I have read 6 of Alexanders biographies. This was the 7th. The only one written by a Greek for a Greek. I find this the most accurate, objective and exciting one. A must read. Kazantzakis at his best. I just hope that Stones version depicted on film will do justice to the Great Macedonian King. Alexander Lives!
It is an extraordinary book for youngsters which gives both history and adventure. I already knew the biography of Alexander but I wanted it in story-form and this book is the best.Im glad I didnt have to wait till Im old enough to read Alexanders story in Mary Renaults version with all the extra spicy bits.(I havent read it, my dad told me about it). (...)
I was pretty excited to read a book about an extraordinary character seen through Kazantzakiss eyes... What a failure! Is it bad fiction? Bad history? Well, the answer is: BOTH!!! The characters have the depth of teletubbies, and Ks patronizing tone should insult anyone old enough to read. Kazantzakis is careful to underline that anyone the Greeks killed were barbarians, and that they were fighting for the noble cause of bringing civilization to "the savages" -- common old-school apologetics, but particularly disturbing considering hes a Greek, writing for Greek children. He presents a curiously chaste Alexander, which wouldnt be so glaring in a childrens book were the silence not juxtaposed against a drawn-out, shallow, cheesy, *fictitious* love afair between a young boy and girl. If Kazantakis didnt have the guts to tell the truth about his character he should have presented it as the sheer fiction it is. In brief, I HATED IT!!!!
