Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) became king of Macedonia at the age of nineteen. He fought his greatest battles and conquered the mighty Persian Empire before he turned twenty-five. He died at the age of thirty-three, never having been defeated. His reputation as an exceptional warrior and leader is unparalleled in history.
In this book, Alexander himself, in an attempt to find "someone who can listen without judging and keep his mouth shut," narrates his story: "I have always been a soldier. I have known no other life. From a young age, I answered the call of arms. I desired nothing else..." So, this is the beginning. Only the beginning... The portrait of the greatest strategist of all time, the man capable of the greatest achievements and the greatest mistakes, takes shape before the reader's eyes, illuminated by a new light.
The virtues of war combine the confessional tone of a personal diary with the sharp writing of military communiqués. Steven Pressfield brings to life in a unique way a legendary hero who could be bold and sensitive, passionate and devoted, but at the same time ruthless and unpredictable. Furthermore, by skillfully describing the conflicts and revealing the tactics of the opponents, he revives the bloody atmosphere of the battlefields, vividly portraying a heroic and savage era.