Envy of the Gods by John Prevas

[jan]

I just obtained a copy of the book Envy of the Gods by John Prevas. Has anyone else read it? The following link is to an article in the Saint Petersburg Times about his travels: http://www.sptimes.com/2004/12/18/Flori ... ueror.html

[marcus]

It starts off well, but about half way through he goes completely loopy, with a Worthington-like attack on Alexander that the sources just do not justify. He doesn't make any massive factual errors, but his interpretations get quite hysterical. It's a shame, because I thought the first two or three chapters were very good.ATBMarcus

[jan]

Thanks, Marcus. I looked in the book review section but found no mention of this book published in 2004. I appreciate the warning, as his foreword or intro put me off. I realize my own bias when reading his, and that has given me pause also. I am concerned about why he would want to travel to all the places that Alexander visited when he has such a contemptuous attitude towards him. It strikes me odd to find so many professors who make their bread and butter on a subject they so obviously like to negate. Is that masochistic or what?

[marcus]

Maybe it is masochism :-)Still, you wouldn't think that he was negative (or, at least, not especially so) from the first couple of chapters. It's only later that he gets hysterical. I don't mind an 'anti' attitude at all, so long as it's rational and properly argued. But Prevas takes the Worthington approach, which is to get extremely hot under the collar and to start using unnecessary hyperbole. I think I said "hysterical" before ... which is exactly how it reads.The first two chapters are very good, though ...ATBMarcus