Valerio Massimo Manfredi, a historian and archaelogist writes down a trilogy on the life of Alexander the Great. This first volume of the trilogy deals mainly with the childhood and early adolescence of Alexander, son of the warrior-king Philip of Macedonia. Manfredi tells about how Alexander's dream to conquer Asia first originated with his father. This book decribes his formative years, his youth and education where he is trained by the great scholars and brave soldiers. All the events that shaped his fierce desire and quest to conquer beyond his ancestors's footsteps and honor are portrayed. Manfredi emphasizes Alexander's extraordinary character, intelligence, strength and beauty as a youth and as he grows to manhood. A well-researched novel about the life of Alexander.