Chasing Alexander

The #1 Most Requested Memoir on NetGalley

The #1 Most Requested History Book on NetGalley

⚡️ "With grit and sincerity, Martin will have readers who appreciate action-packed war stories and history marveling at this truly enjoyable memoir." - BookLife Reviews (Editor's Pick)

"Martin’s memoir is as thoughtful as it is lucid, and is written in a deeply personal, confessional style, probing and self-effacing." - Kirkus Reviews

"His writing is simple and powerful: We smell sweat, hear Marines screaming and feel Martin’s heart thundering with fear." - Blueink Review

A haunting, fast-paced war memoir, Chasing Alexander is Christopher Martin’s account of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A failing college student obsessed with Alexander the Great, Martin enlists in the US Marines to become a different sort of man, a man like Alexander. From his difficulty at boot camp to his disappointing deployment to Iraq, Martin fears he may never follow in Alexander’s footsteps.

Then, after a strategy change, Martin and his unit arrive in Marjah, “the bleeding ulcer” of Afghanistan. There he faces heat, fleas, and a hidden enemy. As the casualties mount, Martin struggles to control his emotions and his newfound sense of power. Chasing Alexander looks unflinchingly at the seductive side of war, and its awful consequences.

A TIMELY STORY: The US withdraw from Afghanistan will be completed by the end of August. Additionally, this September marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11, and October 7th marks the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. This book is positioned to catch a swell of interest and national discussion about America's involvement in Afghanistan.


TRUE STORY OF FRONTLINE COMBAT: Christopher Martin takes the reader inside the Battle of Marjah, the largest operation of the Afghanistan War after the Taliban fell.


AN AMERICAN EVERYMAN: Unlike many modern military memoirs, Martin's story is told from the perspective of a regular grunt. Harkening back to the famous WWII and Vietnam memoirs, Martin lifts the curtain on what the war was like for regular Americans.


PARALLEL STORYLINES: Contrasting his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, Martin also tells the tale of Alexander the Great's expedition from Macedonia to India. The dual storylines illuminate Martin's idolization of Alexander, the enduring aspects of war, and the tragic consequences of combat.