Book Overview
Few personalities from classical antiquity are more famous--yet more poorly understood--than Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt. In this major biography, Duane Roller reveals that Cleopatra was in fact a learned and visionary leader whose overarching goal was always the preservation of her dynasty and kingdom.
Roller's authoritative account is the first to be based solely on primary materials from the Greco-Roman period: literary sources, Egyptian documents (Cleopatra's own writings), and representations in art and coinage produced while she was alive. His compelling portrait of the queen illuminates her prowess as a royal administrator who managed a large and diverse kingdom extending from Asia Minor to the interior of Egypt, as a naval commander who led her own fleet in battle, and as a scholar and supporter of the arts. Even her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius--the source of her reputation as a supreme seductress who drove men to their doom--were carefully crafted state policies: she chose these partners to insure the procreation of successors who would be worthy of her distinguished dynasty. That Cleopatra ultimately lost to her Roman opponents, Roller contends, in no way diminishes her abilities. "Roller tells his tale smoothly and accessibly....The resulting portrait is that of a complex, many-sided figure, a potent Hellenistic ruler who could move the tillers of power as skillfully as any man, and one far and nobly removed from the 'constructed icon' of popular imagination."
--The New York Times Book Review "A rich account of late Ptolemaic culture."
--The New Yorker "Offers a superb panorama of the society and culture of late Ptolemaic Egypt, with vivid sketches of the (remarkably vigorous) intellectual life of Cleopatra's Alexandria and the structural instabilities of the late Ptolemaic state."
--Times Literary Supplement "Besides providing a compelling story and breathing fresh air into a heretofore two-dimensional caricature from history, Roller's 'Cleopatra' provides an interesting commentary on the attitudes still prevalent towards women who rule."
--Christian Science Monitor "Compulsively readable."
--Bookslut "A definitive account of a queen of remarkable strength."
--Publishers Weekly
Roller's authoritative account is the first to be based solely on primary materials from the Greco-Roman period: literary sources, Egyptian documents (Cleopatra's own writings), and representations in art and coinage produced while she was alive. His compelling portrait of the queen illuminates her prowess as a royal administrator who managed a large and diverse kingdom extending from Asia Minor to the interior of Egypt, as a naval commander who led her own fleet in battle, and as a scholar and supporter of the arts. Even her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius--the source of her reputation as a supreme seductress who drove men to their doom--were carefully crafted state policies: she chose these partners to insure the procreation of successors who would be worthy of her distinguished dynasty. That Cleopatra ultimately lost to her Roman opponents, Roller contends, in no way diminishes her abilities. "Roller tells his tale smoothly and accessibly....The resulting portrait is that of a complex, many-sided figure, a potent Hellenistic ruler who could move the tillers of power as skillfully as any man, and one far and nobly removed from the 'constructed icon' of popular imagination."
--The New York Times Book Review "A rich account of late Ptolemaic culture."
--The New Yorker "Offers a superb panorama of the society and culture of late Ptolemaic Egypt, with vivid sketches of the (remarkably vigorous) intellectual life of Cleopatra's Alexandria and the structural instabilities of the late Ptolemaic state."
--Times Literary Supplement "Besides providing a compelling story and breathing fresh air into a heretofore two-dimensional caricature from history, Roller's 'Cleopatra' provides an interesting commentary on the attitudes still prevalent towards women who rule."
--Christian Science Monitor "Compulsively readable."
--Bookslut "A definitive account of a queen of remarkable strength."
--Publishers Weekly
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0195365534
ISBN13:9780195365535
Release Date:April 2010
Publisher:Oxford University Press, USA
Length:272 Pages
Weight:1.26 lbs.
Dimensions:1.1" x 9.2" x 6.3"
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
The Queen is Back!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
The mysterious Queen of the Nile is back in a big way! In //Cleopatra// the reader is provided a very in depth look into the life and times of one of the most memorable figures in history. This is a very detailed look at her past, her ancestral roots, and how she was really born to be the Queen of Egypt. //Cleopatra// provides a new perspective on the queen who is mostly remembered for being seductive and using men as she pleased. In this book we learn that she was not in fact that way and that she used her intelligence to truly get what she wanted. Most people don't know she was very politically aware and that she made many smart decisions in her time as queen. I have always been fascinated by the thought of Cleopatra and I found that even in the distorted image presented to me in the media I still admired her for her seduction. Now that I have read this book and have a real understanding of all of her accomplishments I admire her for her intelligence and grace. Cleopatra was a true queen and this book gives her the respect she deserves. Reviewed by Nicole Will
Hooray for strong women!!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
You will experience the drama of that fascinating, ancient age in this fresh look at Cleopatra. This book should be picked up not only by courses in classical history, but by Women's Studies classes everywhere. This carefully researched and scholarly history makes clear that the Hollywood version is only partially accurate - Cleopatra chose to see to it she was educated as well as any man, and evidently had the charisma to hold her own with anybody in negotations on behalf of her beloved Egypt. It's even a great beach house read, for the right kind of people.....! Hooray for strong women everywhere, in all times!
Clearing away the myths
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
As a youngster, my ideas about Cleopatra were first shaped by the Liz Taylor movie. (She also surfaces as a ghoulish monster in an Anne Rice novel.) As I grew up and read more, I came to realize that her defeat at the hands of the Romans and the fact that she was a woman shaped all the myths we hold about her. Far from a scheming, sex-mad seductress, she had only two known relationships with men, and was a great intellectual scholar and able leader. This book taught me a lot more that I didn't know about a truly fascinating woman.
Interesting reading....
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
I have just finished reading this biography on Cleopatra and I found it to be quite informative and educational. The book itself is pretty short, about 156 pages long with additional 30 pages or so of appendix information. One of the elements I haven't considered before was Cleopatra as a Roman citizen. This is more of a conjecture by the book but an interesting mind twister that reflects on the long relationship her family had with the Roman Republic. The book tries to cut down the romantic notion of Cleopatra and focus mainly on her abilities as a ruler and the trials and tribulations that went with it. From the book she appears to be a very cunning woman who uses her political wits, female wiles and just about every other weapons available to her to maintained her power and independence of her kingdom. She was obviously very intelligent, knowledgable and her ability to speak several languages clearly made a strong impression. But as it turned out, in the end, the tide of history was against her and she placed too much hope in Mark Antony who proves to be more of a lapdog then a lion at the end. I thought the book was well written and its appears that the author did his research pretty well. It is nice that this book doesn't fall into the trap of political correctness by even bothering to discuss if Cleopatra was a black woman or not. The book clearly stated that she was of a Macedonian birth although her mother may have been of some Egyptian blood. (Egyptians back then, were not black but more Semitic.) This may have caused her to take a greater interest in her people and her masterly of their customs, way of life and language. I do not understand the previous reviewer comments but for me, I found the book very easy to read. In reflection, actually a fast reading book due to its length.
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