Child of a Dream
Child of a Dream, (Alexandros Trilogy, Book 1), by Valerio Massimo Manfredi 
Blurb:Who could have been born to conquer the world other than a god? A boy, born to a great king - Philip of Macedon - and his sensuous queen, Olympias. Shaped by the disciplines and passions of his parents' court, Alexander became a young man of immense, unfathomable potential. Under the tutelage of the famed Aristotle, and with the friendship of Ptolemy and revered tactician Hephaiston, he became the mightiest and most charismatic warrior, capable of subjugating the known world to his power.I actually became interested in Alexander the Great after watching 'Alexander' the movie. I hated the film, but was still interested, since he's a figure I've obviously heard about but don't know that much in depth. I was actually scouting around for non-fiction books about him, but then I saw this book by this author, who wrote Spartan, which is one of my all time favourite books and I had to snap it up!It did not disappoint! The story itself had similarities to the film, though was also quite different in its portrayal of certain characters, for example in the book I actually sort of liked King Philip, Alexander's father sometimes, whereas in the film he seemed to have no redeeming qualities! I enjoy the authors style of writing and how he can covey feelings and actions in such few words, without overdoing it and yet transport you to that time period beautifully. Reading about his early life certainly piqued my interest and I look forward to reading the second book in the trilogy to see where it takes Alexander and his friends (including his dog, Peritas, who I loved!), now that they are approaching Asia.
My favourite quotes from 'Child of a Dream': '... he was given the choice of a brief but glorious life or a long and dull one. He chose the former, he sacrificed his life for a moment of blinding light.' '... I think that my son is interested in knowing the world for what it is rather than establishing a series of principles that the world should conform to.' 'Only man, among all living things, is capable both of rising up to touch the dwelling of the gods, and of sinking lower than a beast.''I want you be be part of the only civilisation in the world which creates men rather than servants.' 'Do you really believe there is a place for a woman like me in the heart of a man like that?' '... a good teacher is one who gives honest answers.''... there is only one free man - the King. All the others are slaves.' '... you see the glory, but war is above all else horror. It is blood, sweat, excrement; it is dust and mud; it is thirst and hunger, unbearable frost and unbearable heat. Let me face all this for you, for as long as I am able.'' "Your tongue is more cutting than a sword." "That's because I have no sword." ' ' "The questions you still have in you, Alexander, are those to which there is no answer... or if there are answers you can only hope to find them in your own soul." ' 'I have taught you all I can and now you must go your own way and no one can tell you where it will take you.' 'It is here, in the palace, that you will learn to be a king, not on the battlefield; politics is the king's profession, not the use of the spear and the sword.' 'Poets create heroes'
Blurb:Who could have been born to conquer the world other than a god? A boy, born to a great king - Philip of Macedon - and his sensuous queen, Olympias. Shaped by the disciplines and passions of his parents' court, Alexander became a young man of immense, unfathomable potential. Under the tutelage of the famed Aristotle, and with the friendship of Ptolemy and revered tactician Hephaiston, he became the mightiest and most charismatic warrior, capable of subjugating the known world to his power.I actually became interested in Alexander the Great after watching 'Alexander' the movie. I hated the film, but was still interested, since he's a figure I've obviously heard about but don't know that much in depth. I was actually scouting around for non-fiction books about him, but then I saw this book by this author, who wrote Spartan, which is one of my all time favourite books and I had to snap it up!It did not disappoint! The story itself had similarities to the film, though was also quite different in its portrayal of certain characters, for example in the book I actually sort of liked King Philip, Alexander's father sometimes, whereas in the film he seemed to have no redeeming qualities! I enjoy the authors style of writing and how he can covey feelings and actions in such few words, without overdoing it and yet transport you to that time period beautifully. Reading about his early life certainly piqued my interest and I look forward to reading the second book in the trilogy to see where it takes Alexander and his friends (including his dog, Peritas, who I loved!), now that they are approaching Asia.My favourite quotes from 'Child of a Dream': '... he was given the choice of a brief but glorious life or a long and dull one. He chose the former, he sacrificed his life for a moment of blinding light.' '... I think that my son is interested in knowing the world for what it is rather than establishing a series of principles that the world should conform to.' 'Only man, among all living things, is capable both of rising up to touch the dwelling of the gods, and of sinking lower than a beast.''I want you be be part of the only civilisation in the world which creates men rather than servants.' 'Do you really believe there is a place for a woman like me in the heart of a man like that?' '... a good teacher is one who gives honest answers.''... there is only one free man - the King. All the others are slaves.' '... you see the glory, but war is above all else horror. It is blood, sweat, excrement; it is dust and mud; it is thirst and hunger, unbearable frost and unbearable heat. Let me face all this for you, for as long as I am able.'' "Your tongue is more cutting than a sword." "That's because I have no sword." ' ' "The questions you still have in you, Alexander, are those to which there is no answer... or if there are answers you can only hope to find them in your own soul." ' 'I have taught you all I can and now you must go your own way and no one can tell you where it will take you.' 'It is here, in the palace, that you will learn to be a king, not on the battlefield; politics is the king's profession, not the use of the spear and the sword.' 'Poets create heroes'
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