Perspective

Arrian (Lucius Flavius Arrianus, aka Xenophon, 86-after 146 AD.) writes 400 years after the events he describes. He is considered one of the best ancient historians of Alexander the Great because he had access to historical documents since lost. Arrian also has the distinction of writing the first military-focused history, The Campaigns of Alexander.

A student of philosophy and a military man himself, Arrian gives his account of Alexander's campaigns in a style of Greek from 500 BC. This, during his time, is considered the correct Greek in which to write formal books. The translation of such Greek results in formal English. As such, Arrian writes for other scholars and historians, not the common public. Nevertheless, the stories carry with them enough drama and character to be entertaining for the casual reader.

Arrian stays away from analyzing Alexander's personality or including the more outrageous stories surrounding the man. His intent is...