The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander by Arrian

by Arrian

Unknown Binding

About the author

Arrian of Nicomedia (Latin: Lucius Flavius Arrianus Xenophon; Greek: Ἀρριανός c. AD c. 86 – c. 160) was a Greek historian, public servant, military commander and philosopher of the 2nd-century Roman period. As with other authors of the Second Sophistic, Arrian wrote primarily in Attic (Indica is in Herodotus' Ionic dialect, his philosophical works in Koine Greek).

The Anabasis of Alexander is perhaps his best-known work, and is generally considered one of the best sources on the campaigns of Alexander the Great. (It is not to be confused with Anabasis, the best-known work of the Athenian military leader and author Xenophon from the 5th-4th century BC.) Arrian is also considered as one of the founders of a primarily military-based focus on history. His other works include Discourses of Epictetus and Indica.

Other language versions:
Arriano

Reviews

[Banbury]

The translated text provides a wealth of information about Alexander the Great, or at least what was conjectured about him. Arrian wrote this account of the man and his conquests approximately five hundred years after Alexander's death based upon prior accounts that are no longer extant. The sheer distances covered and the logistics of feeding and inspiring an army, not to mention the innovative war tactics of Alexander show an energy and intelligence of an extraordinary man. Arrian, although noting some of Alexander's character flaws, seems more forgiving of the them than a chronicler of more modern sensibilities would likely be. The maps provided every few pages are clear and very helpful. The included appendices of this edition, essays by various scholars about different aspects of the history of Alexander the Great are well written and informative. This is an excellent book.

[Mads Floyd]

This particular edition is broad enough in scope and understanding to constitute a full study of the life of Alexander.