Alexander the Great The Making of a Myth

Accompanying the British Library's exhibit, the first ever exhibition on the storytelling around Alexander the Great, the King of Macedon, this book charts the evolution of a legend that continues to captivate audiences today.

Alexander the Great acceded to the throne at the age of 20, as king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. By his death in 323 BC, he had created one of the largest empires in the world—but myth proved more powerful than historical truth, and Alexander’s life remains lost in legend. These stories permeate western and eastern cultures and religions, and have endured for more than 2,000 years.

Even now, Alexander continues to appeal to new generations and his image persists today in film, theatre, literature, and even video games. This book explores the stories that began shortly after Alexander’s mysterious death, and that by the Middle Ages had developed into a narrative of Alexander as the all-conquering hero who fought mythical beasts and explored the unknown using submarines and flying chariots.

The incredible legends of Alexander the Great are brought to life here with exquisite original illustrations in books and manuscripts from around the globe.

Robert Stoneman is the author of many scholarly and trade works in the field of Greek history. Formerly Consultant to the Everyman Library on Classics, he is globally acknowledged as the foremost expert on the myths of Alexander.