Alexander The Great: A Novel [Paperback]

Nikos Kazantzakis (Author), Theodora Vasils (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Ohio University Press; 1 edition (April 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821406639
• ISBN-13: 978-0821406632
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #905,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alexander the Great, June 7, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Alexander The Great: A Novel (Paperback)

It is an extraordinary book for youngsters which gives both history and adventure. I already knew the biography of Alexander but I wanted it in story-form and this book is the best.I'm glad I didn't have to wait till I'm old enough to read Alexander's story in Mary Renault's version with all the extra spicy bits.(I haven't read it, my dad told me about it). (...)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great adventure immersed in historical fact, January 3, 2007

By 

Emmanuel "Emmanuel" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander The Great: A Novel (Paperback)

Kazantzakis originally wrote this as a series in a literary periodical and was largely aimed at a teenage audience. As the translater notes, Kazantzakis would probably have liked to edit the combined work. Nonetheless this is a fantastic adventure packed - page turning novel which is based on the historical life of Alexander the Great.

This book is ideal for a teenage boy or for an older reader that likes a good adventure story and wants to get an interesting summary of Alexander's exploits.

Kazantzakis takes us through the Alexander's amazing life from his early teenage years to his ultimate death. The story is narrated through the eyes of a young boy of the Macedonian court that ultimately becomes one of Alexander's closest friends.

A teenage boy will find strong positive messages about the possibilities available through commitment to achievement(and learn a bit of history through the process). It's not just Alexander's belief in achieving the unthinkable, the adventures of heading to war and conquering unknown lands that will entrance young (and old) readers. Kazantzakis also tastefully includes small snipets of childhood romance in the life of the young narrator with sensitivity.

The only piece that left me only a little dissapointed was the complete absence of any mention of Roxanne. I thought that Alexander's great romance should have got a mention.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A winner in all aspects, December 6, 2002

By 

Theodoros Giovanni (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander The Great: A Novel (Paperback)

First I would like to mention that I have read all of Kazantzakis's work in Greek, and most of it in English. The translation of this book if very good, and most of the meaning of the original text is properly conveyed. Kazantzakis aspect of Alexander the Great is a Greek's point of view. Nevertheless Kazantzakis, like in all his works (Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation to name but a few) is very critical towards his subject. He is not a writer that writes only about the merits of his characters but also on their weeknesses. Even though the imperialistic aspect of Alexander the Great is a thing few people can imagine as proper nowadays, it was very correct and normal at the time he used to live. Indeed through conquering and slaughtering he brought Greek civilisation to the ends of the known world of his time. A book written in simple language (Kazantzakis idiom language, unfortunately could not be translated) but full of meaning. Two thumbs up.