Untold Tales of the Great Conquerors

[Nicator]

Hello Paralus,"Yes Nicator, reading history is a delight with Green's "turn of phrase." His "Alexander of Macedon" is one hell of an historical biography."I'd still say that, without equal, his "Alexander of Macedon" is my go to source on Alexander. It reads so well that you often ignore (or forget) other more accurate sources just for the joy of reading it. I don't have it in front of me, but his analogy between Diogenes and Alexander is quotable..."One sought to subjugate the world; the other, to withdraw from it". The opening paragraph has something to the effect of "genius, Alexander had, and in high measure...". Green's conflicted status as an historian who both admires and loathes his subject sometimes spills out in diabolically eloquent words. I think throughout the book Green made amateurish overtures towards proving Alexander was guilty of atrocities and parricide and many other heinous crimes. But in spite of this, we find him praising ATG in a strangely, upbeat manner. Particularly after Alexander's brush with death at Multan. He has a paragraph that sets Alexander up as the quintessential, indispensable leader that had perhaps the most talented and capable staff of subordinates in world history, and yet they were wholly eclipsed by him. His verbiage is elegant, sophisticated, and timeless. I have said this before, that Green challenges me as a writer to better him, and many times, I cannot. He has simply turned the phrase as near to perfect as can be done. Of course, I'm trying to put the story into a rhyming verse, and that in many ways limits what I can do, but even after cranking out the perfect couplet, it still may not read as well as his prose...kinda depressing in a way, and kinda inspiring in another. later Nicator

[Paralus]

G'day Nicator.
"Green's conflicted status as an historian who both admires and loathes his subject sometimes spills out in diabolically eloquent words. I think throughout the book Green made amateurish overtures towards proving Alexander was guilty of atrocities and parricide and many other heinous crimes.'
Yes, well. Where to start? There's been many a jibe at Green GÇô mostly that he's "novelist" attempting to write history. I think that mostly comes from "stuffed shirts" who'd trade their turgid "peer approved prose" for Green's in an instant were it possible and they could be convinced it would not somehow "lower" them. Then there is his perceived disdain for fully annotating his work and aversion to bibliographies the length of several chapters. He's explained that on numerous occasions. I believe he may have put that to rest with "From Alexander to Actium" (still the best individual work on the subject to my view) and may possibly have gone over the top with "Armada from Athens" (with respect to the calculations of Attic grain consumption/importation etc). Still the descriptions in the later (which I cannot lay hands on for some reasonGǪIf my wife's "put it away" somewhere I'll GǪsmile at her fiercely) of the Athenian Armada about to put to sea with the three Generals pouring the libations into Piraeus is classic Green .I for one tire of endless footnotes in one's work. Given there are time this is unavoidable, there seem to be those who strive outdo each other with the number that can be crammed into a chapter. The next time I read a page of text that is seventy percent or more footnotes won't be the first, but it may be the last for that particular authorBy the way, did you catch him on that NatGeo(?) special on Alexander? At least the director knew a "turn of phrase" when filmed one. Green on Parmenio (paraphrasing): "He was Philip's most experienced and trusted general. He was also the most completely political animalGǪ" A pity Peter Green is the age he is. I for one would welcome a return to his more productive days of the seventies to nineties.Don't be depressed. You write well enough from what's seen in your posts.

[Nicator]

Hi Paralus,
Sorry for not getting back to ya sooner, been hectic on all fronts and I don't have internet access at home yet as I just moved last weekend. "I for one tire of endless footnotes in one's work. Given there are time this is unavoidable, there seem to be those who strive outdo each other with the number that can be crammed into a chapter. The next time I read a page of text that is seventy percent or more footnotes won't be the first, but it may be the last for that particular author" What a perceptive statement! In my own work, I've tried to avoid too much footnoting as it slows down the pace and breaks up the rhythm a bit too much. I have plenty of them mind you, but the really big footnote material has been cut and pasted into several appendices. "By the way, did you catch him on that NatGeo(?) special on Alexander? At least the director knew a "turn of phrase" when filmed one. Green on Parmenio (paraphrasing): "He was Philip's most experienced and trusted general. He was also the most completely political animalGǪ" " No, missed it (shucks). I've of course read that in the book. "Don't be depressed. You write well enough from what's seen in your posts. " Not depressed, just not quite as good or learned as Green. His verbiage always sets me running for the dictionary and never disapoints. But I'll definitely take the compliment, and return it, as your writing skills are a cut above and your posts no less enjoyable!
later Nicator