Cleopatra: A Life from Beginning to End

by Hourly History

Cleopatra * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. The last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra reigned over the end of an era. Cleopatra has been defined by her relationships with powerful Roman statesmen Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, both of whom fathered her children, but there is much more to Cleopatra’s story than romantic intrigue. Inside you will read about... ✓ The Ptolemaic Dynasty ✓ Cleopatra as Queen ✓ Cleopatra and Julius Caesar ✓ Mark Antony and Cleopatra ✓ Propaganda Wars ✓ The Last Pharaoh of Cleopatra's Suicide And much more! One of the first independent female rulers of an ancient kingdom, Cleopatra was a gifted diplomat, efficient administrator, and accomplished linguist who ruled her kingdom with more courage than the majority of her male predecessors. Cleopatra’s death ended an era, but her life promised the dawn of a new age, one where women might dare to rule the world. Series Biographies of Women in History Book 1

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Ancient History

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2017

About the author

At Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.

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Reviews

[Zhyar Azad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief biography about Cleopatra and her rein. l am waiting for the new movies about Cleopatra and Gal Gadot is the main character.

[Uyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy read to get the overview about Cleopatra. I’m intrigued by the many facts about her, like, being a single mom with four children with two of the most powerful men of Rome. I’d however like to gain deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Cleopatra, something that this book didn’t quite successfully deliver.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed!

[Mina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My knowledge of Cleopatra feels refreshed and expanded.

Perfect for new mothers!
A short and straightforward summary of a life so grand, mysterious, and fascinating. I first learned about Cleopatra at some single digit age and never lost interest. She was someone who you may briefly read about and can contemplate for a lifetime.

My husband found this book and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. I was so thrilled when I saw it! He is so thoughtful and knows me well. Being that I only do get about an hour or two when my baby naps or while he can entertain him, the chapters and entire book itself are the prefect length. Some chapters take minutes to read and still have valuable information.
I'm happy Hourly History books exist and will be buying more!

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rome being misogynistic and vicious isn't new, from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I to date.

It's horrifying, nevertheless.
***

"“History is written by the victors,” said Sir Winston Churchill. Cleopatra was not a victor and her history was written, in large part, by her enemies.

"The Greek and Roman writers who documented Cleopatra’s life and downfall in the century following her death were the heirs and beneficiaries of the men who destroyed her. We know a handful of incontrovertible facts known about Cleopatra—that she was Greek Macedonian, not Egyptian; that she deposed her brother to ascend to the throne of Egypt; that she had children with both Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius; and that she committed suicide—the rest is up for interpretation.
***

"During Cleopatra’s reign, Egyptians were highly literate, and Cleopatra likely wrote frequently during her life. The Romans who took Cleopatra’s throne either destroyed these valuable primary materials or neglected them until they disappeared. Without a solid evidentiary foundation on which to build an accurate historical account of Cleopatra’s life, writers from ancient times to modern day have made liberal use of their imagination.

"To some, Cleopatra was a goddess. “The most complete woman to have ever existed, the most womanly woman and the most queenly queen,” said Theophile Gautier. Cleopatra represented a serious threat to the status quo of the ancient world where powerful men invaded, conquered, and ruled. The only woman in all of classical antiquity to rule a kingdom independently, not as a successor but as an heir, and the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra is a remarkable historical figure. While ultimately defeated by the unstoppable expansion of the almighty Roman kingdom, during her reign Cleopatra proved herself as a talented diplomat, an accomplished naval commander, and a proficient administrator and linguist."

It's unclear if the truth of the assertion about her above, "The only woman in all of classical antiquity to rule a kingdom independently, not as a successor but as an heir", is limited to world known to West, namely, Europe and contiguous parts of Mediterranean shores.
***

"Yet to some, Cleopatra was nothing more than a seductress, an insignificant appendage to the powerful men she was involved with. “Cleopatra was of no moment whatsoever in the policy of Caesar the Dictator, but merely a brief chapter in his amours,” said historian Ronald Syme. ... "

Racism mixed with misogyny and above all, colonial mindset, exposed there in abundance.

Surely Syme couldn't have said this, say, about a queen of England, even a consort, much less a Regina? Or would he have the courage to point out facts of their pathetic states of marriage, for example?

" ... According to some, Cleopatra used her famous beauty to manipulate two great Roman figures into orchestrating their own downfall. ... "

Is that an obviously fraudulent attempt to whitewash the guilt of Roman murderers - all male - of one of their own, Julius Caesar? Disgustingly low level of fraud there in the argument blaming his end on a woman who had nothing to do with the said murder, and there was no other "downfall" of Julius Caesar except that the supposedly honourable senators murdered him by deceit and ganging up, all because Caesar distributed land to landless poor. Any other reason proffered for the said murder was a fraudulent whitewash as much as this attempt to blame it on a woman, and the latter is based in abrahmic cultural misogyny.

" ... She was a monstrous woman, both seductress and sorceress, and to serve her was a disgrace to men of Roman blood."

And there's racism coupled with misogyny inherent to West and to abrahmic doctrines.
***

"Antony did not stop at Judea and gave Cleopatra territories that had once been Ptolemaic but in recent years belonged to the Seleukid Empire. As a descendant of the fallen Seleukid Empire, Cleopatra believed that she had a legitimate claim to these lands, but only Antony had the power to give them to her. Cleopatra also added parts of the Syrian interior, Apameia, Chalkis, and Ituraia, parts of Crete, and a strategic coastal section of Nabatean Arabia to her empire.

"There were no periods of significant civil unrest during Cleopatra’s reign and no real disruption to the collection of taxes. Despite the fact that the Nile failed to flood in the years 42 and 41 BCE, a major agricultural disaster, Cleopatra managed to improve and expand agricultural production, leaving large surplus stores of grain and other foodstuffs on her death."

Author seems displeased with the discourse portraying a queen in her own right doing well and resorts to criticise her - and, of all the things, as a dictator, questioning if poorest of her people benefitted!

Shouldn't this question be more relevant if asked, say, of Hanover descendents ruling British empire - especially after England lost US?
***

"The long-anticipated Parthian campaign set forth in the spring of 36 BCE. Not only did Cleopatra offer huge financial support to Antony’s campaign, but she also joined him on his expedition as far as the Euphrates. Almost 50 years of ill feeling between the Parthians and Romans was finally supposed to end, and Caesar’s dream of absorbing the Parthian Empire into the Roman Empire was to be realized.

"From the Euphrates River, Cleopatra toured her new territories. In ancient times, it was imperative that new ruling powers visited their new lands so that the people could see their new leader and recognize the authority of their likeness, even when they ruled from far away. Cleopatra toured through Apameia in Syria, moving south through Damascus and visiting King Herod in Judea. After the tour, Cleopatra again receded from public view into her palace at Alexandria, as she was pregnant with her fourth child. Cleopatra named her third child Ptolemy Philadelphus, a reference to King Ptolemy II Philadelphus who ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom at its most expansive."

Did the author just confuse there, saying "she was pregnant with her fourth child. Cleopatra named her third child", when it's clear until now according to the author that she had twins in her second childbirth - and neither was named what author says that her "third child" was?
***

Author seems to begin with an assumption asserted without evidence, an exercise in fraud to discredit Cleopatra.

"At the same time that disenfranchised native Egyptians were tiring of the absolute monarchy of the Ptolemaic dynasty and its mediocre leadership, ... "

Having begun the book by saying no writings by Cleopatra survive, where does author find evidence regarding state of feelings of ordinary people of Egypt, unless it's Romans attempting to justify a takeover of Egypt by Rome in name of people - just as they justified murdering one of their own, committed in reality due to fury stemming from Caesar’s distribution of the land yo disfranchised poor of Rome?

" ... Rome was becoming the strongest political power in the Mediterranean. Rome had conquered most of Greece by the second century BCE, and Ptolemy XII’s Egypt existed in its shadow, an independent nation on paper but one that was essentially dependent on Rome for its freedom."

It was nothing of the sort, since might was right, justified from then until the end of WWII - with lies concocted to cover up.

Fact is, if Egypt had had a leader capable of it, Egypt attacking and invading Rome would have turned the tables.
***

"When Cleopatra was ten, her father made the disastrous move of debasing the country’s coinage and then exacting a huge tax rise, causing a keenly felt economic depression that led to rebellion. Ptolemy XII turned to Rome for help with his domestic problems. With the backing of one of the three most powerful Roman leaders—politician Julius Caesar, General Gnaeus Pompeius, and businessman Marcus Crassus—Ptolemy believed that he could force his subjects to respect him. In 59 BCE, he used the already diminished Egyptian treasury to pay Caesar a huge sum of money in exchange for confirming him as a friend and ally of Rome and possibly a Roman citizen. Soon after, Rome annexed Ptolemaic-ruled Cyprus and Ptolemy did nothing. In response, his subjects again rebelled and forced Ptolemy XII to flee to Rome.

"It is impossible to know how much Cleopatra understood the instability of the kingdom she would one day rule. Cleopatra spent her childhood with her sisters, insulated within one of the most refined and luxurious palaces of the ancient world. Cleopatra was raised in Alexandria, the largest, most cosmopolitan and learned city in the world. Part of the Ptolemaic palace complex, the famous Great Library of Alexandria and its sister museum offered their most gifted scholars to tutor Cleopatra. According to Plutarch, who wrote a biography of Mark Antony, the future queen spoke Syrian, Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, and Egyptian with fluency. For the children of King Ptolemy XII, Alexandria was a splendid and enchanting playground that shaped the future rulers into adults who were educated, worldly, and decadent in the extreme."

As opposed to, say, royals of Europe until WWI?
***


"“Since there seemed to be no other way of getting in, she stretched herself out at full length inside a sleeping bag, and Apoodorus, after tying up the bag, carried it indoors to Caesar.”

"—Plutarch"

Did this nameless author, of this volume of Hourly History, take the unpardonable liberty of substituting "sleeping bag", a modern product that only exists post modern invention of not only synthetic material to insulate but zip as well?

Every other version familiar since ever speaks of a carpet or a rug, which did exist before the industrial era.

Was the liberty taken as a helpful hint for essentially differently enabled readership that's gone or going through a US educational system - without benefits of Asian ancestry and family?
***

"Cleopatra now orchestrated one of the most famous encounters of her life. Cleopatra knew that she had to win Caesar’s favor if she was ever going to rule Egypt alone and so arranged to meet with him in secret. In the most entertaining account of this meeting, provided by Plutarch, Cleopatra had herself tied up in a bed sack and smuggled into Caesar’s rooms. Once Cleopatra was stood before Caesar dressed in all her regal finery, it didn’t take long for him to be charmed to take her side."

Again, author uses "bed sack", which seems strange - why would a garrison alert against attacks allow such a strange object? A rich carpet or rug, seemingly a priceless gift, is quite another matter.

Or are author and publishers attempting desperately to throw dust on the glamour that's Egypt and Cleopatra?
***

"If Plutarch’s account is to be believed then Cleopatra and Caesar were so taken with each other after their first meeting in the palace that they quickly became lovers. Cleopatra was 21 years old at the time and Caesar 52. According to Plutarch, Cleopatra captivated Caesar with her “provocative impudence” and, as Caesar was no stranger to sexual liaisons with powerful women, an affair seemed inevitable."

According to George Bernard Shaw, however, she was still in her mid teens, and however attractive herself, saw the middle-aged Julius Caesar only as any other teenager of today would a man of that age, however accomplished or famous or fit, however great a conqueror.

And needless to say, that seems not only more reassuring and healthy but attractive.
***

"Cleopatra gave birth on June 23, 47 BCE. In an attempt to quell any suspicions about the child’s parentage, Cleopatra had her son christened with the official name Pharaoh Caesar, the dynastic name Ptolemy XV, and the given name Caesarion. It is difficult to untangle Caesar’s attitude towards his new son. Caesar’s marriage of over ten years to Calpurnia was childless, and when he returned to Rome, news of his fruitful liaison with Cleopatra made him public enemy number one. It seems that Caesar denied being the father of Caesarion in public, making no mention of the child in his will, but admitted it in private and allowed Cleopatra to keep his name.

"At the time of Caesarion’s birth, Caesar was in Asia fighting Pharnakes, son of Mithradates the Great. Once Caesar had secured victory, he returned to Rome to celebrate a string of significant military victories. Caesar invited Cleopatra to Rome with her brother and husband, the young Ptolemy XIV, to take part in his great triumphal display. It is not clear whether Cleopatra took her infant son with her to Rome, but it would have been sensible to do so, both to protect her child and show the Roman people his resemblance to Caesar.

"Caesar housed the royal couple in his magnificent villa on the river Tiber, a move that insulated the queen from undesired contact with the Roman Senate. Cleopatra was treated as the most distinguished guest ever to grace the city of Rome and received a string of notable visitors. Among these visitors was Cicero, a former consul and powerful politician who took a strong and instant dislike to Cleopatra."

Based, in all likelihood, of her being unattainable as far as he went, and seeing this as a personal slight.

"In September 46 BCE, Caesar dedicated the Forum Julium with its Temple of Venus Genetrix to Cleopatra and had a golden statue made in her likeness placed in the precinct. This act drew clear parallels between Cleopatra and Venus, the mother of the Roman people, and Cleopatra and Isis, the goddess most associated with Ptolemaic Egypt. Cleopatra also influenced Caesar in his plans to build the first public library in Rome and his preparations for an Alexandrian calendar reform. Cicero and his fellow senators regarded these developments with distaste and feared that Caesar might overthrow the Senate and turn Rome into a dictatorship."

Must say they inspire no great liking in this, even before they ganged up on lone Caesar and committed murder.
***

"Despite the antagonistic relationship between Cicero and Caesar, the former consul was as shocked as anybody when Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BCE. Three members of the Roman Senate, Cassius Longuis, Decimus Brutus, and Marcus Brutus, whipped daggers out from beneath their robes and stabbed Caesar to death in the Senate House. ... "

Only three of them? Not the whole lot?

But the Julius Caesar volume of the Hourly History series says otherwise, and in fact asserts, that it was the whole lot that ganged up on one lone Julius Caesar, and each stabbed him.

" ... Cleopatra was either still residing in Rome at the time of Caesar’s murder or had returned for a second time. When she heard the horrifying news, she gathered her belongings and left for Egypt immediately.
***

"Cassius sent his fleet of ships to the Greek coast with the intention of cutting Cleopatra off, but the two forces never engaged. Cleopatra’s fleet was badly damaged in a storm, and Cleopatra herself was absent from fulfilling her naval commander duties because she was ill with seasickness the entire time she as at sea. Still, the intention was there, and in return for her nautical adventure, Cleopatra demanded that the triumvirate recognize Caesarion as Caesar’s son, which they did.

"Cleopatra receded from the civil war at this point and returned to manage her kingdom at Alexandria. Shrewd enough to know that she needed to stay well informed on developments in the ongoing civil war, Cleopatra left secret agents behind in Greece. In the fall of 42 BCE the civil war reached its climax at the Battle of Philippi. The armies fought two pitched battles three weeks apart. The battles were long and brutal, and by the end of the second battle Brutus and Cassius’s army was completely destroyed. Defeated, Brutus and Cassius committed suicide, and with their deaths, any hope for the restoration of a true Roman Republic died too."

Author is mourning death in war of goons who conspired to commit murder, and mourning openly!

Are these the conspirators that participated in murder of JFK?
***


"With official business dealt with and a fondness for each other blossoming into a love affair, Cleopatra invited Antony to spend the winter with her in Alexandria. In November of 41 BCE, Antony arrived quietly in the Egyptian capital, cleverly neglecting to bring the legions of troops Caesar did on a similar visit. Antony did not appear as part of an army that threatened Egypt’s independence; instead, he appeared and behaved as a highly distinguished guest of the queen.

"Again, the splendor of life at the Alexandrian royal palace during Antony’s visit is legendary and recounted in detail by Plutarch. Cleopatra threw parties where the guests drank and ate to excess, and she and Antony spent almost every day in each other’s company. While it’s entirely possible that Cleopatra had tender feelings for Antony, it’s also important to consider Cleopatra’s political motives for enjoying an affair with Antony."

Again, racism shows here, in the description of parties in Egypt, as "where the guests drank and ate to excess" - as if only in Rome were such excesses appropriate, and if there were a royal dinner at a palace across the Mediterranean in Africa, guests should have been only fed a few spoonfuls counted carefully.
***


"It is possible that early in her reign Cleopatra seriously looked for a husband from the Seleukid or Macedonian dynasties but now, around 28 or 29 years old, she had no desire to relinquish her power to a man. Yet the timing was fortuitous for Cleopatra to have another child. Ruling alone, Cleopatra had to take into account the stability of her kingdom and consider what factions may be waiting in the wings to usurp her before she became pregnant. The considerable health risk involved in giving birth to a child in Ancient Egypt also gave Cleopatra pause for thought, and in an attempt to limit the stress on her body she spaced her pregnancies out as much as she could. Caesarion was now seven years old."

Or it's quite likely she too recalled Mark Antony from the earlier visit, and had been impressed, even smitten.
***

"A young Roman named Herod had become a threat to Egypt’s stability. Herod was the son of Antipatros of Askalon, a former ally of Cleopatra’s, and had appealed to Antony to give him a position in the southern Levant. Antony made Herod tetrarch (governor) of Judea, a notoriously unstable region. The Hasmonean family, who had ruled Judea for a century before Herod came along, would not recognize his rule and the region descended into civil war. Cleopatra had no wish to become embroiled in the events in Judea, and over the course of the civil war that lasted more than three years, she did not offer Herod ....

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good basic introduction to Cleopatra.

[Rob Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Short, sweet, and to the point. Better than the cliff notes version, more details than just the high-level.
I enjoyed this, and will read more Hourly History books.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

When one thinks of Egypt, the image of their last Pharaoh, Cleopatra, soon comes to mind. This mystical queen that charmed and seduced two of the most powerful men of the times, Julius Caesar and Markus Antonius, bore them children and ended her own life, still in sole control of her destiny. Few documented facts are known about this Egyptian temptress but much has been devised, invented, and speculated, making her all the more fascinating.
What is known about her is that she was born in 69 BCE in Egypt’s capital city of Alexandria. She was the daughter of Ptolemy XII Auletes, a direct descendant of Alexander the Great’s general Ptolemy I; making her Macedonian Greek (not Egyptian). Growing up in the Ptolemaic Palace, known for the Great Library of Alexandria, she is reputed to have been an accomplished linguist, fluently speaking Syrian, Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, and Egyptian. This last language will do much in endearing her to the Egyptian people she ruled.
The conquests of Alexander the Great were left to his generals to rule after his untimely death. A slow and steady decline set in almost immediately and this was further fueled by the rise of a new power, Rome. Cleopatra’s rise to power was much like her ultimate downfall.
Many iconic images of the Queen of the Nile have been sculptured and painted, giving the observer a beautiful woman with untold salacious talents. Less widely known is her intelligence and diplomatic abilities. As a female ruler, she was at a marked disadvantage to her male counterparts. She used her womanly charm and beauty to achieve things her armies couldn’t. Her’s is a fascinating story that deserves to be told. This short biography provides just a taste of that magically mystical Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra.

[Hyba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, easy to understand, and light read about the life of Cleopatra. There were a lot of things I didn't know about Cleopatra, and this book really brought to attention a lot of aspects of her life and character that we don't often hear about. It's very easy to write her off as the woman who seduced two powerful Romans, but it seems that she was an intelligent and ambitious woman from the beginning, and very brave to boot, despite all of her faults, of which there were many.

Overall, an interesting read that I was able to get immersed in and finish in two sittings.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I found this boring at first. As I got further in, I couldn't believe how strong Cleopatra was and that appealed to me. She would do anything to secure her Queendom and I really liked that about her. Stories about strong women appeal to me and this was a very cool story. Thanks Hourly History.

[Terri's Dangerous When Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quote from the book:
"We know a handful of incontrovertible facts known about Cleopatra - that she was Greek Macedonian, not Egyptian; that she deposed her brother to ascend to the throne of Egypt; that she had children with both Julius Caesar and Markus Antonius; and that she committed suicide - the rest is up to interpretation."

[Victor Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un icono indiscutible, contructiva, inteligente y ambiciosa, madre admirable quien siempre vio que sus hijos tuvieran lo mejor y politica diestra y teatral, mujer enamorada que al final este enamoramiento la llevo a la ruina. Una agil biografia interesante de principio a fin y que ademas siembra el deseo de conocer de cerca a otros personajes historicos como Julio Cesar.

[Randolph Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who was Cleopatra Really?

Before reading this concise portrayal of Cleopatra, my knowledge of her many from the movie of the same name with Elizabeth Taylor. She may have cared for Egypt as a State but she did little or nothing for the poor which was typical of rulers of most eras.

[Monique Autry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and easy read, good info

Cleopatra is one of the historical figures I was ashamed that I really knew nothing about. This book quickly rectified that. The story is fascinating, especially since it dovetails with Roman and biblical history.

[K A PARROTT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good brief history

As one of the Hourly History books this is a short introduction to Cleaopatra’s real history that I read after seeing the Shakespeare play. It’s a good balance of detail and brevity.

[jparvinjr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I never had known about Cleopatra.

This was not what I had expected ,before reading this short I only had vision of Cleopatra (Hollywood movies). Cleopatra was a queen and dictator and what she got. wanted looks like she got. Even in death. Great book.

[Shamsher Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct portrait of Cleopatra.

The author has very beautifully condensed the life,trials and tribulations of the famed Egyptian Ptolemaic Queen- Cleopatra alongwith her personal life and professional achievements.

[Ed Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography Of A Master Politician

Only 39 at the time of her death, Cleopatra was central to the lives of multiple Romans, including Julius Caesar, Octavian and Marc Antony. The intrigues of Cleopatra in the history of Rome impacted the world for millennia. An interesting read.

[Julian Orozco, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen Cleopatra

Most excellent read. Great incite and useful information about the last Pharaoh of Egypt. I learned a whole lot about Cleopatra besides what I learned from Elizabeth Taylor. Well written and quite entertaining.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

Good summary of a complicated woman and the events that took place during her time. One must wonder what would have happened since if she and Mark Antony had defeated Octavian.

[Prajakta Shikarkhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves..."

[Shaun Heuston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written

Well written and concise summation of the life of the illustrious Cleopatra. Highly recommended, quick and easy, worth the hour to read.

[Marina Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read

This biography was a really quick read.... it was short and sought to distinguish fact from conjecture. Her life was interesting and I'm glad to know more about it.

[Krishna Ahir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Expected a lot of questions would be answered, however the book seems to raise more questions and doubts than provide actual facts or theory around the myths.

[Bonnie Gleckler Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written narrative about a most secretive ancient queen and her two well known lovers. Those brief story cleared up a good bit of history about Cleopatra. I’m glad I took the time to read it.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Cleopatra. She was nothing like Liz Taylor! I finished the book wanting to learn more.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

This telling is forceful and appears to be a clear accounting of lives greatly impacted by events beyond their control.

[Callie McCreery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read

I enjoyed this bio bc it was a quick, well written read. It is only 50 pages but gives a nice insight to the life of Cleopatra.

[George Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief but informative history of Cleopatra.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating

An amazing historical figure in her own right, even without the hype of Hollywood, art and poets. Appreciate how the author has treated her.