The Conqueror’s Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great. Stephanie Thornton. Penguin Group (USA). December
2015. 512 pp. ISBN#: 97800451472007.
What
do we truly know about the man, Alexander the Great, who is known as the
Macedonian soldier in Greece in the year 330 B.C who evolved into the hero who
would “conquer the world?” Although
readers will discover different answers to this question, including the reality
of his immense ego, his sexual proclivities, his tendency to over-the-top
cruelty within this novel, the vivid depiction of his life is presented by the
diverse woman he encountered. This is the unique, powerful and poignant essence
of this remarkable novel!
Meet
Thessalonike, Alexander’s sister, who wants to travel on campaign. Her fascination with warfare is evident in
the way she obsesses about becoming equal to any of Alexander’s soldiers. Her Amazon-like sister, Cynnane, finally
agrees to train her and succeeds as will be proven in later scenes. Then there is Drypetis, the daughter of King
Darius, who would love to be an engineer rather than someone’s wife. There’s something noble and dignified in her
bearing that demands respect and leads others to bypass her outrageously
offensive quips to everyone she meets.
That may soften one iota, however, when she learns to love someone very
close to Alexander. Move on to Roxana,
the daughter of a nobleman who beats her at every opportunity. She is
determined to marry and possess Alexander.
Her goal eventually becomes maliciously misdirected in scenes that the
reader could never have imagined, with dire consequences for everyone in this
novel.
Alexander’s
general, best friend since childhood, and lover, Hephaestion, is a captivating
character who seems the only person who can elicit Alexander’s better self,
even sometimes calming him before he can do something that Alexander’s soldiers
will not forgive and forget. He also
falls in love with Drypetis but is constantly frustrated that she fails to
realize his care and instead regales him with verbal abuse and questions.
Multiple
scenes of battles in which Alexander’s genius wins the day are juxtaposed with
other stories about tenderness, abominable cruelty, depravity, betrayal, and
noble efforts at rebuilding conquered cities abound. Some minor characters collaborate to effect
major changes in both people and places.
This
reviewer has the highest respect for Stephanie Thornton, who has graced us with
novels about Theodora of Byzantium, the woman in the world of Genghis Khan and
his family, and now the woman in Alexander the Great’s world. The
Conqueror’s Wife… is superb historical fiction written by a highly skilled
historian/writer who knows her subjects well and excels at presenting intricate
and intimate details, personalities, passions and conflicts. Highly, highly recommended historical fiction
meriting numerous accolades!
