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3 books about Alexander

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 4:43 pm
by .
There are 3 books about Alexander the Great, written by Valerio Masssimo Manfredi. I don't know what are their titles in english because I read them in greek but look for them if you can. They are simply g r e a t

Re: 3 books about Alexander

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 3:45 am
by marcus
Hi '.' (Interesting name!)I think you'll find that opinions about Manfredi's books vary on this forum. Many of us have a great number of issues with them, although it is fair to say that some of these might be criticisms of the English translation, rather than of the books themselves.Still, a while ago we did wonder whether anyone could write a positive review of the books; so if you are inclined to tell us all why you think they're great, we'd love to hear your views.All the bestMarcus

Re: 3 books about Alexander

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 11:59 am
by .
Hi again!
It seems very strange to me that I am the only person who has something positive to say about Manfredi's books.
But lets get to the point..I like Manfredi's books because I love the way he describes Alexander's character. He makes him look like a very intelligent person,a ideal leader, who could love a lot and in the same time he could have some frightening explosions of anger.
friendly,
('.')
Of course he is wrong in some points..First of all he doesn't clarify if he believes that Macedonians were Greeks or..barabarians. I think that he maintains the second one. Secondly, I don't like the way that he describes the death of Alexander because he uses so many signs before it. And finally, I don't like the fact that he uses some preternatural phenomenes like the communication between the dead Parmenion and the alive Alexander..
Anyway, in general I consider Manfredi's books really nice books because they picture Alexander's life, thoughts and character as - I believe- they were.
Sorry for writing so many things..

Re: 3 books about Alexander

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 2:04 pm
by jan
Glad you like the books. There is a review which I wrote of them on this site.

Re: 3 books about Alexander

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 2:47 pm
by ruthaki
I couldn't get past page 35 of the first book even though I tried twice. I found the writing (or perhaps the translation) too much like a text book, the characters were not really drawn out properly. Perhaps this improved as you went along but I frankly found Book #1 boring. ruthaki

Re: 3 books about Alexander

Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:18 am
by susa
Hi RuthYou know, i don't think it's the translation, Because every one here say 'it may be the translation', 'blame it on the translation'. I read the translation to my idiom [portg] and it's awful all the same.
It's the book, not the translators. I am a translator, i *can* mess up a book, but not all translators can.byesusa

Re: 3 books about Alexander

Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 10:29 pm
by Nicator
Hello '.',I've avoided the books for 2 reasons:1. Why read historical fiction, when the reality is so incredible!2. Heard a great deal of bad things about the books, and if you're going to read a fictionalized account of Alexander, why not read Mary Renault's exceptional trilogy...I will go out on a limb here, and say that if they are as well written as her book "The Nature of Alexander", then they must be good books. later Nicator