* I was kindly gifted this book by Pen & Sword Books, in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander the Great Versus Julius Caesar by Simon Elliott.
Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Each has been
termed the greatest military leader of the ancient world, but who actually was
the best? In this new book Dr Simon Elliott first establishes a set of criteria
by which to judge the strategic and tactical genius of both. He then considers
both in turn in brand-new, up-to-date military biographies, starting with
Alexander, undefeated in battle and conqueror of the largest empire the world
had seen by the age of 26. Next Caesar, the man who played the crucial role in
expanding Roman territory to the size which would later emerge as the Empire
under his great nephew, adopted son and heir Augustus. The book's detailed
conclusion sets each of their military careers against the criteria set out
earlier to finally answer the question: who was the greatest military leader in
the ancient world?
In his new book, Alexander the Great versus Julius Caesar, Dr Simon Elliott writes an incredibly detailed analysis of both men and compares them side-by-side, to decide who was the greatest military commander of the ancient world. The author does this by exploring their beginnings, families and the world they came from
and how it shaped and defined their lives. Their military
campaigns, tactics, weapons, and battles, achievements and failures. Alexander and Caesar are given 4 chapters each, followed by a conclusion where the author tells us who he thinks is the greatest
military commander of the ancient world.
Alexander the Great is often referenced as being the greatest conqueror and military leader in world history, he conquered much of his known world in just eleven years. And Gaius Julius Caesar, the man who rose to great heights and then had the biggest of falls. Described as the greatest figure to emerge from the Roman Republic, he played a crucial role in expanding Roman territory. From a young age, both men were confident that they were destined for great things. Although their rises to the top were very different, they both had incredible achievements. The author tells us at the very start of his book that he has had a lifelong fascination with Alexander; however, his book is totally unbiased and the chapters about Julius Caesar are approached in exactly the same way as Alexander’s.
I enjoyed learning about two men that I knew very little about. There was so much information to dive into, it is a very in-depth and thorough book. Although complex, Simon has made it a very accessible and highly enjoyable read. If you don’t know much about the subject matter, this book provides a great introduction, it is so well written and researched. I won’t spoil the conclusion that Dr Simon Elliott comes too at the end of the book, but from the comparisons provided by the author, I agree with who he has chosen as the greatest commander of the ancient world!
I highly recommend Alexander the Great Versus Julius Caesar. You can buy your copy here.
A huge thank you to Rosie from Pen & Sword Books for inviting me on this blog tour. Please also check out the rest of the book tour:
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