曼弗瑞迪（Valerio Massimo Manfredi）

義大利的歷史學傢，也是新聞記者和考古學傢。他在米蘭大學教授正統考古學（Classical Archaeology），也常齣現在歐洲各電視颱的節目中。迄今他已齣版瞭七本小說，其中包括極為暢銷的亞歷山大三部麯。為瞭書寫三部麯，他曾駕駛吉普車，循著這位帝王遠徵的路徑一路東行，親身體會兩韆年前這位偉大帝王，強烈的激情與不凡的一生。路途中，他曾數次被捕、被軍隊找麻煩。而脫險之道是「解釋自己是學者，是愛好和平人士，然後請他們吃義大利麵。」有一次，為瞭趕到約旦的首都安曼去做一場重要演講，他隻好搶瞭輛吉普車，徹夜未眠橫越沙漠。

曼弗瑞迪認為，創造歷史的是人的情感----對於權力、愛情、財富，以及性的渴望，探索這些情感，為的是能更加逼近可能的真相。

The gripping second volume of the bestselling Alexander series Continuing the epic saga of Alexander the Great, Alexander: The Sands of Ammon brilliantly describes Alexander's querst to conquer Asia, the limitless domain ruled by the Great King of the Persians. In a seemingly impossible venture, Alexander and his men storm Persian fortresses and harbours, crippling King Darius' domain of land and sea sea. Even the legendary Halicarnassus is defeated by the Macedonian armies. Ruthiessly, Alexander's war machine moves ever onward taking him up into the snow-covered Anatolian highlands. But there is danger ahead. Despite the defeat of Darius, the Island City of Tyre and the Towers of Gaza prove to be formidable obstacles. Undeterred, Alexander surges forth over land and sea to the mysterious land of Egypt. And there, in the sands, lies the Oracle of Ammon, waiting to reveal an amazing truth to Alexander. One that will change his already amazing life.