There have been many books about Alexander the Great, but history books written by historical novelists are rare. The result in this case is an Alexander personally alive. [The Nature of Alexander] is remarkable for the sharpness of its style….

Mary Renault's opening chapter explores the growth of Alexander's legend, with especial attention to the Persian romances…. What other alien conqueror became a hero to the people he conquered? Her motive in writing the book is to see Alexander in his own context, as his subjects and companions saw him, as he saw himself; her first concern is to rescue him from ideologies, ours and his own enemies. (p. 135)

One of her best passages treats of Aristotle. Having shown that Aristotle was chosen as Alexander's tutor not because he was Plato's successor, but because he was the son of Philip's family doctor, she relates Alexander's character to his...