The Treasures of Alexander the Great

This book is in many ways a compelling study of the economics of conquest...The book is extremely well-written and a pleasure to read throughout, no small achievement given that Holt's story is at least in part a story of numbers and calculations rather than of battles and murderous drinking parties. Holt is creative in his use and presentation of those numbers and restrained when the evidence is not sufficient to resolve debate. The book will be an excellent addition to undergraduate or graduate courses on Alexander as well as an important contribution to discussions among specialists on Alexander and more broadly the effects of war. --William D. Barry, Bryn Mawr Classical Review Written in clear and simple language, based on a thorough analysis of ancient historians and for this reason dispelling many myths about Alexander's conquest, this book will find many readers among the specialists of ancient history but it will also captivate all those who want to discover another side of Alexander the Great. --Alain Bresson, University of Chicago It's not easy to find something new to say at book length about Alexander the Great and his conquests, but in this fascinating and exciting study Frank Holt does just that. By building up a picture of the conqueror's income and expenses, he assesses the strengths and weaknesses of his fiscal policies, sheds light on the economic impact of the conquest, lays some old canards to rest, and even teases out conclusions about Alexander's character. This book will change the way we look at Alexander. --Robin Waterfield, author of Dividing the Spoils and Taken at the Flood Mr. Holt is fearless in his interrogation of both the ancient sources and the received wisdom among modern scholars...[his prose] radiates conviction and clarity. --The Wall Street Journal