I like this effort by Alfred duggan to display the morass into which the Meditteranean was thrown by the death of Alexander the Great. Few writers can convey the confines of leadership as well as he does, and Demetrius is one of his most lifelike creations. Demetrius succeeded his father Antigonus, the "One Eyed" in the group of sucessor generals who attempted to create something lasting out of the end of the Persian empire. However, like Aemilius Lepidus, Demetrius was destined to be classified as a failure, except that, almost by accident, his son became king of Macedonia and founded a dynasty ended by Rome, one hundred and sixty years later. Sadly, the novel has not received its due in the world of historical fiction, perhaps due to its lack-lustre American title "Beseiger of Cities". Well, do read it if you can still find a copy. ( )

I read this novel many years ago, when I was a young(er) man, and greatly enjoyed. Would love to have a copy now :(.

The generation following the death of Alexander the Great was one of near constant warfare as his former generals, and their families, squabbled, intrigued, and plotted for power. The mighty Persian empire became a mere play thing as a dozen 'great' men spent their lives (and the lives of many others) striving for control. All set against the time when Greek and Macedonian civilisation was moving eastwards to establish great cities in the lands and deserts and fertile areas of the former Persian empire.

Duggan tells the story of Demetrius the Besieger of Cities, one of these Macedonian kings and generals of this era. A man whose life was constant warfare, one who came close to gaining control of Alexander's empire, but died a prisoner. The richness of this era, with its wealth and power is brought to life by Duggan. An excellent read. ( )