Robin Lane Fox was the main historical advisor to Oliver Stone on his Alexander film, and took part in many of its most dramatic re-enactions. He has been University Reader in Ancient History at Oxford University since 1990 and Fellow and Tutor in Ancient History at New College, Oxford, since 1977. His books and articles include major works on the relation between the pagan and early Christian religions of the Roman Empire and his forthcoming History of the Ancient World will be published by Penguin in autumn 2005.

The author traveled hundreds of miles on foot and horseback up into the forbidding mountains of Iran and Afghanistan, Turkey and Pakistan, retracing Alexander's march. In his 20s, both tactitian and intellectual, Alexander struck out on an adventure from Greece, leading 50, 000 men. It would span 10 years and 11, 000 miles on foot and horseback, beginning in 336 BC. At its end, he was by conquest king of the Greeks, pharoah of Egypt, ruler of Persia, master of the known world. By age 32, he would be dead. A comprehensive and wonderfully illustrated and documented biography of Alexander the Great, published to coincide with a national television special and a major international art exhibition held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and museums in Chicago, Boston and San Francisco. Published in conjunction with a television series and an art exhibition, this is a comprehensive biography of Alexander the Great, focusing on what is actually known, beautifully illustrated throughout. Illustrated with over 220 photographs.