Jacob Abbott was a prominent American writer in the nineteenth century. Abbott was a very prolific author of books for children as well as detailed histories and biographies on some of the world's most famous figures and events. Abbott's best known biographies are on Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Cleopatra, and Julius Caesar.

Abbott's book on Alexander the Great, published in 1848, is part of his Makers of History series. The book provides great insight into his life as it presents little known facts of one of history's most famous people.