Philip and Alexander

By: Adrian Goldsworthy

Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards

Length: 20 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

A joint biography that investigates how, during their lifetimes, Philip and Alexander transformed Macedon from a weak kingdom into a globe-spanning empire.

During his short life Alexander the Great carved out an empire stretching from the Balkans to Central India, re-drawing the map of the ancient world. Yet Alexander represents only half of the story, for his success was not just the product of his own genius, restless energy and ambition, but was built on decades of effort by his father. History has portrayed Philip II of Macedon as an old man, one-eyed and limping, whose convenient assassination allowed Alexander the Great to come to power. But there was far more to him than this. Through decades of hard fighting, clever diplomacy and sheer determination, Philip unified his country and conquered Greece.

As authoritative as it is accessible, Philip and Alexander is the latest in a much-praised sequence of essential histories of the ancient world from a master historian.

©2020 Adrian Goldsworthy (P)2020 W F Howes

Riveting, exciting and great supposition

Adrian Goldsworthy has a talent to bring complicated history to life. I thought this book was well researched with a great narrative arc. My old slight admonishment would be Adrian’s representation of Marc Antony during the liberators civil war up to an including Philippi. I feel like this period could have had more detail and really set the stage to explain how and why Antony was the senior man of Rome and showcased his skill in a little more detail along with Octavianus. I think the three years in which Antony was separated from Cleopatra might also have been better defined - that said these are small quibbles and this is a masterly book that captures and transports us back in time - reminding us how different the world may have been but for a few critical moments. Enjoy

As usual, Goldsworthy is great

This was a great book. The history was awesome. Goldsworthy and Edwards do a great job!

Good summary, use of sources explained throughout.

Apropriately taking the time to mention when sources conflict, and why the ones opted for was chosen.