![]() When I first started reading Alexander; Chile of a Dream the first book in the Alexander trilogy, At first I was quite put off by the seemingly simplistic language and the use of contemporary terminology, but by the end of it I couldn't put the book down. A well paced Novel where the story moves along at a brisk pace while being interspersed with some really touching moments. While the more descriptive and exposition sections of the novel are described in a fairly laconic manner, this seems to be done to set up some emotionally engaging moments like Alexander viewing the conditions of the mines, Phillip dancing like a Madman after the battle of Chaeronea and Alexander's friends pledging to follow him to the ends of the earth. The final farewell between Alexander and his sister Cleopatra is particularly moving. One weakness of the novel is that it seems to be undecided with regard to the treatment of the prophecy and supernatural element of the story. After the atmospheric prologue of the novel with the four magi heralding the birth of the child Alexander, the novel makes use of this element in a fairly limited manner which to me feels like a missed opportunity given the extraordinary circumstances that marked the life and death of Alexander. While this may be due to the background of the author who being a historian may be more inclined towards historical facts, as Mary beard; a Historian of Ancient Rome set, the mythologies and prophecies of civilization gives some clues about the culture and value system of it's people. Overall, a very enjoyable read and for anyone not familiar with the extraordinary story of Alexander this would be a great starting point. Book Details Alexander: Child of a dream - Good Reads
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AuthorAvid reader of Historical fiction, High fantasy novels, Comics & Graphic Novels. Passionate about teaching & the future of education in general. Categories
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December 2023
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