and now for the books - please vote

[nick]

Hi Companions -
On pothos.co.uk we now have a list of 'recommended books' for those starting or developing their interest in Alexander. The present list is just a mix of books the webmaster already mentioned on the old pothos, and I added a few to complete the provisional top-10.
But now I would like a 'democratic' list; or at least some consesus. So please, here is the present list (see also: Books - Books to Read):
1. Alexander the Great by Robin Lane Fox.2. Conquest and Empire by A. B. Bosworth3. The Nature of Alexander by Mary Renault4. The Genius of Alexander by N. G. L. Hammond5. The Heroic Ideal by P. Briant6. The Marshals of Alex's Empire by W. Heckel7. The Campaigns of Alexander by Arrian8. History of Alexander by Curtius Rufus9. Generalship of Alexander by J.F.C. Fuller10. Alexander of Macedon by P. GreenRunner up:
- In the Footsteps of Alexander by M. Wood
What I would suggest is: please reply to this posting. Everyone has the opportunity to name one (1) book that should be added to the list, one (1) book that deserves to remain on the present list, and one (1) book that should disappear from this 'recommended' list. Do we agree on this procedure?
I will rework the "Books to Read" list a week after this posting, with inclusion of all changes that have been suggested.
Thanks!Nick

[chris]

Hi NickIs it relevant to note that the book by M Wood was accompanied by a video of the BBC series of the same name? Chris

[nick]

Hi Chris -Yes, that is relevant. That is why I want to create also a list of "Videos to see" - a recommended video list under the "Movies" section. However, I myself possess just a few - e.g. that 1956 Hollywood Burton thing (and I would not recommend that to anyone). So input about good videos, hopefully most of them available through Amazon, would be highly appreciated.However, Chris, you did not yet comment on the present top-10 book list that is currently on the site. Your comments would be highly appreciated!Regards -
Nick

[Dave J]

If I had to choose just one book it would have to be Arrian. Ancient historians should base their arguements primarily on the closest and most reliable ancient source. He is also an easy read.Can I suggest that we have a differentiation between ancient and modern sources. If I had to pick one modern source I would reluctantly have to choose Bosworth from your list. Although I prefer Green's style.

[chris]

Hi NickI confess I haven't read them all...working through as I have birthdays etc. From comments I've seen it looks perfect.Chris

[rick]

Nick -
For someone just starting to study Alexander, I would definitely include M. Wood's In the footsteps... since it's almost like a "Alexander 101" course (an American description of a basic university course). With its accompanying video, it gives the beginner a good overview. Admittedly, I started out with Mary Renault's fictional books, and then went on to her The Nature of Alexander. I think if I had used Wood's combination book and video earlier in my studies, I would have been inspired more. So for a beginner's list, I would move Wood up to the actual top 10, making it my "Add". My "Keep" would be the History of Alexander by Curtius Rufus. Give me some time to think about which book I would remove. (I know that's sort of a cop-out, but it probably explains why I have so much junk laying around - that pack-rat mentality.)

[susan]

I was thinking about comparing the sources to British newspapers, to give some indication of their likely reliability and appeal. This will probably only be of interest to British people, but I think there are a fair few of us now. The analogies aren't that close, and I don't want to start a long thread about Rupert Murdoch, but here are some ideas:1. Arrian - broadsheet - The Times / Telegraph - reasonably careful with the facts, the official version, rather right-wing.
2. Plutarch - Reader's Digest.
3. Diodorus - broadsheet - Telegraph, not Times
4. Curtius - definitely tabloid but a reasonable stab at it - Express
5. Justin - News of the World ?
6. Alexander Romance - Daily Sport ?Does anyone have any other ideas ?Susan

[susan]

Add - Women & Monarchy in Macedonia - by Beth Carney - to paraphrase Hephaestion in a book by Aubrey Menen, half of the people in their world were women even if he thought it was a pity. Plus this joins up the men's history very well - almost all of the Diadochi were intermarried with their allies and foes which must have made the equivalent of Christmas even more stressful than nowadays.Also add - Greek Alexander Romance by Richard Stoneman.
Take off - Fuller - I find battles boring but that's my point of view - I'm sure most would disagree.Keep on -
all the main sources - I used to swear by Arrian but now I think that Curtius may be a closer 'warts and all' picture;
Briant - lovely pictures;
Renault - the Nature of Alexander is fine for getting people hooked -
Heckel has all the facts although it's a bit dry.Susan

[yiannis]

What about the Sun? Who's going to represent it?:)

[nick]

Thank you, Susan - that is very helpful.
So far the (mixed) results are (as I understood):
Arrian - 2 up;
Bosworth - 1 up;
Green - 1 up;
Curtius - 2 up;
Briant - 1 up;
Renault - 1 up;
Heckel - 1 up;
Wood - 1 add;
Carney - 1 add;
Stoneman - 1 add;
Fuller - 1 out.

[wmp]

Here's my two-pennyworth....i) to add - As Susan has already added Carney's
"Women & Monarchy in Macedonia", I'd add
"Alexander the Great & the Logistics of the
Macedonian Army" by Donald W Engels. (Slim
enough to take in a back pocket on holiday,
although it may irritate your travelling companion
as you draw their attention away from the frappe
& riviani to interesting details about how many
pounds of grain a man was meant to eat a
day...)ii) to remain - I'd always keep Arrian in
preference to QC Rufus (on purely subjective
grounds, as I find Arrian a lot easier going than
Rufus)iii) to disappear - I'd remove the Heckel - if this
is a list of those starting an interest in
Alexander, Heckel can be a bit dry & specialist
(not to mention expensive); although he's a
fascinating read for those developing their
interest. (I took Heckel on holiday, too, and that
*really* irritated my travelling companion...) I realise my argument for iii) could negate by
suggestion for i) - so as an alternative addition,
I'd cast a vote for Wood's "In the Footsteps..." -
the book rather than the video, I think - for all its
faults, Wood is geniunely enthusiastic &
communicative about his subject (in 1998, he
gave a lecture at King's College London on the
Alexander legend in East & West - fascinating).wmp

[nick]

Thanks WMP - that was a useful answer.Regards -
Nick

[mark]

Here is my contribution to the book list:To be added:Alexander the Great,logistics of the Macedonian army- author Engals
reason: I believe that there is not enough hard data written about the organization of this army to really appreciate how it actually conducted operations against it's enemies.,I would like to see one done about the Persian armed forces due to the logistical nightmares they must have had to faceTo remain: Marshals of Alexander, author W .Hekekel.
It does show the talent behind the throne and the fact that Alexander was also very gifted in picking great talent . I do agree that it should be a later read for the student of Alexander the Great.

[mark]

My last entry after some thougt to be removed is
Mary Renaults nature of Alexander.
Since the reading of this and Mr Manfredidis first book . I do not think that without the cooperation of a competant historian a book of fiction on Alexander will be believeable and too surrealistic. I am very worried when I read that Baz Thurman had been stated as saying that Alexander the Great
was the "first rock star" being an American I can only think of a cross between Britney Spears or Jim Morrison. I am open to a critic because I do relize my ficion reading exposure is not that great........
but 100-120million based on that I am truley scared
thanks mark

[marcus]

Hi Nick,
Very interesting reading all the responses.
If we are to recommend these books to people who are just embarking on their Alexander journey, then I would
remove - Heckel (shame, but far too convoluted until you are really immersed)
keep - Lane Fox (has its faults, but it's so darned readable)
add - The Wars of Alexander the Great by Heckel - a recently published book by Osprey (who do the men-at-arms series) - great pictures, accessible text, lovely diagrams of the battles. ISBN: 1841764736 if people haven't yet come across it (it was published at the beginning of August in the UK)
All the best
Marcus