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A few weeks ago I was able to pick up a copy of "Alexander the Great and His Time" by Agnes Savill. I never thought it was possible to "Out-Tarn" Tarn, but this book manages it perfectly. The author's subservience to the Tarnian view of Alexander, refusing to consider other viewpoints and even missing out entire events that wouldn't fit her view of Alexander, is staggering.

My question is: does anyone know anything about Agnes Savill, or when the book was originally written? The copy I got was a Barnes & Noble reprint, which carries no info on the original publication date. I only know that it must have been after 1954, judging by the bibliography.

Quite, quite astonishing!

ATB

Something tells me that i wont be buying this. And maybe Michael will:P

I've heard of her, but never seen her book. But I never read Tarn either.

Speaking of books I ran across this at Rogurclassicism.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/stor ... ss&feed=10

This could get interesting...

marcus wrote:My question is: does anyone know anything about Agnes Savill, or when the book was originally written? The copy I got was a Barnes & Noble reprint, which carries no info on the original publication date. I only know that it must have been after 1954, judging by the bibliography.

I just picked up a copy for 50 cents at a tag sale - I previously refused to pay even B&N's reduced prices for this book having looked between the covers. Anyway, I now own a softcover first edition dating to 1966 which says the copyright by Agnes Savill was 1959.

Best regards,

athenas owl wrote:Speaking of books I ran across this at Rogurclassicism.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/stor ... ss&feed=10

This could get interesting...

James Davidson wrote the fantastic "Courtesans and Fishcakes". I imagine this new book would be well worth reading.

ATB

amyntoros wrote:I just picked up a copy for 50 cents at a tag sale - I previously refused to pay even B&N's reduced prices for this book having looked between the covers. Anyway, I now own a softcover first edition dating to 1966 which says the copyright by Agnes Savill was 1959.

Thank you.

It's interesting, but immensely infuriating, as you might imagine.

ATB

Yes, I CAN imagine that it's infuriating!

It seems you were very close on the first publication date, however. I added the book to my LibraryThing listings today and in trying to match my copy by searching onsite the Library of Congress (so I don't have to input all the information manually) I brought up a first printing of the book dated to 1955. So I don't know why my copy has a copyright of 1959 except that maybe this was for the paperback printing?

Best regards,

Greetings,

I agree with your assessment of Ms. Savill. However, given her timeframe and background, it is understandable. One of Scotland's own, she was well-respected in her lifetime as a physician and I believe she is also the author of some work ont he affects of music on the human psyche..

For a complete review of her life, see:

http://130.209.96.233/honour/biog.php?bid=1458

Regards,
Sikander

sikander wrote:Greetings,

I agree with your assessment of Ms. Savill. However, given her timeframe and background, it is understandable. One of Scotland's own, she was well-respected in her lifetime as a physician and I believe she is also the author of some work ont he affects of music on the human psyche..

For a complete review of her life, see:

http://130.209.96.233/honour/biog.php?bid=1458

Regards,
Sikander

Fantastic - thank you.

I have to say that, as I read the book, I knew she wasn't a historian!

ATB