Open Road Media
Featuring: Queen Olympias; King Philip; Alexander
385 pages ISBN: 1480432873 EAN: 9781480432871 Kindle: B00DCGJ6Z4 Paperback / e-Book (reprint) Add to Wish List
The story of Alexander the Great's early years, from his
childhood in Macedonia through such periods as his tutoring
by Aristotle and his first battles FIRE FROM HEAVEN is a
fascinating
and thoroughly researched historical novel.
Starting with
Alexander's early childhood, being raised until the age of
seven by his mother Olympias and father King Philip of
Macedonia, it shows the youngster's precociousness and
intelligence along with the early appearance of his ability
to emphasise with and charm his troops. From there through
his tutoring by the Greek philosopher Aristotle and on to
his first battles and the courage and leadership he shows,
the book continues to evoke the culture of ancient Greece,
including social and sexual relationships modern society
would find very strange.
Although little is known about the
early Alexander, the book gives a very convincing tale of
how one of the greatest leaders in history was partly
formed by his upbringing. The characters of his mother and
father are explored and his relationship with his boyhood
friend, later to be one of his generals, Hephaiston is also
covered, with Renault showing how close they were by using
the account of the Roman writer Arrian of how on
Hephaistons death Alexander had his doctor, Glaucias,
executed for his lack of care.
FIRE FROM HEAVEN is a thoroughly engrossing read
about one of the most famous figures in history, highly
recommended.
Alexander’s beauty, strength, and defiance were apparent
from birth, but his boyhood honed those gifts into the
makings of a king. His mother, Olympias, and his father,
King Philip of Macedon, fought each other for their son’s
loyalty, teaching Alexander politics and vengeance from the
cradle. His love for the youth Hephaistion taught him trust,
while Aristotle’s tutoring provoked his mind and Homer’s
Iliad fueled his aspirations. Killing his first man in
battle at the age of twelve, he became regent at sixteen and
commander of Macedon’s cavalry at eighteen, so that by the
time his father was murdered, Alexander’s skills had grown
to match his fiery ambition.
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