Ancient History Books

Rationalist modern paradigms of philosophy relegated the figure of Iamblichus of Chalcis to a footnote in the history of philosophy, a decadent thinker who tried to justify the old pagan cult with complicated and muddled justifications vaguely based on Platonic doctrine. Gregory Shaw shows persuasively that Iamblichus in his own time was a towering intellectual figure who drew out and developed his doctrine from the writings of the Divine Plato himself, the Pythagorean teachings, and the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians and Chaldeans. Central to his theology was the idea that the soul has fallen completely into the body, and that man must use the symbols in the cosmos, the sunthemata, to climb back up to the One, the source of all goodness. Ritual and magic, then, become highly philosophical, and philosophy itself becomes a ritual, a purification and illumination that will lead the soul back to its divine origins.

As a Christian, I see how these ideas effected the Church as it developed its ideas of the sacraments, the veneration of relics and the saints, among other things. It can be said (and Shaw insinuates) that it is the apostolic Christian churches (Catholic and Orthodox) that carry on Iamblichus' legacy to this day in the form of an incarnate theology where "theurgy" affected and was transformed into "liturgy" in the Christian mind, mainly through the help of Pseudo-Dionysius.

This book then is a necessary read not just for students of paganism and ancient philosophy, but also for traditional Christians who want to know how paganism has helped form what we believe about divinity. This is a book that you will have to read more than once, and you will return to it over and over again to find new openings into understanding.

This is an amazingly excellent introduction to the life and teaching of the 4th century Syrian mystic Iamblichus. Anyone interested in the spiritual science behind ritual magic and divination will find a treasure trove of insight here.

An excellent companion to Plotinus. The author, Mr. Shaw has a firm grasp of Platonic principles of Proodos (emanationism, the 'religion' of Platonism) unlike many other trash books I own authored by existentialists writting upon Platonism from the perspective of their nihilistic and atomistic minds. Without extentive description, might I say I praise LITTLE in the way of books on Neoplatonism, and I own all such books, and this book is top 10 among them all.

While Plotinus has been read and written about fairly early, it took a long time before the later Neoplatonists were studied seriously. The main reason was the disrespect expressed by many important scholars - notably E. R. Dodds and A.-J. Festugiere - about theurgy, which was routinely identified with magic and 'puerile superstition'. Fortunately, figures like H.-D. Saffrey (a pupil of Dodds and Festugiere) and J. Trouillard favored a more sympathetic approach to the subject, and they paved the way for a new generation of scholars, among them G. Shaw, the author of this remarkable book. It is a crucial work, because one's understanding of philosophers like Iamblichus and Proclus is unthinkable without a good enough grasp of theurgy; in that regard, the book is at once erudite and reader-friendly. Shaw emphasizes Iamblichus' traditionalism: far from being an eccentric innovation, theurgy is described as an effort to bring the Platonic tradition closer to Plato himself (and Pythagoras) and away from the radical dualism of the Gnostics. The book makes clear that adherence to theurgy implies a worldview whose consideration of the sensible world is deeply imbeted to the overall optimism of Plato's Timaeus; that dialogue's demiurgic cosmogony is also vital for the theurgic rites. In short, this is an essential book for those who are interested in Iamblichus and the later Neoplatonists.

An extraordinary work on Iamblichus, making clear that Iamblichus' aim was to reconnect Sould and World, with fascinating remarks about theurgy and therapy

This is by far the most readable and enjoyable of the several translations of Lucretius that I have read. Humphries was a poet, and it shows. He has captured the ideas of Lucretius and expressed them in vivid English.

I can only second the opinions presented here. This is great poetry and great philosophy. Lucretius is truly amazing in his presentation of science, much of it the foundations of today's; he was the first and remains the best of popular science writers. The translation is dazzling. For once we are not reading to get an approximation of the original author's intentions, but for sheer excitement. This book should restore faith in the vital interplay of ancient and modern culture and dispel the myth of dualism between art and science.

Lovers of quality literature should be grateful that Rolfe Humphries, finest Latin-English translator to ever live, employed his formidable talents in a translation of the monumental De Rerum Natura. The poem itself is an undisputed masterpiece, a philosophical tour de force that has influenced writers across 2000 years of time, from Vergil to Robert Frost. Yet Lucretius is most often translated into prose, causing De Rerum Natura to be viewed as more philosophy than poetry. Humphries' fine translation not only breathes fresh life into a great work, but also reminds us that, though he was a didactic Epicurean philosopher, Titus Lucretius Carus was, first and foremost, a poet. Apart from reading the Latin, there is no better way to experience De Rerum Natura than through Humphries' rendering.

I ordered this with some trepidation: Lucretius was difficult enough to understand in prose, never mind poetry. It turns out that this translation is the CLEAREST and MOST READABLE Lucretius I have ever seen. Lucretius is an author I read regularly. He has accomnpanied me through my life for years. This is now the translation which I will turn to. This is a book to study, memorize sections from, enjoy, and be dazzled by. I want to thank the author for his evident love for the material to turn out such an excellent translation.

A number of other English translations, in prose or verse, have emerged since this book was first published in 1968. While most have their good points, this one stands out for its clarity, unforced feel, and the sheer beauty of its poetry. (It doesn't hurt that it is reasonably priced!) In this Lucretius, the poet and philosopher are inextricably mixed and cannot be put asunder.

The naturalistic view of a beautiful but cold, and unfeeling universe is limned brilliantly and passionately. The gods appear, but only as a literary conceit, or as a faint concession to the possibility of higher realms of being. We are left "all alone", but not "all afraid". The light of understanding banishes dark terrors: Nothing; no horrors await us in death. Our lives here remain what we make them. Far from leading to nihilism and despair, this knowledge renews our sense of purpose. Play your part well; there is no second act.

I can only hint at the excitement that awaits the interested reader within these pages. If anything written here has failed to convey the pleasure of this book, or has proven off-putting, then I apologize. "Tole et lege!"

THIS IS A GOOD BOOK ON ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HISTORY WITH VERY GOOD PICTURES! KIDS & ADULTS CAN LEARN AND ENJOY A LOT FROM READING THIS BOOK AND LOOKING AT THE PRETTY PICTURES.

This book is all you'd expect for a book from a Time-Life series. The price and shipping are a fraction of what Time-Life sells it for.

Non-fiction. A small book loaded with interesting facts and color photographs. Gives a great introduction to ancient Egypt. Many anecdotes including for example how they communicated with dead family members to have them help with problems, which I've seen no where else. This book could be read by an intelligent child, but is worthwhile for adults wanting to get more information about ancient Egypt. Great photographs on every page. A classic, and not just for children despite the size and shape of it. (FYI the cover shows King Tutankhamun seated and his wife standing, it was the backrest of his throne and one of the most stunning pieces of artwork imaginable.)

This book is not meant to provide a detailed history of ancient Egypt. Rather, it is meant to breathe life into that history. The book show snips of life (musical entertainment, feasts, marriage and courtship, crafts, etc) that most history books gloss over. It is richly illustrated in vivid color photography so that there are examples of almost everything discussed. It also provides a wonderful timeline that you can reference while reading. It's certainly not the only book you'll want to read in learning about ancient Egypt, but it is definitely to be included. Something like this went out of print? Grab one before they're all gone.

"Interwoven throughout, these stories are the intimate details of daily life- what people ate, wore, and thought about life, love, and the afterlife." A persuading address to my grandson Nuni, from the back cover.




Hail to thee, O Nile!
Who manifests thyself over this land, and comes to give life to Egypt!
O Nile, come and prosper!
O you who make men live through his flocks and those through his orchards!
Like a giant Anaconda, the world's longest river, the Nile, slides through some of the most arid deserts on earth to engulf a rather narrow fertile valley, which extends for a thousand miles from the cataracts south of Aswan into the delta on the Mediterranean sea in the north. Hapi, the Nile God was believed to have been the trigger to this great early civilizations in history, as Herodotus had written, "Egypt is the gift of the Nile." The Nile has been a faithful provider to the earliest known civilized nations, and a central core to its thought and religion.

Ancient Egyptian Life:
Daily life in ancient Egypt revolved around the Nile and the land along its banks, it divided the land of the living and those of the dead on its west banks. The yearly river flood enriched the soil and brought good harvests and wealth to the land. Most ancient Egyptians worked as farmers, craftsmen and scribes. The pharaoh with a small group of people were the priests and nobles. Together, these groups of people made up the population of ancient Egypt, that survived for more than two millennia.

A Time-Life Classic:
Based on interwoven notes from scholarly works of Egyptologists, amazing artifacts in museums, writings by discoverers and archeologists. When Champolion deciphered hieroglyphics, he made available history, stories, as well as written prayers to recount what life was like in the land of temples, Pyramids, obelisks and the Sphynx. Accounts of pharaohs, wise priests and scribes, warriors, and common people alike are narrated, with emphasis on the role of women, which distinguishes Ancient Egyptians from all other peoples, who lived in their surroundings.
This meticulously prepared, and beautifully displayed book brought about by the time-Life research tank provides an in depth panorama of the amazing ancient Egyptian symphony, with basic information about the pyramids, mummification, social life, work and religion. Also delving into the life of famous Egyptian royalty, including Akhenaton and Ramses. Ancient Egyptians whose stories are told, with full color photos, showing statues, sculpture, and portraits of their artifacts exposes their lives. The text is friendly, reconstructing in readers imaginations the past as its own participants has recorded. The real enjoyment of this book will be shared by civilization explorers and ancient history teachers.

Reviewers Opinion:
"A fascinating volume that can't help but make readers wonder if human emotions will survive as well on paper and e-mail as these amazing messages have done in clay and stone." Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library

Each poem of Stonehouse is a meditation in itself, each seeming as lines written after a satori while sitting on his mountain-side. Here was a true Nirmanakaya of Zen, no attachment, all needs provided by chance.

Red Pine's notes can be helpful, but don't worry about them unless you have a question about what you just read. Otherwise, reading the poem then referring to the notes may cause you to be distracted from the insight Stonehouse is attempting to relay to you.

I finally have my copy of this wonderful volume. Why do I say that? I first ordered the book new on Amazon in August 2005, with a note saying 2-4 week delivery. After monthly alterations in delivery dates, Amazon unilaterally cancelled the order in January 2006. So I ordered again. Again, monthy alterations in projected delivery date. So I looked into the matter. Turns out other companies cannot supply the book. Even the publisher has no copies. This realized, I ordered a used book from an individual listing on Amazon, at a reasonable price, and finally have this valuable document in June 2006.

This is not a review, just wanted you to know that the Editorial Review listed for this book "The Zen Works of Stonehouse: Poems and Talks of a Fourteenth-Century Chinese Hermit",
is for a completely different book... thought you'd want to know & couldn't find any other way to tell you.

Another great treasure of poems translated by Bill Porter. I believe this could be the best of the lot. These poems are tough, gentle & uncomprimising. I've gone through them several times always at ease and also alert.They truly come from the void, the Tao, whatever that is or isn't. Like notes from shakuhachi: soft ,dim slow quick, sloping, climbing. This man was a teacher of many and yet also a true recluse shutting or opening his brushwood door. I have read many poets from this period and used to wonder why Stonehouse was somehow considered one of the very best. On successive viewings their depth and clarity really begin to show them selves in comparison to some others. This ,of course, explains such an opinion

I don't think I can adequately express my love for this book, so I will just tell a little about the contents. Stonehouse is the English translated name of the Chinese Ch'an (Zen) poet Ch'ing-hung who retired early from being a temple abbot (he pleaded old age) so he could return to his beloved mountain retreat and live a peaceful, reflective life in nature. This great Zen monk whose medium of instruction was poetry also gave brief but potent Zen talks which are included here. Burton Watson's commendation on the back cover is correct about Pine's translation of the poems, noting that "...Red Pine has devised and unusual translation style that not only captures much of the flavor of the Chinese originals, but at the same time works splendidly as English." Yes, so splendidly that in reading a few to a friend, she began weeping. As if Red Pine carries in his chest the heart of the original poet, he expresses each poem sensitively and perfectly into English for us.

Here's what else I love about Red Pine's works: he has thoughtfully accompanied every poem with notes explaining contexts, references, and doctrinal backgrounds. The poetry carries you back to a beautiful wilderness in fourteenth century China and awakening a love for simplicity, return to nature, and Zen mind. Six pages of introduction to the monk provide very good backdrop for his poems. This volume contains three parts:
Book One: Mountain Poems
Book Two: Gathas
Book Three: Zen Talks
I read excerpts of Stonehouse for an incense game called Kodo, and a Zen monk attending exclaimed, each one is like a meditation!

From the books of Zen I've read, it always seemed to me that only the ancient writers have had the most impact. See if you will agree by reading this insightful book. It also includes a fascinating biography of this humble man.

A very important book ! If the greatest mind in the history of Western Civilation (i.e. St Thomas Aquinas) read it every day and always had it with him what more needs to be said ?

. . .is known for its critical editions of Patristic and Early Medieval writings. Again the series trumps with the addition of this title.

"The Conferences" of John Cassian are perhaps some of the most powerful commentaries on the eremetical, monastic, and spiritual ways of life ever written -- and they are all too often left unappreciated in today's world. This was not always the case. The great saints, monastics and mystics of the medieval period read and respected this work extremely highly.

The "Conferences", set up as though Cassian was in dialogue with the great hermits of his day (and in some cases, perhaps he actually was) deal with the various issues, choices, and crises which beset all Christians -- not merely those to whom the grace of the religious life has been given.

This is a book to be digested slowly, one "conference" at a time and to be meditated upon -- not to be rushed through.

Highly recommended.

Of all my books, this is my most important - the one I keep by my bed just to open up and read. It is filled with post-it tabs.

I agree with all said in other reviews. But for me, it is not the sort of book one reads cover to cover. It is a source for spiritual nourishment, guidance and encouragement on an as needed basis.

This is the complete text of all 24 of John Cassian's Conferences, some of which are translated for the very first time. This text could be, and indeed was, considered the advanced text on living the Christian life. While the stories of the desert fathers may sound daunting, their thoughts, as transmitted (and certainly adapted) by John Cassian are surprisingly honest, refreshing, and inspirational. These were people who truly sought, and knew God. As Cassian writes in the preface, we can criticize them as being too extreme, but the evidence of their lives testifies on their behalf. Virtually every aspect of life is covered here in some way, as Cassian relates his "conferences" with various monks in the deserts of Egypt. This book is so refreshing and stirring, especially given the "junk food" spirituality that most modern Christian publishers pump out. This way is not simple or quick, but it does point to a fuller life. All those who say they follow Christ should give this a read.

(...)

The Conferences is the Christianity I always thought should exist but could never find amongst the writings and preachings of Western Christianity. It's a practical approach to the type of self improvement implicit in the sayings of Jesus. It is so much more useful to my own peace of mind and spiritual improvement than anything I've ever heard from a modern Christian pulpit that I can only lament not finding it many years ago.

The Ajanta caves can be considered among the wonders of the ancient world, both in terms of their artistic and their spiritual value, and this book captures the beauty and detail of the remarkable murals. If I were to make one criticism, it would be that it emphasizes the murals at the expense of largely neglecting the sculptures, which are magnificent in their own right. The book might better be titled, "Murals of the Ajanta Caves." I ordered it without seeing it first, and I was a little disappointed to see how few photographs were included of the sculptures. Nevertheless, the beautiful and clear photographs of the murals alone are worth the price of the book, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone interested in the Ajanta caves, or in ancient Indian or Buddhist art.

If you, like me, have never been to the Ajanta Caves and would like to get a feel for the treasures they hold this is the right book to get. The quality of the prints is great - the artistry is beautiful. Very delicate and sensual in most places and quite bewildering in others. At times I wished the captions offered even more insight on the individual scenes but then I remember that this is not what this book is about. It is a delight to simply sit there, browse through this book and imagine what life must have been like in those faraway days. This book takes you places. If you are into ancient India you will not be disappointed.

although many of the old frescos hardly survived,
their essence and perennial beauty remains intact in the excellent reproductions, taken without any flashlights of this masterly book
I consider this book the most impressive in my big collection of works on Oriental and Buddhist art,
the expression of the faces, their compassion and their gestures are so delicate
and well represented in this book

If you are planning a trip to India, you should consider visiting the caves at Ajanta. If you are planning to visit the caves, you should read this book before the trip. You will get a lot more out of the experience of the caves if you know the Jataka stories and understand the Buddhist iconography described in this book.

Even if you have no plans to travel to Ajanta, the boook contains beautiful photograpghs which will make a nice addition to any collection of art books or, for that matter, to any coffee table.

This book offers the best color photographs of the Ajanta caves that I have seen. The text offers an excellent explication of the history and iconography of the images. Having been to the caves, I can honestly say that you see the paintings more clearly in this book than at the caves themselves. (This is due to crowded conditions and poor lighting at the caves.) This book is an important adjunct to any study of Buddhist art and inconography. If you're planning to travel to Ajanta, buy this book first.

I really enjoyed reading The Alchemist. It's the kind of book that you
want to read to the very end without stopping. I think its secret is
the author's ability to awaken not only our adventurous imagination but
a sense of justice and heroism as well.

Imagine you are transported into the darkest time of the Middle Ages,
when freedom of thought and heart was a life threatening reality; when
dignity and respect of individuality were blackened by the mud of
ignorance.

The story shows that the forces of ignorance can be fought with Love.
Even in the darkest times there is always light and hope - It
demonstrates the importance of courage.

I recommend this book!

"The Alchemist" transports you back into the Middle Ages. It's a novel about the search for meaning and truth in the midst of chaos and ignorance. The story is about the life of Pablo Simon, a young alchemist searching for truth during the Inquisition. It's also based on the life of Giordano Bruno, a philosopher, who lived in the 16th century. The portrayal of the anguish and oppression that happened during this period of history is particularly vivid and I became totally engrossed by the characters in this story. Livraga has a knack for developing believable and engaging characters that fit into a historical setting.

The Alchemist is a fascinating novel that makes you feel as if you were living during the Renaissance. It's a great historical window into the 16th Century. I especially like the focus on Alchemy - an art that is not only material but rather spiritual and leads to a real transformation of the human being.

The Alchemist is a wonderful novel with insite into the 16th Century. It brings you to another dimension in time and takes you on a roller coaster ride through the period. The turmoil of these times is deeply felt and makes you appreciate the true essence of Life. It reminds you of what Giordano Bruno went through when speaking up for what he believed during a time when certain truths were unspeakable. Surfice it to say, "I thought this book was inspirational, to say the least." Take a chance and experience a reading adventure!

I loved the Alchemist. It is a riveting novel and seems to have so much profound knowledge. It is also wonderful for those eager for more knowledge about the medieval philosopher Giordano Bruno whose progressive, yet ancient philosophical theories led to his death at the hands of the Inquisition in Rome.

Highly Reccomended!

David Hirschorn Coral Gables, FL

Easy to read and go thru without all the dryness of a lot of history books. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is first getting into this subject.

Two classical scholars have collaborated, using the resources of the Getty Museum of Los Angeles, to provide in a short compass a stunning presentation of the present state of knowledge of the life and times of the greatest general in the history of the world.

Full-color illustrations, with informative identifications, accompany every page. The treatment of sources is short but exemplary: the reader is informed to what extent sources disagree and who wrote them. Most impressively the archeological work of the last few decades is incorporated into the traditional story seamlessly and with great authority.

It is unfortunate that the maps are by no means adequate to convey the meaning of the text: places, provinces, battlefields are mentioned and described but absent from the rudimentary maps.

The reference value of this beautiful work of art is enough to justify its purchase.

This is a fantastic book and certain gives a valuable insite into Alexander the Great and Ancient Greece. You can tell from the level of detail within the book that the authors have tried to give the read as much information about Alexander and his life as one of the worlds greatest conquers.

A must read!!

Alexander was, first and foremost, a soldier's soldier. No armchair general, he; he led from the front, and this during an age of warfare when being "in front" was hazardous in the extreme. He was, of course, a brilliant strategist and tactician, but he never forgot his soldiers who carried the fight to his enemy. When they were on campaign, he shared their lot -- food, quarters, hardships, and all -- entirely. And, for this, they gave him their undying loyalty. Discipline, courage, fortitude, vision -- these, and many more -- are the characteristics that made Alexander III truly great.

This book captures the sense of Alexander, his relationships and his achievements extremely well. Never ponderous, it nevertheless completely describes his singular achievements. This is also a very "visual" reading experience. The illustrations, maps and photographs complement the reading and enhance the reader's understanding very well.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.

I'm an Alexander buff and have read over two dozen books about this stupendous historic figure and one of the most fascinating and remarkable men who has ever lived. If I had to choose just one book to recommend to a novice who is interested in Alexander but doesn't want to be bogged down by mind-numbingly dry academia, this is the book. The writing is lucid, non-academic, insightful and full of anecdotes that modern readers can relate to and enjoy. The professional overall page layout with the first-rate photographs, illustrations and maps draw the reader into Alexander's world. In terms of combining easy to understand illustrations with top-notch writing, this is the definitive Alexander biography for the layman and Alexander buffs alike.

Although a great all-around book about the Macedonian king and conqueror who came to rule 90% of the known world in his time, this isn't the definitive book for the serious Alexandrian. If you want to dig really deep, there are more in-depth and scholarly writings from the likes of Robin Lane Fox, Peter Green, J.F.C. Fuller, Paul Cartledge, A.B. Bosworth, Mary Renault, N.G.L. Hammond and others. Still, this is the book I'd recommend to people who want to get started with Alexander but don't know where to begin. It's clear, easy to absorb but leaves plenty of room for the reader to be imaginative about what he or she is taking in - the true mark of a great book. Highly recommended!

Pupil of Aristotle, ruler at 16, commander at 20 of armies when modern men are only just legally eligible to drink in America, and conqueror of half of the entire known world by age 26 .... the historical accounts of Alexander the Great's imperial military campaigns ... and its enduring legacy centuries later. A man who truly belongs to history.

Not even Napoleon, Douglas MacArthur, or General Patton could match the military legacy of Alexander the Great. Both Alexander's youth and his zeal created a legend that is unrivaled.

As with all history, one never knows all, one can only assume, because, one was never there, or so we think.

Or watch the movies and read this as well. This is a great little book that contains excerted translations of the three ancient biographies of Alexander, written by Plutarch, Arrian and Quintus Curtius Rufus, all Roman writers. The book is edited so that it forms a continuous narrative throughout Alexander's life. Aside from archeological finds, these three ancient writers are the sole sources of reliable information on the historical Alexander. The introduction by Wood is useful.

I do have to note that I find it odd that on the Amazon page under "Language Notes" it says "Latin, English," since there is no Latin here. The original texts were in Latin, but they are not reproduced here.

Alexander the Great, was born on or around July 20, 356 B.C.E., and is my favorite personality to read about in history. To me he is the whole package general, statesman, conqueror, and philosopher. The smartest man who ever lived, Aristotle, tutored him. Alexander conquered more of the known world than any other figure in history, accomplishing all this before he dies at the ripe old age of 33. Some people called him conqueror and violent overlord. Some other called him civilizer and even God! All of them yet, called him "The Great". He was the first man in modern history that took this name, "The Great"! Even as a young boy, he shows great promise.

Curtius' work is the oldest extant work available and based on eyewitness accounts. He does a better job than most in explaining the battle scenes, and seems to be more balanced in his admiration and criticism of Alexander then any of the other early biographers. I love his Bucephalus Story, and I recount it here so you get a flavor of the promise this young Alexander shows.

The legend begins with Philoneicus, a Thessalian, bringing a wild horse to Philip for him to buy. None of the hands was able to handle it, and Philip grew upset at Philoneicus for bringing such an unstable horse to him. Alexander, however, publicly defied his father and claimed that he could handle the horse. The bet between Philip and Alexander was that if Alexander could ride the horse, Philip would buy it, if not, Alexander would have to pay the price of the horse, which was 13 talents, an enormous sum for a boy of Alexander's age to have.

Alexander apparently noticed that the horse had been shying away from its own shadow, and so he led it gently into the sun, so that its shadow was behind it, all the while stroking it gently and whispering into its ear, (Alexander seems to be the original horse whisperer). Eventually the horse let Alexander mount him, and Alexander was able to show his equestrian skill to his father and all who were watching. The incident so impressed Alexander's father, King Philip that he told the boy "Look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of you, for Macedonia is too little for thee". He named the horse Bucephalus, which means Ox head, and rode it across Asia, founding a city in its honor in India after its death. This story gives you an inkling about the man.

This book is a must read for students of Alexander, I also recommend Plutarch's and Arrian's work. Contemporary writers, J.F. C. Fuller and Tarn. Most of Alexander's greatest military traits are in the area of military logistics and to understand his genius in this area I highly recommend reading, "Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army," by Donald W. Engels.

As a retired U. S. Army Major, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient warfare, and history.

Born in Macedonia in 356BC Alexander The Great changed the political face of the Middle East to such an extent that the present age is affected. He only lived 32 years but created an Empire that spanned 1000's of miles and included many cultures. He was tutored by Aristotle and raised to be a king. He toppled Darius of Persia, conquered the surrounding areas and invaded India. When he took on a task, he stayed with it with dogged determination. He was a brilliant battlefield tactition and motivator of men.

The story of his life was recorded by the classic biographers, Arrian, Plutarch and Curtius. In this book, Michael Wood presents Alexander's story by compiling the different accounts in chronological order. There is very little additional text, editorial, background, etc. Sometimes, he interjects comments where the original accounts vary (due to the biases of the biograhpers). This is a simple book to read and understand. It is an excellent resource for someone who wants an introduction to Alexander.

The map, list of sources and gloassary of main characters are quite helpful.

I discovered this book quite by accident after purchasing Haag's book "Alexandria Illustrated." I am a long-time Durrell and Cavafy fan and am so pleased to have found a source of information about both that is so interesting and readable. The highlight are the wonderful old photos, none of which I had ever seen before. This text provides an inside look and feel for the lives of these interesting people at a very unique place and time in history. It is not a guidebook; Haag has written numerous other books that are excellent guide books.

Of the triumvirate of Alexandrian literary giants of the early twentieth century - Constantine Cavafy, E. M. Forster, and Lawrence Durrell - Cavafy is perhaps the guardian spirit. His poetry provides the capstone to Forster's Alexandria: A History and a Guide, and is present both as invoked persona ("the old poet of the city") and fictionalized character (Balthazar) in Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. Cavafy's presence also haunts Michael Haag's evocative Alexandria: City of Memory. Though the book focuses on the Alexandria of Forster and Durrell, the photograph of Cavafy's melancholy face seems to stare through every page, and his poem "The City," used as epigraph, imbues the text with nostalgia. The image Haag describes of Cavafy at twilight opening or closing shutters, "adjusting the fall of light on his guests," aptly describes Haag's approach to his material, illuminating the sojourns of Forster and Durrell in this city.

Both Forster and Durrell were cast into Alexandria by wars: Forster came as a Red Cross "searcher" in World War I, interviewing wounded soldiers to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing; Durrell fled the Nazi invasion of Greece. In Alexandria both found the loves that, if not the most inspiring of happiness, nevertheless provided the foundation for some of their greatest writing.

Forster fell in love with a tram conductor, Mohammed al Adl, and their tenuous, fraught relationship is movingly recounted in Forster's long "letter," never sent, and continued after Mohammed's death at twenty-three from consumption. Their relationship, transformed, underlies Forster's acclaimed A Passage to India, informing both Dr. Aziz's friendship with Fielding, and the misunderstandings between Aziz and Adela Quested. Perhaps the most strangely stirring image in Haag's book is the tattered photograph of Mohammed that Forster kept with him to the end of his life, preserved only because he had taped a tram ticket to the reverse side.

The eponymous central character of Durrell's Justine is based on his second wife, the Alexandrian Jew Eve Cohen. They met at a party, where she terrified and entranced Durrell with her voluble eagerness and puckish beauty. Eve was involved with an Austrian Jew who didn't feel he could trust her, and Durrell had recently ended his first marriage, so they initially discussed their difficult love lives. But when Eve left her family, it was to Durrell that she turned; they were soon lovers, and then married. Their relationship, lopsided, passionate, scarred by violence, is evoked in Haag's book through Durrell's letters, the memories of friends, and interviews with Eve Durrell.

A host of minor characters fills out the book, which is assiduously researched, lucidly written, and accompanied by a trove of photographs that bring to life this fleeting, fascinating epoch of Alexandria's history.

Alexandria. When I first got this book and leafed through it briefly I decided it was a lovely coffee table book and not much more. I could be forgiven this error of judgment because the photos are really attractive. When I opened it again some while later I realized that my first assessment had been a colossal mistake. The text is extremely well-written and Michael Haag's stunningly knowledgeable exploration of the city's social, cultural and political life between the world wars offers three major centers of gravity dealing with the lives and work of the literary figures Constantine Cavafy, E.M. Forster, and Lawrence Durrell, each of whom had radical connections with Alexandria, and in the configuration of whose esthetic the city played a determining role. In addition there are countless points of secondary reference (people, places, historical figures) enriching the stories of these three giants of twentieth-century literature, especially in their individual and highly peculiar relation to the city and in what each believed the city had done for (and to) him. For Forster Alexandria meant emancipation from his domineering mother and from the corrosive mores of middle-class Britain. It also meant love - with a bus driver who had to be coaxed into bed but was never really good at it. Haag gives some profound insights on Forster's character and on what might be taken as a significant strain of unkindness, perhaps even hypocrisy, in the novelist (see p. 103). Caavafy, impoverished survivor of a once-wealthy family of cotton brokers, viewed his native city as a repository of myths and images and sexual encounters expressing the various realms of meaning he so successfully converted into world-class poetry. (Some of Edmund Keeley's books on Greek poetry go further into all that.) And finally, Lawrence Durrell endowed Alexandria with a quasi-mystical persona that figures prominently and profoundly in his still-important "Quartet."
Intercalated with the stories of these important literati, there are excursuses to history ancient and modern, architecture, politics and diplomacy. There is also a fascinating cast of secondary, mostly bon vivant characters, Alexandrians and expatriates, who give elegant dinner parties and balls (the ones that inspired some of the more riveting moments in Durrell's great opus), engage in shimmering conversations over long boozy lunches, and hop, most of them, into bed with whomever strikes their fancy or whose fancy they strike. Many of these people are also quite talented and creative. Alexandria's foreign communities, later destroyed by what the author correctly calls Nasser's puritanical socialism, were the real heart and soul of the city in the period covered here. There were Greeks, lots of them, and they were very prosperous, reasonably well educated and very socially conscious. The Italians were victims of occupational polarity: they were either high-class architects or lowly construction workers. They were responsible for most of the buildings, some beautiful,some ugly, in the city. There were also assorted Frenchmen, Britons, Jews (who got involved in everything and did everything well), and even (Jasper Brinton most notable among them) some few Americans.
Michael Haag's writing style is strong, vigorous and unmistakably masculine. Yet he manages to convey many scenes and situations of Alexandrian life with striking esthetic refinement and great evocative power, especially as he explores his three major figures' central artistic ideas and literary dispositions and show how they relate to history, political power - and love.
Alexandria was not, of course, the center of the world between the world wars. Nor was it where "big" history was being made during that period. But isn't it marvelous to have a book like this one that tells us so much about the world contained within the city and about the people who contributed to its history?

An interested reader will acquire sharp insights into the lives of three important authors (I confess--none of whose books I have read) connected to the city founded by Alexander the Great. Perhaps more importantly, one will be given glimpses of the social and political background to a fascinating three or four decades. Cotton, Zionism, Greece's role in the region, Rommel and his desert campaign, the British lion's reach, the rise of Egyptian nationalism, and the worldly inhabitants of a multicultural, usually tolerant, and historically special Mediterranean port city are all here. Michael Haag has written an extremely intelligent book on the end of a particular era.

Michael Haag has taken on a challenge few historians would accept: he has recreated a solid history of a city shrouded in mystery since its inception or formation by Alexander the Great. And while much is known about Alexandria through novels and movies and war ruminations and social epithets and other sources that border on mythology, this amazingly fascinating city has undergone so many changes since Alexander's time, each new set of inhabitants has destroyed the remnants of the previous owners, leaving us with only isolated antiquities and memories as passed on by word of mouth and fleeting letters. The occupations by the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Egyptians, the Italians and the Jews have smoldered in a cauldron of secrecy until the present.

Haag takes us by the hand and the head and accompanies us on this myriad excursion of exploration of ALEXANDRIA: CITY OF MEMORY by wisely emphasizing the writings of three of our greatest artists - Constantine Cavafy, Lawrence Durrell (of the famous 'Alexandria Quartet') and E.M. Forster (best known for his novels including 'Howard's End'). It is primarily through the eyes of these exciting writers that Haag has gathered information from their own novels and poems, interviews, letters, and articles about these famous inhabitants of Alexandria who from before World War I through World War II documented the romance of the city as well as the intense social and political life that nurtured the cosmopolitan importance of this amazing place.

Haag is at his best when he is relying on the writings from these three men, documents which reveal the wide range of sexuality so compatible with the city (Cavafy and Forster are each discussed extensively regarding their same sex lifestyles and confidantes, and Durrell is outlined by the several wives and mistresses he had). Weaving these men's lives and influences through the changing governments and attitudes of the city and its populace makes for fascinating reading.

When Haag ventures into the lives of the purely political and commercial giants of the city through the years, the writing becomes less interesting, though equally informative. In the end, while there are many pages of information that merely begin to slow the reader's concentration and interest, ALEXANDRIA: CITY OF MEMORY is a superb book of history and biography of a place that has heretofore eluded scholars. An additional positive aspect is Haag's use of many photographs of the city from all eras. Recommended for the patient but inquisitive reader. Grady Harp, September 05