The Persian Boy

Das zweite Buch in Mary Renaults gefeierter Alexander-Trilogie packt den Leser von der ersten bis zur letzten Zeile. Aus dem Blickwinkel von Bagoas, einem jungen persischen Eunuchen, "Kriegsbeute" des besiegten Perserkönigs, erleben wir die Feldzüge Alexanders mit. Selten war Geschichte lebendiger und mitreissender als in diesem Meisterwerk.

I am a big fan of Mary Renault’s historical fiction, but ‘The Persian Boy’ has to be her masterpiece. This isn’t just another book about Alexander the Great, this is THE book. We know about Alexander’s deeds from various historical sources, but his character is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Yet somehow, she manages to paint a vivid portrait of a man who inspired such awe that people followed him for ten years to the end of the known world. And, incredibly, Renault’s depiction of him matches his achievements perfectly. Things fall into place and suddenly everything makes sense and you get the feeling that you finally know the real Alexander such as his contemporaries did. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.