Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy: A Biography [Paperback]

J M O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415106176 | ISBN-13: 978-0415106177 | Publication Date: October 19, 1994 | Edition: Reprint

Despite Alexander the Great's unprecedented accomplishments, during the last seven years of his life, this indomitable warrior became increasingly unpredictable, sporadically violent, megalomaniacal, and suspicious of friends as well as enemies. What could have caused such a lamentable transformation?
This biography seeks to answer that question by assessing the role of alcohol in Alexander the Great's life, using the figure of Dionysus as a symbol of its destructive effects on his psyche. The unique methodology employed in this book explores various aspects of Alexander's life while maintaining an historical framework. The exposition of the main theme is handled in such a way that the biography will appeal to general readers as well as scholars.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Alexander's story is compelling to lay audiences and scholars alike, with the pathos of an authentic Aristotelian tragedy. O'Brien writes with understanding and empathy, yet with resolute acceptance of the evidence.
–Minneapolis Star Tribune

Since the author maintains a consistent position of respectful belief in Greek mythology, as well as an immense knowledge of ancient Greek literature and history, we have a book that could indeed have been written 2,000 years ago. You don't often get a chance to read a book like this.
–The St. Louis Dispatch

This is a most interesting and valuable biography, not least because it provides such an extensive Materialsammlung on Alexander as a human being.
–Ernst A. Fredricksmeyer, University of Colorado

Suitable for a modern age . . . fair and balanced . . . The bibliography is the most complete ever assembled on modern Alexander scholarship and will prove useful to students and scholars alike.
–Choice

What happened to Alexander? O'Brien's answer is mesmerizing . . . he brings to the tale a sense of fatalism that Euripides would understand.
–Paul A. Gilster, The News and Observer

About the Author

John Maxwell O'Brien is Professor of History at Queen's College, City University of New York. His publications on the excessive drinking of Alexander the Great have attracted worldwide attention in scholarly journals and the press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; Reprint edition (October 19, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415106176
• ISBN-13: 978-0415106177
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > History > Europe > Macedonia
  • #23 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( A ) > Alexander the Great

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars O'Brien's Book is really great, January 12, 2005

By 

Dustin "Dustin" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy: A Biography (Paperback)

I had the opportunity to be a student in Professor O'Brien's Alexander the Great class at Queens college. He was so knowlegdeable and eloquent in that class, his book is also a really well-rounded inquiry to Alexander. In his book, aside from his on take on Alexander, O'Brien reveals many of the differing characterizations that other leading historians such as Peter Green, Mary Renault, Robin Lane Fox, etc. attribute to Alexander. I have read a bunch of Alexander biographies, however, O'Brien's is one of the more well-rounded. Plus, he gives his own interesting opinion on the role alcohol played in Alexander's life and death. This book is excellent for someone who is a serious historian or history student, but it is also written clear enough that you don't have to be one of the latter in order to understand it. I recommmend this book, because the fair balance O'Brien gives to the debate over Alexander's mysterious and multi-faced personality.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Curious?????, January 4, 2007

By 

LadyArmand (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy: A Biography (Paperback)

What on earth is a "reluctant heterosexual"? From what I know of ancient Greek history, there was no such term as homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual. It is only modern historians who feel the overwhelming need to add labels, and usually the label that best suits their own sexuality. If a "hero" is considered heterosexual then their exploits with the opposite sex are essential to their character and to understanding them. Can you imagine a historian recounting the life of Marc Antony or Julius Caesar for that matter without mentioning Cleopatra or a history of Napoleon without Josephine? And yet here we have another historian placing another annoying tag. And one that doesn't make much sense.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Surely carefully researched, but ..., December 3, 2004

By 

Zoltan Carnovasch (Bavaria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy: A Biography (Paperback)

... the chapter on Alexander's sexuality was a little bit strange. The author comes up with quite some proof that Alexander loved his own sex more than the opposite one only to conclude in the last two paragraphs that since Alexander eventually married to produce heirs (a point the author stresses) he possibly was just a "reluctant heterosexual".

I think it's a really difficult situation when biographers are influenced by their restrictive notions of human sexuality while writing about such difficult subjects. A man doesn't have to be (exclusively) heterosexual to be able to have sex with women! It's whom one really loves that counts.

And I think it's quite appaling that the heterosexuality of historical or mythical figures is always praised or not questioned while their homosexuality is either ignored, denied or heavily questioned. To have role models free of contemporary stereotypes such as Alexander the Great (or Richard Lionhart or Achilles and Patroclus) for their sexuality could make all the difference to gay youth.

Otherwise this is an interesting biography looking into some other personal aspects which are often neglected over the battle homo vs. hetero or the image of Alexander as a spotless hero.