Alexander: The Sands of Ammon [Paperback]

Valerio Massimo Manfredi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Alexander | Publication Date: March 5, 2002

. THE BESTSELLING EPIC OF THE GLORY AND THE GRANDEUR INTRIGUES AND PASSIONS OF ANCIENT GREECE...AND THE WARRIOR KING WHOSE CONQUESTS BUILT AN ETERNAL LEGEND.

ALEXANDER Volume II: THE SANDS OF AMMON

A thousand years after Agamemnon fought the Trojan War. Alexander, the king of Macedonia and descendant of Achilles, follows in the footsteps of Greek legend . He has gathered a mighty force to liberate the Greek cities of Asia -- from legendary Sardis and Miletus to Halicarnassus. But vengeance is just one of Alexander's ambitions.

Great oracles and loyal followers claim Alexander is more than mortal -- a powerful warrior, and insatiable scholar, a political genius. Yet,in battle after battle, one man blocks his way. Memnon of Rhodes, a Greek-born mercenary chosen by the Persian Great King to lead his vast army, is a cunning strategist who challenged Alexander's claim to the title of Lord of Asia. In Memnon, Alexander confronts an enemy who inspires his admiration. And in Memnon's wife, Barsine, he finds a woman who captures his heart. But neither bravery nor love can stem the tide of Alexander's destiny. For with Persia defeated, Alexander's thoughts turn to Egypt and beyond....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Manfredi (Alexander: Child of a Dream) turns his attention to the Persian campaign of Alexander the Great in the second novel of his epic sequence, focusing on the memorable series of battles between Alexander and a rival mercenary general, Memnon of Rhodes. Duplicity is the order of the day as the fight begins, with Memnon engaging in some well-engineered surprise maneuvers, attacks and ambushes that initially set the great conqueror back on his heels. Alexander knows his superior troops will ultimately carry the day, but even as he sets those forces in motion he can't help admiring the courage of his rival, who denounces the conqueror's greedy, expansionist ways. Memnon's sudden death from a mysterious illness is an anticlimactic end to their battles, but Manfredi hustles Alexander into his next challenge as the conqueror claims Memnon's beautiful wife, Barsine, then faces off with Tyrian naval forces as they attempt to block his passage into Egypt. Manfredi balances the action and characterization that brings both Alexander and Memnon to life, although the style tends to be somewhat generic and it is a letdown to see him gloss over many of the personality foibles that led to Alexander's downfall. Still, readers eager to learn more about one of history's most memorable military campaigns will find much to love in this portrait of a leader who literally changed the map of the world.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dr. Valerio Massimo Manfredi is an Italian historian, archaeologist, and journalist. The professor of archaeology in the "Luigi Bocconi" University in Milan and a familiar face on European television, he has published a number of scientific articles and essays as well as thirteen novels, including the Alexander trilogy and The Last Legion. Alexander was published in thirty-six languages in fifty-five countries and was sold for a major film production in the U.S., and The Last Legion is soon to be a major motion picture starring Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley. Dr. Manfredi is married with two children and lives in a small town near Bologna.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Washington Square Press; Original edition (March 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743434374
• ISBN-13: 978-0743434379
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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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 Alexander Grows Up, April 3, 2002

By 

Sonny Singh (Lake Forest, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander: The Sands of Ammon (Paperback)

I am about half way through reading the last of the three books in the "Alexander" trilogy. "The Sands of Ammon" delves deeper into Alexander's journey to conquer the world and we are taken from Macedonia to the gates of the Persian Empire. Unfortunately, I have to say, the second book, while an integral part of the series, was not as interesting as the first book, "Alexander: Child of a Dream". I admit at times some of the writing was corny, particularly the cheesy "love scenes". In any case, the book is still fairly enjoyable, and if you are like me and plan to read all three books, this is a must. I found Alexander's nemesis Memnon of Rhodes an interesting character in the book and I wish the author spent more time developing his character. All I know is Alexander sure had his fair share of the local women (and boys for that matter) which he conquered as well.

Regardless of some of the cheesy writings, the book still does manage to get deep into the mind of Alexander and his fellow Macedonian soldiers. I feel I dont have too much to write about since I am almost finished with the third book, which as a teaser (sorry, you will have to wait for the review) is far more interesting and tends to close the loop on this adventure. Enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Second in the Series, September 9, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander: The Sands of Ammon (Paperback)

Few authors can be better equipped to write about the history of ancient Greece and Rome than Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Professor of archaeology at the university of Milan, he has carried out many excavations and expeditions in the Mediterranean region. He has produced many factual books on historical matters, mainly military and has still found the time to write several novels and this is one of the best of them.

This book is the second of a triology about probably the greatest warrior and general who has ever lived, bearing in mind that Alexander died at an age when most men are only just starting to make their mark in life. Alexander is of course one of histories most colourful and well know character. Even people with little or not interest in ancient history will have heard of Alexander, a charismatic and larger than life figure.

In this second novel the author turns his attention to Alexander's Persian campaigns focussing on the battles between Alexander's forces and the rival general Memnon of Rhodes. Alexander knows in his heart that his superior troops will carry the battle but he can't help feeling admiration for his opponents courage.

The sudden death of Memnon from a mystery illness makes for an anticlimactic end to their battles but allows the conqueror to claim Barsine, the beautiful wife of Memnon. Alexander's next challenge is to face the Tyrian navy as they attempt to block his advance into Egypt . . .

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Alexander's conquest continues, April 3, 2005

By 

Dan "Longsword" (USA, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander: The Sands of Ammon (Paperback)

The series Alexander fictionally chronicles the life of Alexander the Great. The author uses the historical basis of Alexander's exceptional life to create a realistic and enthralling narrative of the life of one of the world's greatest conquerors. By interweaving historical fact, educated opinion, and the author's own vivid imagination, the reign of Alexander the Great is brought to life with compelling realism.

The novels engage the reader and powerfully recreate the world of Alexander, in much the same way as Robert Graves manages in I, Claudius. The series is remarkable in that it so completely and unnoticeably infuses the narrative of Alexander's life with ubiquitous references to historical events and practices. The reader is never left wondering at the plausibility of the plot or doubting the veracity of the historical content. The author has managed to build so naturally and believably the world and culture of the time that the novel can be read like a history or as a straight forward narrative.

This series offers another perspective to the teaching of history but is enjoyable also simply for the engaging storyline. Extremely well written, the series powerfully recreates the life of Alexander the Great of Macedon and will immerse the reader in this ancient period.