by Daniel Thompson

Created on: December 01, 2010   Last Updated: December 04, 2010

Book Info:

Name: Alexander: Child of a Dream
Author: Valerio Massimo Manfredi
Released: 1998 (Italian) 2001 (English)
Series: Alexander Trilogy

Alexandrian history is one of my passions in life. The exotic heroic adventures have been embellished, retold, twisted and transformed many of times, but in 1998 Italian writer Valerio Massimo Manfredi wrote down in three parts the life of Alexander. The first novel, Child of a Dream, depicts in a sort of biographical form the early years of Alexander the Great. Does it capture your attention throughout, however? It takes a skilled writer to mix fiction with fact and pull it off successfully. Is Manfredi that type of writer?

A Little About . . . Valerio Massimo Manfredi

Manfredi is a ‘mature’ Italian author, but is a renowned journalist and historian too. Born in 1943 in a town called Castelfranco Emilia, Manfredi has had fourteen novels published to date as well as many more non-fiction accounts and essays. His wife, Christine Manfredi, translates his work from Italian into English.

All three of his ‘Alexander’ novels were originally published in 1998 in Italian. However, it wasn’t until three years later that they were translated for our reading pleasure.

He currently resides in Bologna, Italy.

Blurb

'Who could have been born to conquer the world other than a god? A boy, born to be a great king-Philip of Macedon-and his sensuous queen, Olympias. Alexander became a young man of immense, unfathomable potential. Under the tutelage of the great Aristotle and the friendship of Ptolemy and Hephaiston, he became the mightiest and most charismatic warrior, capable of subjugating the known world to his power.'

Plot

Born to Philip, King of Macedon and Queen Olympias, the young Alexander has huge dreams and infamous influences. Not only does he expect a lot from himself, but as Prince of Macedon, a lot is expected from him. It isn’t easy though; life in ancient Greece is chaotic and through hard work and determination, Philip has managed to transform a collection of Barbarian city states into a fully fledged civilisation. Alexander is set to inherit all of this.

Tutored in combat and internal politics he is later moved away from the palace to be taught by the famous Aristotle, which in turn gives him vital life skills needed to rule as King. Surrounded by his small group of close friends, Alexander, though still young, must learn to make important decisions in battle whilst handling the abuse

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