The Virtues of War

Alexander the Great himself relates the story of his conquests in this vigorous and thoughtful historical novel. It isn't easy to follow tactics or the progress of a battle in audio format, but John Lee, whose voice (but not accent) is reminiscent of Sean Connery's, makes the action as clear as can be, while also capably bringing out Alexander's strength, passion, intelligence, and inner struggles. It jars when Lee reads an epilogue after Alexander's death in the voice we have come to know as Alexander's, but that's a quibble. Classical and military history buffs should especially enjoy this book, but its enjoyment should not be left to them alone. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

October 11, 2004
"I have always been a soldier. I have known no other life." Esteemed historical novelist Pressfield (Gates of Fire
; Tides of War
) crawls inside the brave heart of Alexander the Great in this chronicle of the king's bloody and extraordinary accomplishments and boundless ambition. Presented as Alexander's confessions (and lessons) to his brother-in-law, Itanes, as the Macedonian commander and his increasingly reluctant armies try to figure out how to cross "this river of India" to engage in yet another battle, the novel tells of Alexander's father's last victory (the defeat of the Greeks at Chaeronea) before his assassination; of how, over his father's corpse, Alexander cements his plans for future campaigns; of his struggle with his "daimon," which would call him to glory; of his burning of Thebes; of his march east and his slaughter throughout Asia; of his murder of his friend Cleitus ("I felt his spine shear"). Alexander's voice swoops from high-minded rhetoric to earthy vernacular as he regales Itanes with bloody battle scenes and stories of horror and triumph. For devotees of Alexandrite military history—and there are many—this is a sympathetic if slightly overlong portrait of a man who knew no doubt: "Fame imperishable and glory that will never die: that
is what we march for!"