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The Story of Alexander the Great
The Story of Alexander the Great begins in Macedonia in 356 BC with King Philip II and Queen Olympias and follows their son through his boyhood. Children read about his nurse Lanike, lessons with Aristotle and the Iliad, training with Leonidas, the taming of Bucephalus at thirteen, a city he named Alexandropolis and the Battle of Chaeronea. English and Persian throughout. 169-page PDF.
The boyhood of a famous king, from Aristotle’s lessons to his first battle
The Story of Alexander the Great spends its early chapters on the years before Alexander was king, the part of his life children can relate to. He races his friends, wrestles, practices archery and learns to ride from his tutor Leonidas. Aristotle introduces him to Homer’s Iliad and to Achilles, the hero he dreams of becoming.
The best-known scene comes when a wild black horse, Bucephalus, is brought to King Philip and no one can ride him until thirteen-year-old Alexander asks for a chance. Under the chapter heading “Becoming a Warrior” come his win against a Thracian tribe and his place beside his father at Chaeronea. At 169 pages, it is one of the longest books in the series.
At a glance
What the book covers
Chapters open with a short quotation, then tell the story in illustrated sections.
Birth and family
Philip II and Olympias, the king’s dream of a seal with a lion on it, said to mean their son would be brave, and his nurse Lanike, sister of Cleitus the Black.
Teachers
Aristotle, who taught him about nature, the human body and the poems of Homer, and Leonidas, who trained him in running, wrestling and riding.
Sports and pastimes
A “fascinating facts” section on his running, wrestling and archery, plus imagined hobbies such as drawing and building model battle scenes.
First battles
The fight against a Thracian tribe that led to the city of Alexandropolis, and his plan to break through the lines of Athens and Thebes at Chaeronea.
Reading it together
- Read it chapter by chapter over several weeks; it is too long for one sitting.
- Read the English page, then the Persian, and look for the names اسکندر (Eskandar) and ارسطو (Arastu), which many Iranian children already know.
- After the Bucephalus chapter, ask your child to retell it in their own words, and learn the Persian words for horse and other animals in the free Persian vocabulary lessons.
- Find Macedonia, Athens and Thebes on a map together.
Who this book is for
A good fit if you
- have a child who loves heroes, horses and battles
- want a long book to read a chapter at a time
- are looking for ancient history in English and Persian for a child of about 8 to 12
Look elsewhere if you
- want an ancient hero from Iran’s own stories; Rostam Seven Trials comes from the Shahnameh
- are an adult learning to read Persian from zero; Read and Write Persian in 7 Days covers the alphabet step by step
Use it with
- The Story of Achilles: the hero of the Iliad that Aristotle tells young Alexander about.
- Julius Caesar: another general from the ancient world.
Common questions
What age is it for?
About 8 to 12. Each page has a full paragraph, so younger children will need an adult to read with them.
Does it include battles?
Yes, from the chapter “Becoming a Warrior” on. Battles are told as clever plans and brave leadership.
Does my child need to read Persian already?
No. Every passage is also in English, so a child can follow the story while hearing or trying the Persian.
What do I get after I buy?
You receive a 169-page PDF to download straight after checkout, for a tablet or computer or for printing.
Is there a paperback?
Yes, Amazon sells the paperback of the Alexander book. The PDF is the digital version of the same text.
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