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Alexandria: The City that Changed the World Hardcover – January 2, 2024

by Islam Issa (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 28 ratings
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An original, authoritative, and lively cultural history of the first modern city, from pre-Homeric times to the present day.

Islam Issa’s father had always told him about their city's magnificence, and as he looked at the new library in Alexandria it finally hit home. This is no ordinary library. And Alexandria is no ordinary city.

Combining rigorous research with myth and folklore, Alexandria is an authoritative history of a city that has shaped our modern world. Soon after being founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria became the crucible of cultural exchange between East and West for millennia and the undisputed global capital of knowledge. It was at the forefront of human progress, but it also witnessed brutal natural disasters, plagues, crusades and violence.

Major empires fought over Alexandria, from the Greeks and Romans to the Arabs, Ottomans, French, and British. Key figures shaped the city from its eponymous founder to Aristotle, Cleopatra, Saint Mark the Evangelist, Napoleon Bonaparte and many others, each putting their own stamp on its identity and its fortunes. And millions of people have lived in this bustling seaport on the Mediterranean. From its humble origins to its dizzy heights and its latest incarnation, Islam Issa tells us the rich and gripping story of a city that changed the world.
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  1. Print length
    496 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pegasus Books
  4. Publication date
    January 2, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.9 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1639365451
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1639365456
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Praise from the Literary Review

Praise from Kirkus

Praise from Publishers Weekly

Praise from Booklist (starred review)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Issa takes the reader on a mesmerising journey. He does a fantastic job of explaining the history, taking the time to share the stories, both mythical and factual, that have made Alexandria the city it is today. His history is a tribute to Alexandria, a reservoir of knowledge on the city, and sets a marker for those wishing to tell the stories of the world’s great cities. " -- Al Jazeera

"Issa combines love for the city with nos­talgia for its vanished past - for a place where for over two thousand years different communities coexisted. He describes them, their achievements and their woes with admirable balance. Issa has brilliantly illuminated the history of a great city." -- Literary Review

“A lively chronicle of one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities from its beginnings almost two and a half millennia ago to the present. Issa vividly recounts invasions by the Crusaders, Ottomans, French, and British, and shows how in the modern era Alexandria continued in its role as a cultural hub and social and religious melting pot. This impressively researched account reveals a captivating city through the ages.” -- Publishers Weekly

"In Islam Issa's monumental and vividly imagined new tale of the city, Alexandria comes to life. This book is a fitting tribute to a city that has survived, changed and grown for so many centuries." -- The Telegraph

"This lively cultural history of the place that is often described as the world’s first modern city is full of fascinating facts and amazing stories. Issa chronicles the splendours and events of its past quite wonderfully, offering us a work that is both scholarly and entertaining." -- The Gleaner

“A comprehensive history of a city that has served as a ‘representative illustration of some of history’s most consequential empires.’ An Alexandrian by birth, Issa relates his native city’s past principally through attention to its most famous figures and rulers. A well-researched, readable history of one of the world’s oldest and most consequential cities.” -- Kirkus Reviews

"Crackling with good storytelling across more than two millennia, this is a love letter that makes us long for Alexandria." -- Paul Edmondson, author of Shakespeare: Ideas in Profile

"A fascinating and much-needed book about this singular city written with vibrancy and skill. Issa’s personal knowledge and passion for Alexandria, past and present, shine through every sentence." -- Violet Moller, author of The Map of Knowledge

"Islam Issa's Alexandria: The City that Changed the World is the book on this amazing city that I've long been waiting for. It's wonderfully easy to read, solidly researched, and totally engaging" -- Philip Freeman, Professor of Humanities, Pepperdine University and author of Hannibal: Rome's Greatest Enemy

“Islam Issa’s history takes the city from Alexander’s transformation of an Egyptian fishing village around 331 BC through its multiple subsequent lives … Issa, an Alexandrian himself, is an assured narrator with an easy manner, who unearths myths and stories that give vivid life to his more sober account of Alexandria’s travails and triumphs” -- The New Statesman

About the Author

Islam Issa is an award-winning British-Egyptian writer, curator and broadcaster, and was recently named by the BBC as "one of the United Kingdom's most significant new thinkers." He is Professor of Literature and History at Birmingham City University, has authored several academic books and contributes regularly to the Guardian, the New Statesman, and the Times Literary Supplement.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pegasus Books (January 2, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639365451
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639365456
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.9 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

About the author

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Islam Issa

Islam Issa

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Islam Issa is a multi-award-winning author, broadcaster and curator. He is Professor of Literature and History at Birmingham City University, UK.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
28 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

PCH
5.0 out of 5 stars re: phenomenally great!!
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
Alexandria: The City that Changed the World is a brilliant book! Superbly written, deeply humane, and I am in awe of the learning required to write a history that runs from deep antiquity to the present day. Issa's theme is that Alexandria embodied the multicultural ideal for most of its history, and the fact that multiculturalism has been erased recently gives the book's ending a tragic cast.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
9 people found this helpful
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Gary T. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars A history of Alexdria…and essentially of the world
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
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Things that have happened in Alexandria have in some way happened throughout the works…and are still happening. Read and learn
2 people found this helpful
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LEC
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating history of a city for the ages
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
Beautifully written history of a city over the millennia, with fascinating detail that filled many gaps in my knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean. The style of writing was easy to read, for me at least, and I could not put it down once I started reading it.
5 people found this helpful
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Thomas J. Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars Alexandria, Egypt Was Once The Center Of The World
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024
Islam Issa has written a wonderful, thoughtful, engaging and deeply loving ode to his, and his family's, mighty city of Alexandria, Egypt.

We take a two and a half thousand year journey with Issa through the streets of Alexandria, with the city's native as our guide. This history is stuffed full with incidents and accidents, wars and famine, chaos and confusion, as well as philosophy, drama and excitement.

The colorful characters we learn about include statesmen, warriors, invaders, generals, mystics, poets, writers, philosophers, lovers, architects, dreamers, adventurers and explorers, all of whom add to the drama and richness of Issa' narrative tale.

This book, Alexandria, reminds us of the splendor, richness, beauty, excitement and innovation of Arab and Greek culture, and the massive impact one cosmopolitan city can have on the entire world.

Read this book. Then, if you can, hop a train or grab a plane, or jump on a ship, and go visit it for yourself!!! You'll be living the Spirit of Alexandrian Adventurers of the last thousand years!!!
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Jessica Case
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful narrative about a place I've always wanted to visit
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
Until time, budget, and work and family commitments allow, I will have to content myself with visiting Alexandria through Dr. Issa's brilliant book. He wears his intense knowledge of the city lightly, making the history warm and accessible while still bringing out nuance. Recommended for anyone who enjoys Peter Frankopan or Bettany Hughes!
4 people found this helpful
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Leanne Albillar
2.0 out of 5 stars Compelling book with some unfortunate failings
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2024
An enjoyable book that unfortunately has several inaccuracies. I don’t know enough about Alexandria itself to speak for the history of the city, but multiple myths about the wider world (such as medieval Europeans believing the world is flat and Napoleon being short) are treated as fact. Other information, like a claim that the idea of creating a more organized Crusade only began after the People’s Crusade was defeated, is inaccurate. There’s also several times where it was unclear whether the author was stating something as fact, conveying a theory, or discussing historical rumors.

On a more positive note, this paints a very vivid picture of Alexandria through time and was a compelling read. Overall, topics of religious conflict were handled in a mostly neutral way (I was disappointed but not surprised to see a couple classic antisemitic “dual loyalty” comments, and the neutrality towards religious conflicts suffered in the modern day section). Definitely not the worst history book I’ve read, and I really enjoyed the author’s personal stories of connection to the city. Just be aware that there are inaccuracies and double check before accepting its claims as fact, which is good advice for any book.
20 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Ella
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful inside and out
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
The media could not be loaded.
 What a life-changing book. Difficult to put it down and it’s hard to see the world the same again after reading it. The glowing gold cover is beautiful.
2 people found this helpful
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greg brown
5.0 out of 5 stars an ode to the author’s home city
Reviewed in Australia on February 5, 2024
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extremely enlightening and very easy to read. many interesting facets of a fascinating city are revealed. highly recommended. enjoy the read.
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Zainab Latif
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, Teleports you to Alexandria without a Ticket
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have purchased this book and I must say it has been just an amazing read. I bought it because of the Cleopatra Docuseries on Netflix, this author is one of the Professors/ researchers being interviewed. While he spoke about Cleopatra and Alexandria, it is only fitting to read his new book.

I was expecting it to be a bit of a drag to read but to my surprise, it is such a smooth read, there are comical moments and also a clear description of what to expect, almost like your the tourist and the author is the guide walking you through the streets of Alexandria. Not just in the past but also references to present day Alexandria. There is something for everyone in this book, if your into architecture, there is a chapter on that too. But it does have nice uplifting little moments described that do make you chuckle. Very good style of writing. I look forward to read more from Dr Islam Issa.

I strongly recommend this book, and you will not regret it!!! :)
6 people found this helpful
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