Edmund Richardson – författare

'I really cannot overstate how fabulous this book is' DAILY MAIL'Dazzling... This is biography of great brilliance and rare resonance' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE'A pulsating, vivid life of a true historical titan' DAN JONES'A splendid book, lively, erudite... where myth and heroism meet' RORY STEWARTA stunningly written new biography of Alexander the Great, based on a series of important new discoveries and the author’s own translations of source material from twelve ancient languages.In 336 BCE, at the age of twenty, Alexander, a wide-eyed boy from the hills of Macedon, inherited a tumbledown kingdom, a pile of debts and an army which answered to nobody. Desperate to hold on to power, he led the army east, into the heart of the vast Persian Empire, and inadvertently began the greatest military campaign in history. The young man became a king, the king became a hero, the hero became a living god, and the god died aged thirty-two, broken-hearted in Babylon.For centuries, historians have told his story, yet Alexander has remained a mystery. But now, the ruins of his cities have emerged from the bottom of the sea and the dust of Central Asian hillsides. The diaries of Babylonian astronomers who knew him have been deciphered. The tombs of his ancestors have been unearthed. For the first time, instead of the legend, we can meet Alexander the man.Based on more than a decade of cutting-edge research, Alexander allows readers to feel the desert wind and experience the full horror of battle. Richardson’s research has taken him from the catacombs of Egypt to the passes of Afghanistan. Alexander is a cinematic work of non-fiction: a revelatory retelling of one of the most famous and elusive stories in history.

'I really cannot overstate how fabulous this book is' DAILY MAIL'Dazzling... This is biography of great brilliance and rare resonance' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE'A pulsating, vivid life of a true historical titan' DAN JONES'A splendid book, lively, erudite... where myth and heroism meet' RORY STEWARTA stunningly written new biography of Alexander the Great, based on a series of important new discoveries and the author’s own translations of source material from twelve ancient languages.In 336 BCE, at the age of twenty, Alexander, a wide-eyed boy from the hills of Macedon, inherited a tumbledown kingdom, a pile of debts and an army which answered to nobody. Desperate to hold on to power, he led the army east, into the heart of the vast Persian Empire, and inadvertently began the greatest military campaign in history. The young man became a king, the king became a hero, the hero became a living god, and the god died aged thirty-two, broken-hearted in Babylon.For centuries, historians have told his story, yet Alexander has remained a mystery. But now, the ruins of his cities have emerged from the bottom of the sea and the dust of Central Asian hillsides. The diaries of Babylonian astronomers who knew him have been deciphered. The tombs of his ancestors have been unearthed. For the first time, instead of the legend, we can meet Alexander the man.Based on more than a decade of cutting-edge research, Alexander allows readers to feel the desert wind and experience the full horror of battle. Richardson’s research has taken him from the catacombs of Egypt to the passes of Afghanistan. Alexander is a cinematic work of non-fiction: a revelatory retelling of one of the most famous and elusive stories in history.

Victorian Britain set out to make the ancient world its own. This is the story of how it failed. It is the story of the headmaster who bludgeoned his wife to death, then calmly sat down to his Latin. It is the story of the embittered classical prodigy who turned to gin and opium - and the virtuoso forger who fooled the greatest scholars of the age. It is a history of hope: a general who longed to be an Homeric hero, a bankrupt poet who longed to start a revolution. Victorian classicism was defined by hope - but shaped by uncertainty. Packed with forgotten characters and texts, with the roar of the burlesque-stage and the mud of the battlefield, this book offers a rich insight into nineteenth-century culture and society. It explores just how difficult it is to stake a claim on the past.

Victorian Britain set out to make the ancient world its own. This is the story of how it failed. It is the story of the headmaster who bludgeoned his wife to death, then calmly sat down to his Latin. It is the story of the embittered classical prodigy who turned to gin and opium - and the virtuoso forger who fooled the greatest scholars of the age. It is a history of hope: a general who longed to be an Homeric hero, a bankrupt poet who longed to start a revolution. Victorian classicism was defined by hope - but shaped by uncertainty. Packed with forgotten characters and texts, with the roar of the burlesque-stage and the mud of the battlefield, this book offers a rich insight into nineteenth-century culture and society. It explores just how difficult it is to stake a claim on the past.

Classics in Extremis reimagines classical reception. Its contributors explore some of the most remarkable, hard-fought and unsettling claims ever made on the ancient world: from the coal-mines of England to the paradoxes of Borges, from Victorian sexuality to the trenches of the First World War, from American public-school classrooms to contemporary right-wing politics. How does the reception of the ancient world change under impossible strain?Its protagonists are ‘marginal’ figures who resisted that definition in the strongest terms. Contributors argue for a decentered model of classical reception: where the ‘marginal’ shapes the ‘central’ as much as vice versa – and where the most unlikely appropriations of antiquity often have the greatest impact. What kind of distortions does the model of ‘centre’ and ‘margins’ produce? How can ‘marginal’ receptions be recovered most effectively?Bringing together some of the leading scholars in the field, Classics in Extremis moves beyond individual case studies to develop fresh methodologies and perspectives on the study of classical reception.

Classics in Extremis reimagines classical reception. Its contributors explore some of the most remarkable, hard-fought and unsettling claims ever made on the ancient world: from the coal-mines of England to the paradoxes of Borges, from Victorian sexuality to the trenches of the First World War, from American public-school classrooms to contemporary right-wing politics. How does the reception of the ancient world change under impossible strain? Its protagonists are ''marginal'' figures who resisted that definition in the strongest terms. Contributors argue for a decentered model of classical reception: where the ''marginal'' shapes the ''central'' as much as vice versa – and where the most unlikely appropriations of antiquity often have the greatest impact. What kind of distortions does the model of ''centre'' and ''margins'' produce? How can ''marginal'' receptions be recovered most effectively? Bringing together some of the leading scholars in the field, Classics in Extremis moves beyond individual case studies to develop fresh methodologies and perspectives on the study of classical reception.

Classics in Extremis reimagines classical reception. Its contributors explore some of the most remarkable, hard-fought and unsettling claims ever made on the ancient world: from the coal-mines of England to the paradoxes of Borges, from Victorian sexuality to the trenches of the First World War, from American public-school classrooms to contemporary right-wing politics. How does the reception of the ancient world change under impossible strain? Its protagonists are ''marginal'' figures who resisted that definition in the strongest terms. Contributors argue for a decentered model of classical reception: where the ''marginal'' shapes the ''central'' as much as vice versa – and where the most unlikely appropriations of antiquity often have the greatest impact. What kind of distortions does the model of ''centre'' and ''margins'' produce? How can ''marginal'' receptions be recovered most effectively? Bringing together some of the leading scholars in the field, Classics in Extremis moves beyond individual case studies to develop fresh methodologies and perspectives on the study of classical reception.

Classics in Extremis reimagines classical reception. Its contributors explore some of the most remarkable, hard-fought and unsettling claims ever made on the ancient world: from the coal-mines of England to the paradoxes of Borges, from Victorian sexuality to the trenches of the First World War, from American public-school classrooms to contemporary right-wing politics. How does the reception of the ancient world change under impossible strain?Its protagonists are ‘marginal’ figures who resisted that definition in the strongest terms. Contributors argue for a decentered model of classical reception: where the ‘marginal’ shapes the ‘central’ as much as vice versa – and where the most unlikely appropriations of antiquity often have the greatest impact. What kind of distortions does the model of ‘centre’ and ‘margins’ produce? How can ‘marginal’ receptions be recovered most effectively?Bringing together some of the leading scholars in the field, Classics in Extremis moves beyond individual case studies to develop fresh methodologies and perspectives on the study of classical reception.

''Not all lost cities are real, but this one was.''The extraordinary story of Alexander the Great''s lost city, and a quest to unravel one of the most captivating mysteries in ancient history.''Superb … impeccably researched, but with the pace and deftly woven plot complexity of a John le Carré novel ... utterly brilliant'' William Dalrymple, Guardian''[An] exceptional biography ... This is a jewel of a book'' Sunday Times''A brilliant and evocative biography, written with consummate scholarship, great style and wit'' Daily Telegraph______For centuries the city of Alexandria Beneath the Mountains was a meeting point of East and West. Then it vanished. In 1833 it was discovered in Afghanistan by the unlikeliest person imaginable: Charles Masson, an ordinary working-class boy from London turned deserter, pilgrim, doctor, archaeologist and highly respected scholar.On the way into one of history''s most extraordinary stories, Masson would take tea with kings, travel with holy men and become the master of a hundred disguises; he would see things no westerner had glimpsed before and few have glimpsed since. He would spy for the East India Company and be suspected of spying for Russia at the same time, for this was the era of the Great Game, when imperial powers confronted each other in these staggeringly beautiful lands. Masson discovered tens of thousands of pieces of Afghan history, including the 2,000-year-old Bimaran golden casket, which has upon it the earliest known face of the Buddha. He would be offered his own kingdom; he would change the world, and the world would destroy him.This is a wild journey through nineteenth-century India and Afghanistan, with impeccably researched storytelling that shows us a world of espionage and dreamers, ne''er-do-wells and opportunists, extreme violence both personal and military, and boundless hope. At the edge of empire, amid the deserts and the mountains, it is the story of an obsession passed down the centuries.**Chosen as a Book of the Year by the Spectator, Listener and Sydney Morning Herald**

'Not all lost cities are real, but this one was.'The extraordinary story of Alexander the Great's lost city, and a quest to unravel one of the most captivating mysteries in ancient history.‘Superb … impeccably researched, but with the pace and deftly woven plot complexity of a John le Carré novel ... utterly brilliant’ William Dalrymple, Guardian‘[An] exceptional biography ... This is a jewel of a book’ Sunday Times‘A brilliant and evocative biography, written with consummate scholarship, great style and wit’ Daily Telegraph______For centuries the city of Alexandria Beneath the Mountains was a meeting point of East and West. Then it vanished. In 1833 it was discovered in Afghanistan by the unlikeliest person imaginable: Charles Masson, an ordinary working-class boy from London turned deserter, pilgrim, doctor, archaeologist and highly respected scholar.On the way into one of history’s most extraordinary stories, Masson would take tea with kings, travel with holy men and become the master of a hundred disguises; he would see things no westerner had glimpsed before and few have glimpsed since. He would spy for the East India Company and be suspected of spying for Russia at the same time, for this was the era of the Great Game, when imperial powers confronted each other in these staggeringly beautiful lands. Masson discovered tens of thousands of pieces of Afghan history, including the 2,000-year-old Bimaran golden casket, which has upon it the earliest known face of the Buddha. He would be offered his own kingdom; he would change the world, and the world would destroy him.This is a wild journey through nineteenth-century India and Afghanistan, with impeccably researched storytelling that shows us a world of espionage and dreamers, ne’er-do-wells and opportunists, extreme violence both personal and military, and boundless hope. At the edge of empire, amid the deserts and the mountains, it is the story of an obsession passed down the centuries.**Chosen as a Book of the Year by the Spectator, Listener and Sydney Morning Herald**

''Not all lost cities are real, but this one was.''The extraordinary story of Alexander the Great''s lost city, and a quest to unravel one of the most captivating mysteries in ancient history.''Superb … impeccably researched, but with the pace and deftly woven plot complexity of a John le Carré novel ... utterly brilliant'' William Dalrymple, Guardian''[An] exceptional biography ... This is a jewel of a book'' Sunday Times''A brilliant and evocative biography, written with consummate scholarship, great style and wit'' Daily Telegraph______For centuries the city of Alexandria Beneath the Mountains was a meeting point of East and West. Then it vanished. In 1833 it was discovered in Afghanistan by the unlikeliest person imaginable: Charles Masson, an ordinary working-class boy from London turned deserter, pilgrim, doctor, archaeologist and highly respected scholar.On the way into one of history''s most extraordinary stories, Masson would take tea with kings, travel with holy men and become the master of a hundred disguises; he would see things no westerner had glimpsed before and few have glimpsed since. He would spy for the East India Company and be suspected of spying for Russia at the same time, for this was the era of the Great Game, when imperial powers confronted each other in these staggeringly beautiful lands. Masson discovered tens of thousands of pieces of Afghan history, including the 2,000-year-old Bimaran golden casket, which has upon it the earliest known face of the Buddha. He would be offered his own kingdom; he would change the world, and the world would destroy him.This is a wild journey through nineteenth-century India and Afghanistan, with impeccably researched storytelling that shows us a world of espionage and dreamers, ne''er-do-wells and opportunists, extreme violence both personal and military, and boundless hope. At the edge of empire, amid the deserts and the mountains, it is the story of an obsession passed down the centuries.**Chosen as a Book of the Year by the Spectator, Listener and Sydney Morning Herald**

'A thrilling story, wonderfully told by one of the great historians' KEN FOLLETT'Dazzling... This is biography of great brilliance and rare resonance' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE'A pulsating, vivid life of a true historical titan' DAN JONES'A splendid book, lively, erudite... where myth and heroism meet' RORY STEWARTA stunningly written new biography of Alexander the Great, based on a series of important new discoveries and the author's own translations of source material from twelve ancient languages. In 336 BCE, at the age of twenty, Alexander, a wide-eyed boy from the hills of Macedon, inherited a tumbledown kingdom, a pile of debts and an army which answered to nobody. Desperate to hold on to power, he led the army east, into the heart of the vast Persian Empire, and inadvertently began the greatest military campaign in history. The young man became a king, the king became a hero, the hero became a living god, and the god died aged thirty-two, broken-hearted in Babylon. For centuries, historians have told his story, yet Alexander has remained a mystery. But now, the ruins of his cities have emerged from the bottom of the sea and the dust of Central Asian hillsides. The diaries of Babylonian astronomers who knew him have been deciphered. The tombs of his ancestors have been unearthed. For the first time, instead of the legend, we can meet Alexander the man. Based on more than a decade of cutting-edge research, Alexander allows readers to feel the desert wind and experience the full horror of battle. Richardson's research has taken him from the catacombs of Egypt to the passes of Afghanistan. Alexander is a cinematic work of non-fiction: a revelatory retelling of one of the most famous and elusive stories in history.

El relato de unos de los episodios más fascinantes de la historia, el descubrimiento de la ciudad perdida de Alejandro Magno por parte del aventurero Charles Masson. Una gran historia de arqueología, exploración y espionaje.Se disfruta enormemente – BBC History MagazineApasionante... Una historia extraordinaria, llena de grandeza y violencia – The New York TimesEste libro es una joya – James McConnachie, The Sunday TimesTiene el ritmo y la complejidad de una trama hábilmente tejida por John Le Carré. Es una pequeña obra maestra – William Dalrymple, The GuardianDurante siglos, la ciudad de Alejandría del Cáucaso, fundada por Alejandro Magno, fue un importante lugar de encuentro entre Oriente y Occidente, hasta que se desvaneció en los anales de la historia... Sin embargo, todo cambió en 1833, cuando fue descubierta en Afganistán por la persona más improbable que uno se pueda imaginar: Charles Masson, un chico normal de clase trabajadora de Londres convertido en desertor, peregrino, médico, arqueólogo y erudito muy respetado.En el transcurso de este extraordinario episodio de la historia, Masson tomará el té con reyes, viajará con hombres santos y se convertirá en un maestro de los disfraces; verá cosas que ningún occidental haya vislumbrado antes y que pocos han vislumbrado desde entonces. Ejercerá de espía para la Compañía de las Indias Orientales y será sospechoso de espiar para Rusia al mismo tiempo, porque estamos en la era del Gran Juego, y las potencias imperiales se enfrentan en el escenario de estas tierras asombrosamente hermosas. En su periplo, Masson descubrirá decenas de miles de piezas de la historia afgana, incluido el ataúd dorado de Bimaran de 2000 años de antigüedad, que contiene el rostro más antiguo conocido de Buda. Se le ofrecerá su propio reino, él cambiará el mundo y el mundo lo destruirá a él.Un viaje salvaje a través de la India y Afganistán del siglo xix, una narración basada en una investigación impecable que desvela un mundo de espías y románticos soñadores, fracasados y oportunistas, violencia extrema tanto personal como militar, pero también un mundo de esperanza ilimitada. Al filo del Imperio, entre los desiertos y las montañas, esta es la historia de una obsesión más allá de los siglos.