Philip Freeman's 'Alexander The Great'

Freeman, Philip., Alexander the Great. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2011.

Philip Freeman is a prolific historian who focuses on the classical era and brings the events of this period to life regardless of whether they are mythical or reality-based. Many prolific biographies and historical renderings mark Freeman’s career as a history professor, including recent works such as Sacrifice: A Celtic Adventure and The World of Saint Patrick among many others. The acclaim associated with his works complements Freeman’s objectivity in his writing, in that he can passionately describe the lives and times of countless historical figures. Even with his vivid approach to historical studies, Freeman’s objectivity is evident in the way he relays historical failures with the same attention that he pays to the accomplishments of the individuals in his

In the book, the reader encounters a well-researched biography that relays the life and times of Alexander in a simple but informative manner. Just as in his earlier works, however, Freeman succeeds at bringing Alexander’s egotistic, intelligent, and inspirational journey through life to the reader in an engaging manner that takes a unique approach to relaying the same information available in other resources. In essence, Freeman’s interest in this historical figure’s life is evident in the way he describes the battles that Alexander fought, as well as the contribution that he made to turning society into what it is today. From the book, the reader can discern the complex traditions that people practice and begin to understand the role that historical interactions played in their formation. Therefore, Philip Freeman’s Alexander the Great succeeds in providing an engaging and emphatic portrayal of one of the greatest historical figures and the part that their desires played in changing the