The History of Alexander the Great of Macedon. In 2 Books

The epochal work of Curtius Rufus is not just a great book about the greatest military leader in the history of mankind, "The History of Alexander the Great of Macedon" is also a kind of luxurious mirror, vividly and colorfully reflecting the long-gone glorious times that gave birth to a powerful wave of legends that captivate the imagination even today.
The reader is offered the first complete Russian translation, masterfully done by R.L. Shmarakov, who managed to convey the lively and figurative language of the famous Roman historian who worked in the 1st century AD.
The author of one of the most detailed and, undoubtedly, the best biographies of Alexander the Great, the conqueror of the East and West, who reached the very edges of the Earth, focuses on his Asian campaign and, in general, his era. The immortal work of Curtius, being the most important document of the ancient era, is read as a fascinating historical novel. The reader will be treated to colorful Asian pictures: brutal battles on the sea and on land, sieges and assaults on cities, unseen tribes and strange beasts, lavish celebrations, feasts and fires, chariots and war elephants. And right there - cunning intrigues, secret whispers of conspirators, assassinations on a moonless night... And in the center of all this - like a magnificent golden statue - is the image of the great king, Fortune's favorite, a blessed, generous ruler, who gradually, intoxicated by victories and Asian wine, turns into an autocratic despot. The "Additions" section contains selected fragments from medieval works dedicated to the personality of Alexander: from biblical exegetes to chroniclers and poets-storytellers, all in the same magnificent translation by R.L. Shmarakov, leaving an aftertaste of antiquity. Finally, another pearl of this volume is the large chapter from the translation by S.P. Krasheninnikov - a magnificent text of the 18th century, which has carried archaic beauty through the centuries and is rightfully considered one of the great monuments of that era rich in talent. The following wonderful articles will help the reader immerse himself in the times of Alexander the Great: R.L. Shmarakov - about the personality and fickle Fortune of the Macedonian commander; A.A. Kleimenov - about the historical context in which the grandiose work of Curtius Rufus arose; as well as S.I. Nikolaev, a specialist in Russian literature, immerses the "History of Alexander" in the domestic context and offers an overview of the history of its translations. A detailed commentary will be a wonderful aid to the reader, not only explaining the realities and contexts, but also unfolding a broad literary canvas on which the work of Curtius Rufus is related to the works of other great historians - Diodorus, Plutarch, Arrian, Josephus Flavius... Finally, another opportunity to look into ancient times will be a colorful album, which reproduces images of that distant era: bright frescoes and ancient statues, images of warriors and inhabitants of conquered lands, silver coins and jewelry, helmets and armor. The additional volume presents complete collections of miniatures from seven illuminated manuscripts with the "History of Alexander the Great..." by Curtius Rufus, made in France and the Netherlands in the 15th-16th centuries. Excellent European masters, close to the Northern Renaissance, created genre scenes in which the great commander appears as a brave knight, and all his entourage, his enemies and friends, his retinue and companions, his warriors and henchmen - are placed in the entourage of the colorful, "popular" Middle Ages. In addition to the miniatures themselves, the most representative sheets from these manuscripts are also reproduced. Medallions and sketches from early scientific editions of the "History ..." are published as an appendix - portraits of Alexander and his contemporaries, images of ancient soldiers on the march, solemn processions, terrifying scythed chariots, etc.