Ambitious actor and general horse's ass Matt Wilder dreams of making it big with his latest role, playing Alexander the Great on television in 1963. He's willing to sacrifice his friends, his morals, even his family for stardom. All he needs is a little magic. He visits a sketchy seer whom he calls Frau Bonkers. She agrees to send him back to meet and study the real Alexander.
Matt figures it's a quick trip. He figures wrong.
Matt finds himself in the body of a slave named Sophos, caught in the middle of an ancient battle. He must use his wits and dubious training as an actor just to survive. He quickly demands to return to the life he knew. On the other end of the time tunnel, however, Frau Bonkers has passed out drunk. He is trapped in 331 BC Persia.
Matt finds support in his brother-in-law and fellow slave, Leto. He also dares use knowledge from the future to help advance his goal of getting in the good graces of King Alexander.
His real break comes as he uses his equestrian skills and finds himself riding the greatest horse of all time: Bucephalus. Impressed with Sophos/Matt's handling of Bucephalus, Alexander enlists Matt to fight at Gaugamela.
The two men forge a love-hate relationship. At turns, Alexander is charming, even seductive, then just as suddenly cruel and narcissistic. After accidentally maiming Bucephalus, Alexander orders Sophos/Matt to act as his butcher and kill the proud animal. Sophos/Matt embarks on a series of choices and adventures which will cost him dearly. He will be a prisoner, a lover, a king, and both witness to and shaper of history.
ALEXANDER AND THE BUTCHER follows the history we know, but cleaves much closer to Alexander the man than any dusty text dares. If he can survive, Matt will learn hard, visceral lessons about his hero and himself.
