to see how Alexandria stood for so long at the centre fo world events and hosted some of histories most famous names.
I especially appreciated the authors own connection to the city and the deep understanding he had for its identity and heritage.
March 1, 2025
You can feel the respect and love that the author has for this city. Islam Issa did a phenomenal job capturing the long history of Alexandria in 450 pages (or 20+ hours if you listen to the audiobook).
This is long and comprehensive but full of detail that keeps you engaged throughout. If the only thing you know about this city is its library and lighthouse you are missing out and this book is a great way to further your knowledge. There is a lot to digest here but I already know I’ll be coming back to this for a reread in the future. I really can’t wait to see what Issa has in store for the future because this book was a wonderful history for a debut author. He is one to keep an eye on!
This is long and comprehensive but full of detail that keeps you engaged throughout. If the only thing you know about this city is its library and lighthouse you are missing out and this book is a great way to further your knowledge. There is a lot to digest here but I already know I’ll be coming back to this for a reread in the future. I really can’t wait to see what Issa has in store for the future because this book was a wonderful history for a debut author. He is one to keep an eye on!
March 31, 2025
This took me a while but I so enjoyed it. From ancient history to modern times, this was an utterly complete history of Alexandria & how pivotal it has been to much of history and politics over the years. Alexander was so ahead of his time in his plans for Alexandria, yet he didn't live to see it built. How amazing it would be to go back in time to see the Pharos Lighthouse and the ancient library...lost to history alas, but brought to life again in this wonderful book. 4.5 ⭐
April 27, 2025
As an Alexandrian, I approached the book with caution as it is my habit with many books that tend to sway the city’s culture, lineage and heritage for one era or the other. Islam Issa’s approach is factual, objective, and analytical.
The book is so meticulously written, combining anthropology with historical narration and story telling. This book easily became my one package reference to my city.
The book is so meticulously written, combining anthropology with historical narration and story telling. This book easily became my one package reference to my city.
January 4, 2024
A wonderful study of a wondrous city. As the narrative arrived at the modern day, the author became less objective, but this is not necessarily to the detriment the work.
December 7, 2024
I adore Alexandria, so naturally I loved this book. It is a fascinating city and the author brings it alive. (lived there for a year in '98, returned for a visit 2018).
August 27, 2025
Pięknie wydana i ciekawa, ale również zawierająca sporo błędów i dziwnych informacji książka. Opis powstawania i rozwoju Aleksandrii czasami schodził na drugi plan, na pierwszy wysuwając podboje Aleksandra Wielkiego sięgające poza opisywany przez autora obszar (założyciel miasta - dobrze, ale po co przy książce Aleksandrii streszczenie 'legendy' o ujarzmieniu i śmierci Bucefała?) czy małżeńskie życie Ptolemeusza I.
Ciekawi mnie też, jakimi źródłami inspirował się autor (nie wszystkie są podane) pisząc o Arystotelesie uczącym młodego Aleksandra łaciny i hebrajskiego, tak samo jak wynalezienie maszyny parowej (dosłownie) przez Herona z Aleksandrii. W książce jest wiele takich smaczków, nie wiem, czy Islam Issa użył po prostu złych słów do ich opisania, czy tłumacza trochę poniosło - ciężko stwierdzić, zwłaszcza, że autor prowadził dosyć pokręconą narrację, bez przerywnika przechodząc do czasów współczesnych, w starożytności odgrywając rolę naocznego świadka jakichś przemian, a czasami podając suche fakty.
Polecam, ale ze sporą dozą podejrzliwości.
Ciekawi mnie też, jakimi źródłami inspirował się autor (nie wszystkie są podane) pisząc o Arystotelesie uczącym młodego Aleksandra łaciny i hebrajskiego, tak samo jak wynalezienie maszyny parowej (dosłownie) przez Herona z Aleksandrii. W książce jest wiele takich smaczków, nie wiem, czy Islam Issa użył po prostu złych słów do ich opisania, czy tłumacza trochę poniosło - ciężko stwierdzić, zwłaszcza, że autor prowadził dosyć pokręconą narrację, bez przerywnika przechodząc do czasów współczesnych, w starożytności odgrywając rolę naocznego świadka jakichś przemian, a czasami podając suche fakty.
Polecam, ale ze sporą dozą podejrzliwości.
May 5, 2026
This non-fiction book follows the tale and history of the infamous city of Alexandria. The author goes into great depth about each layer of the city. The city really influenced so many aspects of life, from philosophy, technology, politics, theology, and geography. Each chapter adds a layer to the city and enhances it. We really see how the city was different from others, especially regarding women. The author does offer his own insight since his grandfather was raised there. The city had born itself out of ego, and as it flourished, it gave a unique personality to its people. Overall, this was a very insightful book about the city of Alexandria from ancient history to modern day.
October 5, 2025
A really fascinating city - I particularly enjoyed the early history and learning about all the incredible thinkers and inventors who made Alexandria their home! It is also really great to get an Alexandrian's view on the city, although there were probably too many anecdotes for my personal taste (perhaps because I found some sections of the book quite dense to follow all the religious and piratical conflicts, so hopping out of the narrative for a personal anecdote felt a bit distracting)
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