Customer Reviews

The Nature of Alexander

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Mary Renault is best known for her historical fiction, and she is clearly fascinated by Alexander, who was without a doubt the most towering figure of ancient times. Renault scrupulously researched the texts as background for her novels, and the same scholarship is evident in this excellent bio. Starting with the legends that grew up around him in his own lifetime and continue down to this day, Renault explores Alexander not only as a king and a general, but as a man, a figure at once simple and complex, for whom the words doubt and failure simply didn't exist. She takes us through his childhood with his battling parents (what a horror his controlling mother Olympias must have been), his mother's possible role in the murder of Philip, and Alexander's subsequent accession to the throne of Macedon and his campaign to liberate the Greek city-states of Asia from Persian domination. Interestingly, as Renault shows us, Alexander didn't set out to Asia to conquer the known world; it was when he saw the quality of the opposition that he realized he could do a much better job of being Great King than the current title holder.

Renault based most of her biography on Arrian, whose scrupulously level-headed account of Alexander's life and achievements was based on the writings of Ptolemy, who knew Alexander intimately as a friend, a general, and possibly as his half-brother (Philip's philanderings were notorious and Olympias' reaction can be only too easily conjectured). However, whereas Arrian's pro-western bias shows through when he repeatedly refers to the Persians as "foreigners", although it was the Macedonians and their allies who were invading a foreign continent, Renault is free of any such insularity. Where other biographers have excoriated Alexander for "Persianizing", Renault points out that adopting Persian customs was one way of making an alien king seem less foreign to them. (To be fair to Arrian, he himself attributed this honorable motive to Alexander.) Alexander did not share his soldiers' contempt for Persians, both as conquered subjects and as "aliens"; he was clearly drawn to their dignity, their pride in themselves, and their civilized ways which made the Macedonians seem like so many boors. Renault explores in detail some of the more controversial chapters of Alexander's life and reign, such as the murder of Parmenion which followed on the heels of the treachery and execution of his son Philotas (Parmenion's obligation to seek revenge for his son's execution would have splintered the Macedonian army); the killing of the Macedonian general Kleitos in a drunken rage (Renault makes no bones about stating factually that Alexander got drastically drunk on a few occasions, although she stops short of repeating other biographer's accusations that he was an alcoholic), and the torture and execution of the Royal Squires whose plot to kill him as he slept came unraveled when one of them got cold feet. She shows us that manners and morals were not in Alexander's time what they are in ours, and that Alexander must be judged by the times in which he lived.

As difficult as Alexander must have been at times, his army adored him, and his high command stuck with him to the day of his death. Exactly how he died is still in dispute, and Renault explores this at some length. We know from the historical record that the Macedonian regent's son, Cassander, loathed Alexander and the feeling was abundantly mutual, and the specter of possible poisoning has never been dissipated. On the other hand, Renault tells us Alexander deliberately ignored a dangerous illness, and in fact, did everything against his physician's advice to make it worse. As attached as he had been to Hephaistion, Renault suggests that Hephaistion's death some months previously might have sent Alexander over the edge, and like a candle burning at both ends, Alexander simply burnt himself out.

Readers who like factually detailed biographies packed with charts and footnotes should look elsewhere; Renault's biography is notably short on both. Her book is more a character study than a history; we are looking at who Alexander was, not just what he did. Comparing this book to her historical novels about Alexander is comparing apples to oranges, but Renault's genius at bring history to life in her fiction shows through here as well. She sweeps us up into a vivid and turbulent time, and makes us feel how exhilarating it must have been to be a part of Alexander's world.

Last October, I read and reviewed Peter Green's biography of Alexander the Great, ALEXANDER OF MACEDON, 356-323 B.C., to which I gave five stars. It was subsequently suggested to me that Green's book was a "hatchet job", and that I should read Mary Renault's THE NATURE OF ALEXANDER for a more balanced view.

Renault's volume is very readable. In factual substance, it seems to my unscholarly eyes to be pretty much the same as Green's. I certainly didn't learn significantly more about Alexander from the former than the latter, though that portion of Renault's narrative concerning Alexander's death was fleshed out a bit more. Renault, however, strikes me as a much more sympathetic biographer. Whether this adds more truth to her version is, and will remain, indeterminable by me.

In balance, I think I would choose and recommend Green's biography for the simple reason that he includes over a dozen route maps and battle plans that help the reader put Alexander's accomplishments in better perspective. Renault provides none at all, and the absence of such is a significant omission, in my opinion. Alexander led his Macedonians from the north of Greece to the western border of the Indian subcontinent - the edge of his known world - and almost all the way back again. Twenty-five thousand miles in eleven years! It isn't until you see this plotted on a map of the region that the remarkable accomplishment can be appreciated.

THE NATURE OF ALEXANDER reinforced my opinion that Alexander was the greatest military commander of all time and the most charismatic and successful leader of men who's ever lived. At one point, just prior to marching homeward from India, Alexander was gravely wounded by an arrow that penetrated his lung. The rumor spread through the army that he was dead, and he felt it necessary to show himself. Renault quotes Nearchus:

"... he ordered a horse to be fetched him. And when he mounted it ... the whole army clapped their hands repeatedly, and the banks and the river glades threw back the sound. (Near his tent he dismounted), so that the army could see him walking. They all ran to him from every side, some touching his hands, some his knees, some his clothing ..."

What an experience it must have been to march to the ends of the earth with such a King!

How does one begin to understand the nature of one of the most famous figures in world history? What is the reason for the enduring fame of this western conquerer in Asia and the rest of the world? Who is Alexander The Great? Read Mary Renault's The Nature Of Alexander. Mary Renault does more to explain Alexander and the reasons for what he did in her book than all the scholars in their academic works. And she does it very entertainingly too. You'd think you're reading another of her historical romances but this one is true. Anyone who is remotely interested in ancient Greece and Alexander in particular should make this a must-read item in their booklist. This book also comes with a brief chronology of Macedonian kings. The opening chapter of this book is unforgetabble -- it tells of Alexander's death and of how his body was moved to Eygpt. Ms Renault's eye for historical details transports you to the place so much so you feel you're witnessing the incidents yourself. Her canny reading of Alexander's character makes you beleive the often held belief that Ms Renault had somehow transcended time and managed to get in touch with his spirit. Simply brilliant!

In her study of the nature of Alexander the Great, clearly the greatest of generals and conquerors, Mary Renault has contributed a much-needed chapter to the study of the man. Most biographies simply focus on his achievements, while "The Nature of Alexander" has eschewed those facts, largely, to tell of his "nature," what made him do what he did, referring to pitched battles and skirmishes in only the most necessary detail. Other books (like Arrian's work), describe in full detail the battles. Mary Renault has given us what, in my opinion, is much more valuable: insights into the great man's personality. It is clear from this work that Alexander would have achieved greatness in any walk of life. Where it errs is on the side of romanticism. She does, however, an admirable job in presenting his character as free from this as any have ever done. Astounding.

To write a biography of a man who lived so long ago and with hardly any first-hand sources at hand, while so many myths, tell-tales and legends are vivid all over the world, it is every writer's challenge to portray him justly. I have read 5 other biographies of Alexander written by different authors, all of them covering the exact same events such as: capturing of Darius' royal family, Darius' death, execution of Bessus, execusion of Phillotas, each battle, Callethenes's execution, Murder of Cleitus, marriage with Roxane, his Persianizing, prostration, mutinies of his men, crossing of Makran desert, reconciliation with his men, Hephaistion's death, and many more.
It is astonishing to find that, using the same sources (Arrian, Plutarch, Curtis and such), different authors have totally different interpretations and understandings of this great man. Some portray him as a man with ill-will, evil and hopelessly violent dictator, some portray him as an officer-gentleman, others are totally lost, leaving him like a madman with split personality.

While some of these carefully examined works are admirable, I found Mary Renault's portray of Alexander most natural, convincing, fair, and makes most sense. She carefully examines the psychology of this man, at the same time crossexamining his relationship with his men and how these men behaved and acted in each event toward him, and how he treated them. This book is brief, compare to other Alexander biographies I've read, but it is to the point, and very satisfying. It makes you think you can understand him finally. My only reason for giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is more like a shadow of her another excellent book, the Persian Boy, which is much more powerful and vivid. At any rate, this is a very good, level-headed work.

There are authors and historians who are readily attached to a figure of historical value because of their insight into the character, such is the case of Mary Renault and Alexander The Great. No modern author, not even Robin Lane Fox, is so famously mentioned when discussing the written works surrounding the life and times of the greatest conqueror ever to invade a foreign soil. Renault is mostly recognized for her fictional novels about Alexander, especially "The Persian Boy," but it can be argued that her best work is actually her non-fiction biography "The Nature Of Alexander" which stands as one of the best, if not THE best. It is a rich work of language and history, it pulsates with the idea that history is life and life is history. Many authors of recent years, especially Peter Green, have tried to re-write the life of Alexander by slapping him with flaws meant to mirror the ideas and trends of today, but Renault's book rightly judges Alexander based on the ideas and standards of HIS era. She presents him as a brilliant strategist, a thinker who loved poetry and music, bred by powerful, strong-willed parents. Yes, the man had his flaws as we all do, but in "The Nature Of Alexander" he was a visionary who changed the course of human history by attempting to fuse cultures and discover new worlds. Renault writes in incredible detail about the customs of Ancient Greece and Macedonia, she fleshes out the characters with great insight and explores fascinating topics such as the Dionysian cults Alexander's mother, Olympias, indulged in and more importantly, Renault treats these characters as real people, not just names on scrolls, she tries to explore the emotions, feelings and ideas that brought about the described events. Her descriptions of how Alexander's story came down through the ages is fascinating, especially the areas covering the development of the "Alexander Romance" and how even when Greece was conquered by Rome the great names of that period such as Caesar, Marc Antony and Augustus visited the conqueror's famously lost shrine to pay homage. In thrilling detail we read about Judea remembering the Beast With Two Horns who harmlessly passed their way. And of course Renault takes us through the entire campaign of Alexander from Macedon to India, it is a wonderous story of exploration and discovery, philosophy, courage and even religion. "The Nature Of Alexander" is a grand success particularly because it is so enjoyable. Like Robin Lane Fox's book, this does not read like some tired acaedemic work where the writer feels like a tidious, pompous Cassander trying to impress the reader (for that you can read "Alexander Of Macedon" by Peter Green), instead Renault writes like an obsessed lover of the subject, it doesn't feel like a book that was tiresome to write. For avid readers of history this is a gem.

Reading this biography one is confronted by something more than the facts. One is confronted by a presence. Other accounts of Alexander are fixated on the size of his deeds, the length of his march etc. Here we met the man. When I finished this book and placed it down I could still feel a certain warmth. Renault begins with THE NATURE OF ALEXANDER and one gets to see his life as just that- his own existence. She lets him speak. She makes possible an encounter. That is a very rare and wonderful thing.

Make no mistake, this author loved Alexander the Great. The author shows excellent historical knowledge of ancient greek civilization (as her many excellent historical novels will attest) and she presents interesting theories on why Alexander did what he did, from his perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Alexander the Great. This is the third book on Alexander written by Renault, the first being Fire from Heaven on his unknown early life, and the Persian Boy, which covers him up until his death from a eunuch's perspective.

Renault's bio on Alexander the Great reads more like a novel than a dry history of the Macedonian King. Although it may not quench the thirst of fact-hungry readers, it focuses on Alex's achievements and failures while keeping his psychology and personality in the foreground. I still haven't found anything comparable to it!

i suppose my title says pretty much all i want to say. having read both this book and her fictional accounts of alexander's life, it is clear that mary renault captures something more of alexander, and especially the alexander she wants to describe, with her fiction. 'the persian boy' is a much better book about alexander. unlike a lot of alexander's biographers, renault meaningfully conveys alexander's charisma, the sheer physical force of his attraction, the will-to-power that must have been to pull thousands of men thousands of miles from home. renault makes a follower out of me; i'm as ready to follow him to the indus as the macedonian next to me, but she does it oh-so-much better in fiction. nothing wrong with this book, but do not read it without also reading her fictional accounts of alexander's life.