John Boardman is one of the world’s leading authorities on ancient Greece, and his acclaimed books command a broad readership. In this book, he looks beyond the life of Alexander the Great in order to examine the astonishing range of Alexanders created by generations of authors, historians, and artists throughout the world—from Scotland to China.
Alexander’s defeat of the Persian Empire in 331 BC captured the popular imagination, inspiring an endless series of stories and representations that emerged shortly after his death and continues today. An art historian and archaeologist, Boardman draws on his deep knowledge of Alexander and the ancient world to reflect on the most interesting and emblematic depictions of this towering historical figure.
Some of the stories in this book relate to historical events associated with Alexander’s military career and some to the fantasy that has been woven around him, and Boardman relates each with his customary verve and erudition. From Alexander’s biographers in ancient Greece to the illustrated Alexander “Romances” of the Middle Ages to operas, films, and even modern cartoons, this generously illustrated volume takes readers on a fascinating cultural journey as it delivers a perfect pairing of subject and author.
John Boardman is a Fellow of the British Academy and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford’s Beazley Archive. He is Professor Emeritus of Classical Art and Archaeology at Lincoln College, Oxford, and former Assistant Keeper at the Ashmolean Museum. His many books include The Greeks Overseas, The History of Greek Vases, and The Greeks in Asia.
"A vivid survey."—Times Higher Education
"Boardman’s affection for his subject shines . . . . [Alexander the Great] will entertain and instruct both scholars and the wider public . . . . [Boardman’s] extensive knowledge of ancient literature and even more especially art, ranging far beyond the narrow confines of the classical world, remains unrivalled."—Lucilla Burn, Art Newspaper
"This delightful book will encourage you to take another look [at Alexander the Great]."—Michael Fallon, Classics for All
"The strength of the work is its rich collection of illustrations of art based on the Alexander Romance. "—S. M. Burstein, Choice Reviews
"[An] engaging study of the evolution of Alexander the Great mythos from antiquity down to the present day through art, literature, music, and film. . . . Alexander the Great: From his Death to the Present Day is a delightful read and has much to offer to anyone interested in the story of Alexander."—Timothy Howe, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Boardman produces an engaging book able to open up the doors of a scholar’s studio and to give a sense of the innumerable shapes assumed by Alexander over time – and proving once again how very much alive he has been for the past twenty-three centuries and still is today."—Claudia Daniotti, International Journal of the Classical Tradition
“Boardman relates and confronts, with his usual genial acuity, the ‘traditions’ of Alexander head-on, exploiting and displaying to the full his unrivaled expertise in the cross-cultural melding of post-Alexander visual-artistic currents. He takes his story down well beyond antiquity too, providing something for a wide potential non-classicist readership to get their teeth into.”—Paul Cartledge, A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture Emeritus, University of Cambridge
"Written by a supremely knowledgeable guide, this is a remarkable survey of fascinating lore and legend about Alexander the Great. Whether in Hades or the Blessed Isles, Alexander will surely smile as he reads this tribute to his memory.”—Adrienne Mayor, author of The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient World
“A delightful personal exploration of a vast subject, this is a book for everyone who is interested in antiquity and its legacy.”—Richard Stoneman, author of The Book of Alexander the Great
