Book excerpt: On Alexander’s Track to the Indus, first published in 1929, is Aurel Stein’s account of the expeditions he mounted following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great during the triumphant invasion that, interestingly, left not a trace in Indian literature or tradition. Stein’s account has justifiably achieved cult status for the dangers and hardships encountered during his own expeditions; for the light it sheds on Alexander’s invasions, and the wonders of Stein’s discoveries (such as Alexander’s Aornos); the illumination it offers on all fields of interest from archaeology to Indian literary culture, Graeco-Buddhist art and the spread of Buddhism right across Asia. The remarkable Aurel Stein communicates his passions and enthusiasms effortlessly to the fortunate reader of this classic. “Stein has a claim to be called the greatest archaeologist-explorer of all: read this and you’ll see why”—Michael Wood Richly illustrated throughout with maps and black-and-white photographs.