The Alexandrian

by Martha Rofheart

She ruled a mighty nation-- and the hearts of the ancient world's greatest men. Her beauty was matched only by her passion for life and power. Some thought her a ruthless, scheming courtesan. Others worshipped her as a goddess. In proud defiance of them all, she won in her bedchamber what she could not win on the battlefield: the safety of her land and people, the undying respect and love of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Egypt, Greece

286 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Martha Jones Rofheart was an actress and a novelist, inspired by her grandfather's stories of their Welsh ancestors.

Reviews

[Karen Azinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I am the seventh Cleopatra of my name, but I mean for the world to forget all the others and remember me alone." I LOVE this sentence! This sentence ending the first chapter convinced me to buy this book and it did not steer me wrong! This is a well told story of a well known tale. The author managed to add personal and historical depth to the telling. I enjoyed this version of the only Cleopatra that matters to history! Well done, Martha Rofheart!

[James M Bayles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Retelling of Cleopatra

I thought of Cleopatra as an Egyptian, but she was a Greek/Macedonian. Their family was inbred, so she was fair-skinned compared to hervsubjects in Egypt. She knew many languages: Greek, Latin, Egyptian, and more. She was probably very smart and knew how to fight.

I enjoyed the book immensely.

[BEATRICE VEGAS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling novel and I was engrossed from the start as the tale of the legendary Cleopatra a descendent of none other than Alexander the Great unfolds. As Rofheart adeptly reveals Cleopatra’s complex life, the reader gets a very different glimpse of this well-known persona and will be fascinated with their discovery. Is she really as ruthless and scheming as her detractors have portrayed her over the centuries? What influenced or motivated her to make the decisions she made? Moreover, what of her siblings particularly her sister Arsinoe? Rofheart sets out to answer these and other questions in her novel. Rofheart weaves the rich and varied tapestry of Cleopatra’s daily life through her own eyes (the novel is a biography) paying attention to even the most mundane details, stunningly recreating the time and period. Whatever Cleopatra’s life may have lacked it certainly was not dull and the reader is thrust into the intrigue and sinister undercurrents that this queen had to contend with all her life. As her world springs to life, Rofheart's skilful description of the landscape, architecture and topography of the scenes that shift from Alexandria, the Nile and Egypt to Rome itself and back gives the reader a glimpse of the then known world in all its opulence, treachery and gore. Furthermore, the author realistically portrays each character with a perception that illustrates the flaws of even the greatest among them making these heroes very human. Since I am unfamiliar with Cleopatra’s history and read this book out of curiosity, I cannot comment on the historical authenticity or lack thereof except in one rather minor instance – that of Herod who is dubbed a Jew but is in reality an Idumean with no Jewish heritage. One cannot help but admire Rofheart’s Cleopatra exulting in her triumphs and moved to tears at her losses. The end is no surprise since history stands and yet one cannot help but be saddened at the inevitable ending. Rofheart though in her engaging manner leaves one feeling that it is Cleopatra who triumphed in the end. Moreover, could Antonius have won the war after all, had he played his cards differently and what if? The Alexandrian is indeed a testimony to Rofheart’s skill as a brilliant wordsmith.

[April Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alexandrian by Martha Rofheart

A very different aspect of Cleopatra's story. Always love reading about her. The connection between her and Alexander the Great is a fascinating aspect of history. The Story line is clean and doesn't turn into a mushy love story. This is an easy book to read. We know so much and yet so little about her it's always fun to take a different path with touches of history to encourage us along the way!

[Holly Deakyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

i mostly finished this. it wasn't bad, but i had to return it to the library, so it wasn't good enough to renew. the voice given to cleopatra was pretty entertaining. she uses a lot of ! possibly more interesting to YA?

[EndeavourPress4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is published by Endeavour Press.

[Wendyanne Pegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyable. Thought the ending was a bit anti-climatic

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

A romantic retelling of the life of Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.