I finished reading Alexander the Great, a five-act tragedy written by Jean Racine and first produced in 1655. The version I read was a translation published in 1890 by Robert Bruce Boswell. I haven’t always enjoyed translations I’ve found in the public domain, but found this one to be excellent.

The action of the play unfolds around the backdrop of the Battle of Hydaspes (326 BC), in which Alexander’s army fought King Porus and his soldiers in a major engagement during Alexander’s push into India.

A love triangle is at the heart of the story, and unrequited love, honor, and ambition all play consequential roles.