Review of 'Time for Alexander' by Jennifer Macaire
Reviewed by Tricia McGill author
I've often dreamed of going back in time to meet a hero. In Time for
Alexander, the heroine, Ashley, fulfils her ambition, and in the process
introduces us to Alexander the Great. But few - including me - had
scant idea why he earned the title that has stuck for over 2000 years.
I was intrigued from the first page. Expecting a historical I was shocked,
then pleasantly surprised, when I realised I would be going back in time
with a time-travelling journalist.
Ashley has a passion to find out what made Alexander the Great so special.
Chosen from over 3,000 candidates to go back in time, she arrives near
Alexander's camp in Mesopotamia in the year 333 BC dressed in the robes
of a vestal virgin. These were times of oracles and gods. Greeks believed
gods were immortal, could change form, and would often come to earth from
their home on Mt Olympus and walk among humans. Alexander was raised to
believe his parents descended directly from the gods. Alexander is convinced
Ashley is Persephone, daughter of the harvest goddess, and kidnaps her.
Alexander captivated me as he did Ashley. I was in love with him within the first chapter.
Jennifer Macaire's fastidious attention to detail is excellent. Her eloquent description of smells, sights and sounds, be it a market scene, countryside, Babylon or Alexander's encampment is so concise that I was there, sharing the experience with the heroine. With breathtaking clarity she describes the scene when, taking 1000 of his best cavalry, Alexander sets off across the mountains and plains of Northern Iraq with Ashley on his heels, in an effort to rescue Darius who had lost his crown to Bessus. During this epic chase many horses and men died. By the third day when they caught sight of Bessus's army there were a mere 60 riders left. The Persian army, and the army Bessus raised against Alexander by claiming Darius's crown, totalled about 30,000 men but Alexander didn't falter - his 60 men charged. Assuming Alexander had his army behind him, the others fled. Alexander was now master of Persia.
Alexander founded great cities. All these cities were democracies able to decide their own goverments. He built roads and developed a postal system, built cities and seaports and strengthened the governments in the cities he conquered. After he died they continued to be oases of Greek culture and continued to thrive centuries later--carrying forward the legend of Alexander.
Why did his generals follow him across Asia Minor? Was it a kind of love, awe, or an urge to search out new territories? It was a measure of the man that when his slaves were set free they never left him. I'm sure, from this picture of Alexander, that had I been there I would have willingly followed him to the ends of the earth.
The magnitude of this epic astounded me. Very few books held me in such thrall, and it was with great pleasure that I found at its end that this book was just the first in a series. Hurry with the next episode in this saga, Jennifer Macaire.
© Tricia McGill
'Blue Haze', 'Amaryllis', 'White Clover' and 'Traces of Dreams'
Also by Jennifer Macaire: Heroes in the Dust
Visit Jennifer Macaire's website