Customer Reviews

Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy: A Biography

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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.

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.

... 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.

I find this book fascinating, full of interesting facts and references. A great reading for someone who is curious to find out more about the phenomenon we call Alexander the Great.

This particular book is full of references from ancient greek literature quoted to illustrate various aspects of Alexander the Great's life. It has the most complete bibliography on Alexander and students will find it is a must buy for that feature alone. The author concentrates on the deterioration of Alexander from alcohol and his parallel life with the god of wine Dionysus. Very unusual indeed...