Alexander the Great was just 32 years old when he died, but by then he had transformed the ancient world. Now, more than two thousand years later, he remains one of history’s most mythologized figures.
In this episode of TheCollector Podcast, we speak with Dr. Edmund Richardson, Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University in England, about Alexander’s extraordinary rise from a young king of Macedon to one of history’s most celebrated conquerors. He also takes us behind the scenes of his new book.
Alexander was one of the tallest of the tall tales that seemed to hover between real and unreal, between history and legends. And every time I came across it, when I was a kid or when I was a student, it seemed stranger. And if something looks stranger the closer you look, then that’s something worth pursuing.
The Life and Legacy of Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great inherited a troubled kingdom in 336 BC. What followed was one of the most remarkable campaigns of conquest in world history. In little more than a decade, he defeated the Persian Empire and built an empire spanning from Greece to the edges of India.
His achievements have fascinated generations, yet his life story is difficult to reconstruct with certainty. He became a legend during his own lifetime, and different cultures continued to reshape his image after his death. Dr. Richardson looks beyond the familiar stories to offer a more nuanced portrait of the young man behind the myth.
Uncovering the Man Behind the Myth
In his latest book, Alexander: God, King, Man, Dr. Richardson reconstructs a life told and retold for centuries. His research took him across four continents. It also drew on sources written in twelve ancient languages, taking him beyond the traditional Greek and Roman retellings.
These sources offer unexpected glimpses into Alexander’s life. They include rare firsthand accounts, objects, and evidence preserved far from the traditional historical narrative. Together, they offer a different way to approach an enduring question: not simply what Alexander conquered, but who he was as he became the figure history remembers.
Alexander: God, King, Man is available for purchase in the United States from Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
