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Before They Were Famous
Cleopatra
Meet young Cleopatra, who will one day be the queen of Egypt. Fleeing the city, fearing for her life, Cleopatra waits until the time is right to face her enemies. For children aged eight and over, this is one in a series of books which looks at the early lives of historical figures.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Corby
8 books4 followersCaroline Corby was born and brought up in Camden Town, London. She was the second of four children - three girls and a boy. As a child Caroline loved reading, particularly historical novels, history and biographies. She still buys every political biography on the day it's published. Caroline went to the local school. She lived in the same street as her two best friends and together they would walk there and back, usually taking much more time than they should have. She still often runs late.
After leaving school, Caroline studied Mathematics and Statistics at Bristol University before becoming a banker. She spent thirteen years in the City ending up as the director of a venture capital company. During this time Caroline struggled to balance the demands of being a mother with her career. In September 2000, she decided to leave her job to spend more time with her young family. Caroline always enjoyed history and wanted to find a historical novel, aimed at children, which would capture her daughters' imagination. When she searched without success, she decided to write one herself. Cleopatra: Escape Down the Nile is her first story and is the start of a new series, Before They Were Famous. Each book explores the early lives of some of history's most fascinating characters, who, in shifting, dangerous worlds, struggle to make their mark but grew up to become heroes. Books on Boudicca, William the Conqueror, Lady Jane Grey, Pocahontas and Julius Caesar are expected in 2008 and 2009. Caroline lives in Hampstead, North London, with her husband and three daughters aged thirteen, eleven and nine.
Once her children have left for school, Caroline goes straight to her desk and starts writing. She works in front of a large window overlooking a park, and tries not to daydream too much. Caroline selected the characters in the series because they all grew up in times of great change and uncertainty. She researches each book meticulously, using all known facts, along with authentic descriptions of the food, architecture, culture and religion of the age. But first and foremost she wants each book to be a gripping read. Once a book is almost finished Caroline tests them out on her daughters. If, at lights-out time, they beg her to keep reading she's happy but if they're looking sleepy, she knows an edit is needed.
After leaving school, Caroline studied Mathematics and Statistics at Bristol University before becoming a banker. She spent thirteen years in the City ending up as the director of a venture capital company. During this time Caroline struggled to balance the demands of being a mother with her career. In September 2000, she decided to leave her job to spend more time with her young family. Caroline always enjoyed history and wanted to find a historical novel, aimed at children, which would capture her daughters' imagination. When she searched without success, she decided to write one herself. Cleopatra: Escape Down the Nile is her first story and is the start of a new series, Before They Were Famous. Each book explores the early lives of some of history's most fascinating characters, who, in shifting, dangerous worlds, struggle to make their mark but grew up to become heroes. Books on Boudicca, William the Conqueror, Lady Jane Grey, Pocahontas and Julius Caesar are expected in 2008 and 2009. Caroline lives in Hampstead, North London, with her husband and three daughters aged thirteen, eleven and nine.
Once her children have left for school, Caroline goes straight to her desk and starts writing. She works in front of a large window overlooking a park, and tries not to daydream too much. Caroline selected the characters in the series because they all grew up in times of great change and uncertainty. She researches each book meticulously, using all known facts, along with authentic descriptions of the food, architecture, culture and religion of the age. But first and foremost she wants each book to be a gripping read. Once a book is almost finished Caroline tests them out on her daughters. If, at lights-out time, they beg her to keep reading she's happy but if they're looking sleepy, she knows an edit is needed.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 22, 2021
Cleopatra by Caroline Corby
From the book series 'Before They Were Famous', this is a wonderful effort to imagine the early life of Cleopatra. It's a fictional young-adult novel that tries to explain that how Cleopatra became the Heir to her father, Ptolemy XII.
Cleopatra fled from palace in hiding because her sister Berenike seized power after her father went to Rome asking for help to control the chaotic situation in Egypt. Appolodorus, the guard; Diodorus, the scholar; Iras, the nursemaid were the people who helped her while hiding. Later Charmian and Nechutes became her friends in exile. Finally, when her father returned, she managed to get back to her home in Alexanderia where she, with the help of her friends, unveiled the plot to kill the king set up by Berenike.
So, this is how the story goes. It was really a page-turner. An impressive work.
From the book series 'Before They Were Famous', this is a wonderful effort to imagine the early life of Cleopatra. It's a fictional young-adult novel that tries to explain that how Cleopatra became the Heir to her father, Ptolemy XII.
Cleopatra fled from palace in hiding because her sister Berenike seized power after her father went to Rome asking for help to control the chaotic situation in Egypt. Appolodorus, the guard; Diodorus, the scholar; Iras, the nursemaid were the people who helped her while hiding. Later Charmian and Nechutes became her friends in exile. Finally, when her father returned, she managed to get back to her home in Alexanderia where she, with the help of her friends, unveiled the plot to kill the king set up by Berenike.
So, this is how the story goes. It was really a page-turner. An impressive work.
July 2, 2020
With a father who flee's to his enemies to get help to claim the throne back from his own daughter and having that same daughter as a sister who is ruthless in her quest for power to the point where her own life is in danger Cleopatra must find a way to dissapear until it is safe to return home but how does the princess of egypt make herself invisable to her own people? This story was fun and intriguing as we follow Cleopatra's escape from her own family and got me curious to find out more about the last pharaoh of Egypt.
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February 10, 2016I really love it! It talks about a father who flee's to his enemies to get help to claim the throne back from his own daughter who is ruthless in her quest for power to the point where her own life is in danger . Cleopatra must find a way to dissapear until it is safe to return home but how does the princess of Egypt make herself invisible to her own people? This story was fun and intriguing as we follow Cleopatra's escape from her own family and got me curious to find out more about the last pharaoh of Egypt.
August 19, 2017
Un avvincente avventura nella quale fughe, complotti, corruzione, amicizia e fedeltà si intrecciano, lasciando intravedere uno spaccato della società egiziana alla fine del I secolo a.C., poco prima della fine del grandioso impero sorto sulle sponde del Nilo.
July 21, 2011
A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!!!!!
March 2, 2013
An exciting adventure of loyalty, betrayal, friendship of a young girl who would become the future queen-cleopatra
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2016
An interesting and entertaining introduction to Cleopatra for younger readers.
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August 12, 2016James and I finish off our Ancient Egypt studies with this book about Cleopatra before she was queen.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews