Adventurous History

Quintus Curtius was apparently a rhetorician who lived in the first century of the Roman Empire and, early in the reign of Claudius (AD 41–54), wrote a history of Alexander the Great in ten books in a clear and vivid style for Latin readers. The first two books have not survived—our narrative begins with events in 333 BC—and there is material missing from books 5, 6, and 10. One of his main sources is Cleitarchus who, around 300 BC, made Alexander’s career a matter of marvelous adventure.

Curtius is not a critical historian; and in his desire to entertain and emphasize the personality of Alexander, he creates effective scenes, omits much that is important for history, and does not worry about chronology. But he does not invent things, except speeches and letters inserted into the narrative by traditional habit. “I copy more than I believe,” he says.

Three features of his story are the narration of exciting experiences, the development of a hero’s character, and a tendency to moralize. His history is one of the five existing works on which we rely for the career of Alexander the Great. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Quintus Curtius is in two volumes.

Pages: 640, Year of Publication: 0101, Dimensions: 10.8x10.8cm