Alexander The Great - Hardcover

Demi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0761457003 ISBN 13: 9780761457008

Publisher: Two Lions, 2012

Synopsis

Born a prince of Macedonia in 356 BCE, Alexander the Great became one of the greatest military leaders of all time. He conquered the entire Persian Empire, defeating King Darius III four times. He invaded India, defeating a seven-foot-tall Indian king and extending the boundaries of his empire into most of Asia. Brutal in his drive for power, Alexander maintained supremacy by forcing his soldiers to marry the foreigners that they conquered. He amassed a huge fortune by plundering the riches of his enemies and married two foreign princesses, one of them King Darius III's daughter. By the time of his death at age thirty-two, Alexander had conquered most of the known ancient Greek world, a remarkable achievement in only twelve years. Demi’s storytelling skills bring Alexander the Great’s exploits to life. Her splendid illustrations were painted with Chinese inks and gold overlays and with frames inspired by jewels from the tomb of Philip II of Macedonia at Verghina. An author’s note describing Demi’s research and source material is included.

About this title

About the Author

Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She studied art at the Instituto Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico; with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles; at the M. S. University in Baroda, India, while on a Fulbright scholarship; and at the China Institute for Arts in New York City. Her husband, Tze-si Jesse Huang, introduced her to the religion, folklore, ancient culture, and history of China, after which she became intrigued by the stories she read about Marco Polo.

Demi is the author and illustrator of more than three hundred children’s books, including picture book biographies of spiritual leaders such as Jesus, Buddha, the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, and Muhammad. Su Donpo: Chinese Genius retells and illustrates true Chinese leadership and heroism, and numerous folktales such as The Empty Pot and Liang and the Magic Paintbrush transmit the wonder and magic of China. Her work has received many awards and ac­colades, among them the Christopher Award, which recognizes individuals whose work makes a positive difference in the world, and the Middle East Book Award. Her titles have been designated American Library Association Notable Children’s Books, New York Times Best Illustrated Books, Notable Books for a Global Society, and American Bookseller Pick of the List Books.

Reviews

Gr 3-5–Another beautifully illustrated biography by the talented artist. Demi depicts the life of the great conqueror from his birth in 356 BCE to his death in 323 BCE. Her familiar and detailed style shows a segment from Alexander's life on every page. Using mixed media, she includes an abundance of red and gold inks to emphasize her subject's royal heritage. Framed scenes include Alexander as an infant with his parents, Queen Oympias and King Philip II; his tutoring by Aristotle; and his many battles across Persia, Asia Minor, and beyond. The text focuses on the facts and general time line of Alexander's life. There is not a lot of elaboration, but no matter. Students wishing for more depth or a different slant may be interested in Peter Chrisp's Alexander the Great: Legend of a Warrior King (DK, 2000) or Vicky Shecter's Alexander the Great Rocks the World (Darby Creek, 2006). Overall, this book is a stunning introduction to one of history's most-noted figures.Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA
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Demi brings her unmistakable style to this pithy biography of the great Macedonian conquerer. Short paragraphs trace Alexander’s childhood and then his series of increasingly magnificent military campaigns as he conquered his way from Greece through Persia and into Asia. Readers may wonder a bit about the disconnect between some of his exploits: after the Greeks rebelled and Alexander “quickly crushed them by fighting and winning every battle,” a couple pages later he “freed the Greek cities under Persian control.” While Alexander comes across as a fiercely dominant figure, slaughtering any who opposed him and destroying cultures left and right, the treatment here favors opulence over bloodshed. The delicately lined figures, highlighted in red and, of course, gold, float against dreamy watercolor backgrounds, and scenes of rows upon rows of soldiers lowering their massive spears to attack practically bristle with energy. A welcome, handsome introduction to history’s most successful general, this picture book concludes with a dazzling, gilded map that traces the route he slashed through antiquity. Grades 4-7. --Ian Chipman

Edition details

• Publisher: Two Lions
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0761457003
• ISBN 13: 9780761457008
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 64