The Making of a King (2021): US Hardback (Chicago); UK Hardback (Oxford)

This book is simultaneously a biography of Antigonus Gonatas, perhaps the most neglected of the Macedonian kings, and a study of the history of Greece in the third century BCE.

Reviews

London Review of Books review by James Romm  James Romm · Greek Hearts and Diadems: Antigonid Rule · LRB 18 November 2021

'Waterfield succeeds in putting forth a brilliantly written account of one of the least known and most underestimated figures in Greek history alongside the third-century historical context out of which he emerged. Both the general reader without any prior knowledge and the student who already knows his way around these issues will gain from this study. The third century needs more attention, and Waterfield has taken some very important steps to wake this period to life' - Benjamin Pedersen, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

'Waterfield's limpid prose makes a confusing plot and rapidly changing cast of characters accessible for expert and general readers alike ... Readers of all backgrounds will profit from studying his latest book' - Ciaran Jones, Michigan War Studies Review

‘ With this fine volume, Waterfield has allowed Antigonus to emerge from behind those more well-known figures of the Hellenistic age. Deservedly he takes his place among the most accomplished kings, warriors and statesmen of the 3 ^rd  century. This would make a fine addition to any course on the rise and fall of Macedon and its re-emergence’ – Danny Pucknell, Journal of Classics Teaching  

‘Readers with some familiarity of the third century but little prior knowledge of Antigonus will be especially well served by W.’s layered approach. … W. succeeds in his biography to educate the reader on Antigonus and on third-century Greece. The book is well written, with the prose being pleasing and enjoyable to read. Both general and scholarly audiences can gain substantial insights into a broad range of subjects from W.’s efforts, which have done justice to the fascinating epoch that was the early Hellenistic period’ – V. Vijayaraghavan, Classical Review 

‘With his new volume, Waterfield makes a further, successful contribution to illuminating this difficult period … The Making of a King is unmatched as a reliable, accessible overview of the topic of Antigonus Gonatas and third-century Greece’ – John Holton, Royal Studies Journal