By Despina Karpathiou
Even if you’re not fascinated by Ancient History, you’ll be drawn to the intriguing world of a young Alexander the Great after reading Young Conquerors.
The latest novel from acclaimed author and screenwriter Christopher Cosmos will have you hooked, page by page.
Christopher has turned his attention back to ancient tales after the phenomenal success of his best-selling debut novel, Once We Were Here.
This time, his novel discusses the narrative of the fabled King of Greek Macedonia through the eyes of Hephaestion, his closest companion. This King would later be known as Alexander the Great, arguably the greatest conqueror the world has ever seen.
The Greek Herald sat down with Christopher to break down his new novel and his Greek heritage.
For those who don’t know you, could you please introduce yourself.
My name is Christopher Cosmos and I’m a Black List screenwriter and bestselling author from the United States.
Tell us briefly about your upbringing as a Greek in America?
The Greek part of my upbringing as a Greek American centred around two main things: church and food. We cooked Greek food at home, then of course maintained a close cultural connection to our heritage and the diaspora community via church, where I was an altar boy from a very young age all the way through high school.
What is one thing you’d like people to know about you that they don’t know?
I live in Greece for a couple months every year and have been to every location I write about, including all the locations in Young Conquerors. I have a bracelet I wear from each place where one of my novels is set.
What fascinates you about Alexander the Great?
His early years are what fascinate me the most and that is what Young Conquerors is about. [I am fascinated] especially how a middle child from a northern Greek kingdom could navigate a ruthless court, political climate, and home life before setting out from a very small kingdom and conquering the largest empire the world had ever seen, without losing a battle, and change the entire course of history and the world.
To do all that, it requires someone of deep passion and purpose, and willing to give himself to those two things in a whole and complete way. It’s always struck me as something to absorb and aspire to.
What motivated you to write a novel through the eyes of Alexander the Great’s closest companion Hephaestion?
Sometimes we come upon people in history who are larger than it.
Instead of trying to think like someone who is so unique and different, I instead chose to tell the story of Alexander’s formative years through the eyes of the person who knew him best, so we can experience all the same wonder as Hephaestion who is with him every step of the way.
They say the greatest stories are true, and this one certainly fits that bill as a young Alexander navigates a real-life Game of Thrones in Ancient Greece to eventually become king of Macedonia, and the man history will later call “Great.”
What do you hope readers take away from your new novel?
Two very important things: that we should love as deeply as possible and always chase the horizon, and never stop, until our short time here is over.
Have you always been fascinated by Greek stories and history or did something in particular pique your interest?
In my first novel, Once We Were Here, I wrote something along the lines of: “people so often think of blood as something that becomes distant, and fades. But it doesn’t.”
I think these Greek stories are in our blood, always will be, and need to be told and told by us, too.
Do you have any other books in the works?
My main focus is trying to get Young Conquerors as far and wide as I possibly can, and into the hands of as many readers as possible, then also hopefully turning it into a fantastic mini-series to be shot in Greece where they have one of the best film incentives in the world.
So, if there are any Greek producers out there who might be reading this, send me a note and let’s make some Greek movie magic!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Telling Greek stories and travelling the world.
For more info and pictures of Greece and updates on my work, please follow along on Instagram @christophercosmos!
