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Usborne Famous Lives
Cleopatra
Presents the life of the Queen of the Nile, who maintained power over her kingdom through her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2004
5 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Katie Daynes
212 books35 followersKatie has been writing non-fiction children's books for almost half her life and loves questioning the world from a child's point of view. She's developed some of Usborne's bestselling series, including the See Inside books and the Lift-the-Flap Questions & Answers series.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 30, 2020
Although born in Alexandria, Egypt, Cleopatra was of Greek origin, the third daughter of King Ptolemy XII. The latter fled to Rome when the Egyptians didn't like being ruled by a Greek and his daughter Berenice, half-sister to Cleopatra, claimed the throne.
King Ptolemy XII returned to Egypt after three years in exile and he killed Berenice to reclaim the throne but four years later he died and Cleopatra became queen alongside her 'annoying little brother' Ptolemy XIII.
Cleopatra eventually met Julius Caesar and between them they tried to bring peace to Egypt. Ptolemy and his evil adviser Pothinus did not want this so they attacked Caesar but they were killed in battle. After that Cleopatra and Caesar travelled down the Nile in style to let the people know who was in charge in Egypt.
Cleopatra then spent a year in Rome and only returned to Egypt when Caesar was murdered. She then met Antony in Tarsus and he crowned her Queen of Kings and gave her children royal titles. However, after Antony divorced his wife Octavia, her brother Octavian declared war against Egypt. When Octavian's army reached Alexandria, Antony decided to take his men and attack him so he departed and left Cleopatra to hide in the magnificent tomb she had had built for herself.
News arrived back that Antony had stabbed himself as he believed that Cleopatra was dead. But when he returned covered in blood and dying he discovered Cleopatra was still alive. He died just as Octavian's troops stormed Cleopatra's tomb and they imprisoned her there prior to the plan to take her back to Rome. However Cleopatra thwarted them by taking her own life, killed by a poisonous snake hidden in a basket of figs taken to her by her servant.
It is all very dramatic and, as such, is dramatically told by Katie Daynes in what can be considered an introduction to the full story of Cleopatra or a taster before watching the even more dramatic Elizabeth Taylor film!
King Ptolemy XII returned to Egypt after three years in exile and he killed Berenice to reclaim the throne but four years later he died and Cleopatra became queen alongside her 'annoying little brother' Ptolemy XIII.
Cleopatra eventually met Julius Caesar and between them they tried to bring peace to Egypt. Ptolemy and his evil adviser Pothinus did not want this so they attacked Caesar but they were killed in battle. After that Cleopatra and Caesar travelled down the Nile in style to let the people know who was in charge in Egypt.
Cleopatra then spent a year in Rome and only returned to Egypt when Caesar was murdered. She then met Antony in Tarsus and he crowned her Queen of Kings and gave her children royal titles. However, after Antony divorced his wife Octavia, her brother Octavian declared war against Egypt. When Octavian's army reached Alexandria, Antony decided to take his men and attack him so he departed and left Cleopatra to hide in the magnificent tomb she had had built for herself.
News arrived back that Antony had stabbed himself as he believed that Cleopatra was dead. But when he returned covered in blood and dying he discovered Cleopatra was still alive. He died just as Octavian's troops stormed Cleopatra's tomb and they imprisoned her there prior to the plan to take her back to Rome. However Cleopatra thwarted them by taking her own life, killed by a poisonous snake hidden in a basket of figs taken to her by her servant.
It is all very dramatic and, as such, is dramatically told by Katie Daynes in what can be considered an introduction to the full story of Cleopatra or a taster before watching the even more dramatic Elizabeth Taylor film!
October 17, 2021
Such a good book of the history of Cleopatra. Can finish it in less than an hour. Moderate writing with illustrations. I enjoyed it even though I thought it would be monotonus. A good start for history. Soon you'll be reading the silk roads😁😁
November 30, 2017
“Cleopatra” de Katie Daynes este o carte despre regina Cleopatra pentru copii, doar ca, eu am citit inaunte “Ultimul vis al Cleopatrei” de Christian Jacq si am vazut filmul Cleopatra cu Elizabeth Taylor. Cartea trece brusc de la o actiune la alta. In aceasta carte este povestita “toata” viata Cleopatrei in 64 pagini, pe cand in “Ultimul Vis al Cleopatrei” se povesteste doar jumatate din viata ei in 300 aproape 400 pagini. Motivul pentru care i am dat doar 2 stele este ca nu prea intelegi nimic din ea.
May 17, 2023
Daughter loved it x
September 30, 2010
nyc book.................all abt cleopatra so i really liked it................
January 26, 2013
Very Interesting!
September 11, 2013
فيه المغامرة والحزن
June 13, 2014
انا محمد صالح من الاردن عمري ١٢ سنة قرأت الكتاب باللغة العربية و اعجبني جدا إلا أنني لم افهم علاقة سلة التوت الافعى
March 10, 2016
L-O-V-E this book!
January 3, 2010
Cleopatra killed herself. Why would I like the book when she killed herself?
March 7, 2010
Just the right amount of info.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews