We have similar tastes, and so i picked up the virtues of war. A novel of alexander the great audible audio edition. The author clearly did his research and uses accurate details to form a fascinating picture of life around 320bc. Steven pressfield, author of the legend of bagger vance, has won international success with his wellresearched novels set in ancient greece.
Pressfield played on sun tzus title in his 2002 takecontrolofyourlife manual, the war of art, he goes right to the heart of the matter in virtues. In the brilliantly imagined firstperson voice of alexander the great, acclaimed novelist steven pressfield brings to life his epic battles, his unerring command of his forces, and the passions and ambitions that drove him. Alexander, depicted by pressfield, is a character i have never read about. The short version is, i took quite a dislike to alexander as here portrayed he wasnt a herofigure for me. In the light of the current world environment, you need to read this book. Alexander the great is undeniably one of the greatest generals who ever lived, and. It is an essential book for anyone who cares about ancient warfare. The virtues of war a novel of alexander pressfield.
Of the three pressfield books i have read virtues of war would be my third choice. I thought, from an alexander novel, what i want is a hero figure. The virtues of war the virtues of war audiobook, by steven pressfield. He fought his greatest battles, including the conquest of. A novel of alexander the great by steven pressfield online at alibris. However, as he states in the introduction, hes also able to take liberties with the facts and put battles and speeches in the order which makes the best. Gates of fire offers a deeper appreciation of ancient culture, and killing rommel examines the strength of a generation thrust into war. A novel of alexander the great by steven pressfield 2005, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
A fullblooded, multidimensional portrait, the virtues of war captures alexanders complex character. Detail from the mosaic of alexander the great at the battle of issus, 333 b. Pressfield helps you to understand what the unprecidented feats of alexander the great felt like from within his shoes. I think his thinking is summarized in the following quotation from the book in which alexander reflects on the battle of hydaspes, his last major victory. A novel of alexander the great this is the life story of alexander as narrated by him at various stages of his life. Whether surviving his fathers brutal assassination, presiding over a massacre, or weeping at the death of a beloved comradeinarms, alexander never denies the hard realities of the code by which he lives. The virtues of war uses a risky authorial strategy, presenting the military exploits of alexander the great from his own perspective. So vividly is alexander written, and so accurate his personality of a. He trains from a very young age to become a warrior prince at age eighteen commanding his first battalion of cavalry against the theban elite forces at the battle of chaeronea. Pressfield is a singular writer, and this is on offer in his ability to make alexander, a historical figure so remote as to be deified, a sympathetic character who resonate virtues of war is what its title suggests, a treatise on the personality characteristics and decision making process of great warriors.
Steven pressfield alexander the great 356 to 323 b. Pressfield has uniquely embedded himself into the personality of alexander the great in the virtues of war, lifting alexander fully to life. Alexander the great ancient conqueror, modern devotees. By turns heroic and calculating, compassionate and utterly merciless, alexander recounts with a warriors unflinching eye for detail. The current alexander fad is likely to reveal little of news value about alexander and a great deal more about. A novel of alexander the great kindle edition by steven pressfield author. Think of the albums of bob dylan or the novels of philip roth. The virtues of war is destined to become a classic of historical. This novel brings alive a few pivotal moments in such a manner its to. His fifth book, the virtues of war, presents alexander the greats autobiography, which the general delivers orally to his young brotherinlaw. Thus, the masterful macedonian leader is rendered in all his intense, obsessive brilliance.
The virtues of war is a 2004 historical fiction novel by steven pressfield that follows the life of alexander the great, told through the eyes of a hellenicpersian. A novel of alexander the great audiobook by steven pressfield. Ashbrook programs programs for citizens book of the week the virtues of war. A novel of alexander the great ebook written by steven pressfield. Alexander the virtues of war by steven pressfield abebooks. A novel of alexander the great paperback sep 27 2005 by steven pressfield author. The virtue of war as seen from his perspective is that it gives men a sense of purpose and a goal to work toward. Filled with meticulously researched details and told from the point of view of alexander the great himself, the virtues of war is a novel as intensely gripping as bulletins from the battlefield and as intimately revealing as a private diary. Alexanders conquests have almost reached their extremity and his army is showing signs. I found myself wandering the web looking for maps of alexanders conquests. It is, in the guise of narrative fiction, an instruction manual for leaders of troops, and is incredibly effective at what it does.
The virtues of war is the perfect mix of fact and fiction to make a good book. The genesis of this book was two sentences that popped into my head and wouldnt let me go. The virtues of war by steven pressfield 2004, hardcover. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Throughout are the thoughts, feelings, fears and doubts of alexander wound together with the virtues to create a story. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the authors best ideas. Virtues of war is what its title suggests, a treatise on the personality characteristics and decision making process of great warriors. This is written in a more novel style, very much like freemans later work. The virtues of war audiobook, by steven pressfield. In alexanders own words he was driven by the constant pursuit of glory. Steven pressfield a historical novel chronicling the life of alexander the great follows the powerful leader from his rise to the throne of macedon at the age of twenty, to his conquest of much of the known world, to. This work is a narrative, alexander telling the history of his battles to his brotherinlaw itanes, a brother of alexanders bride roxanne. Another book that looks at the complexities of alexander and the totality of his humanity, from warrior to deep thinker.
So begins alexanders extraordinary confession on the eve of his greatest crisis of leadership. The virtues of war a novel of alexander pressfield steven. A novel of alexander the great steven pressfield download bok. A novel of alexander the great from the worlds largest community of readers. A novel of alexander the great paperback september 27, 2005 by steven pressfield author. A novel of alexander the great by pressfield, steven book the virtues of war. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the virtues of war. Read pressfields the virtues of war taste the blood in your mouth, and feel the dynamis will ro fight in your heart.
By turns heroic and calculating, compassionate and utterly merciless, alexander recounts with a warriors unflinching eye for detail the blood, the terror, and the tactics of his greatest battlefield victories. A novel of alexander the great a cavalrymans horse should be smarter than he is. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. A novel of alexander the great has 5 available editions to. A novel of alexander the great by pressfield, steven, langton, james from amazons fiction books store. Let me speak instead to the significance of the fight.
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