History is written by the victors, and none more apparent than Cleopatra VII Philopator. She is often depicted as a sultry temptress, a fawning damsel, or a witch by the Roman historians who wrote about her centuries after her demise. Modern historians are a bit kinder but tend to have her story dominated by Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff delivers a unique perspective on one of history’s most intriguing monarchs with her biography, Cleopatra: A Life.
Schiff writes Cleopatra like the flawed protagonist of a historical fiction novel. Her overall character, which Schiff pulls from primary sources of the time, was largely defined by her survivalist prowess and royal lineage. She started off as a scrappy queen in a civil war with her siblings, a common occurrence in the Ptolemy dynasty, and used her wits to convince Caesar she would be a better client to Rome than her far wealthier siblings. Early in her reign, she was on the cusp of losing her throne, either through her conniving siblings or Rome, but she grew from her mistakes and took charge of her destiny until her luck finally ran out.
This biography is for those wanting to learn more about Cleopatra beyond generalizations, particularly those seeking a female perspective. It may also appeal to those looking for some great creative nonfiction, which it most certainly is. However, I can only recommend this for adult audiences due to certain topics covered in the book. Likewise, the ancient politics can be hard to follow at first. Ultimately, this biography is an interesting read about a very intriguing royal.
Cleopatra: A Life is available in print and as a CD book and an eAudiobook.
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2 comments:
Great review, Ashley! I've always found Cleopatra fascinating. Now, I've got another book on my to-be-read list!
Well done, Ashley. This book sounds super cool!
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