Alexander the Great remains a popular subject for academic and general audiences alike. Emerging into a crowded field where making a unique contribution remains a challenge (see particularly H. Bowden, JHS 134 [2014]), this volume provides a comprehensive and readable account of Alexander's legacy over a long period. B. opens with a warning that the reader should expect a ‘story’ rather than a ‘study’, and this is precisely what they get. Rather than focusing on the ‘real’ Alexander as many others strive to do (see J. Davidson, LRB 2001), B. places the Alexander Romance front and centre. The result is a colourful and compact overview of the full extent of Alexander's impact: readers are exposed to his long-lasting and far-reaching ability to inspire the human imagination.
A consciously derivative synopsis of Alexander's reception from his death to the present day, this contribution's key strength is the sheer quantity of material covered. B. begins with a necessary summary of the conventional Graeco-Roman narrative sources, including those now lost, but swiftly moves on to devote more attention to the lesser-known traditions. Alexander Romances of the Middle Ages receive particularly thorough treatment. Western material is often favoured when it comes to the study of Alexander, so it is refreshing to see the individual chapters devoted to the Persian and Indian traditions. B. draws on a wide range of sources including Greek, Coptic, Armenian and Ethiopian texts. Scots and Norse versions of Alexander's exploits also feature – a rare sight in this field.
In addition to the literary and folk traditions, B. displays his expertise as Professor Emeritus of Classical Art and Archaeology at Oxford by including a discussion of the various ways in which Alexander has been visually represented over the centuries. Not limited to the familiar Hellenistic portraits, readers are introduced to Roman vases, Indian medallions, Lebanese mosaics, Persian paintings and early eighteenth-century tapestries from Blenheim Palace. Colourful plates complement this illustration of Alexander's diversity.
B.’s work is primarily aimed at a popular audience, but he hopes that scholars unfamiliar with the full extent of the Alexander tradition may find his work of use. Indeed, he leaves no stone unturned when it comes to a generalist search for references to Alexander: Boris Johnson, the Kardashians and crème de cacao – the ‘Alexander’ cocktail – all feature. A fascinating collection of obiter dicta will surely capture the interest of a varied audience. B. finishes with a nice touch by acknowledging Alexander's role in inspiring travellers throughout the ages, including excerpts from Marco Polo's accounts.
An important component of this volume is its emphasis on the cross-cultural interaction between Alexander's legacy and local traditions. Despite this, there are hints of conservative narratives that many scholars are working to dispel. The claim that Alexander ‘thoroughly achieved’ his goal of dismantling the Achaemenid empire (p. 86) is openly at variance with the current approach of acknowledging the longue durée, continuity and the impact of Persia on the Hellenistic world (e.g. H. Sancisi-Weerdenburg, AchHist I [1987], C. Tuplin, Ancient Greece and Ancient Iran [2008] and especially P. Briant, Kings, Countries, Peoples [2017]). Overall, B. provides an excellent introduction to the multidimensional nature of Alexander's tradition. Non-specialists and those unfamiliar with the Alexander Romance and the impact on the world outside of the Mediterranean will particularly benefit from this volume.
