The Classical Novels: The Macedonian and Scenes from the Life of Cleopatra (Revised)
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
Mary Butts had a keen interest in classical history, and an imagination tuned to understanding the personalities of visionary rulers. These two historical novels, published in England in her lifetime to considerable acclaim, are surprisingly well-suited for publication in one volume: the segue from Alexander the Great's death and legacy is readily made to the rise 250 years later of a strong, intelligent, and capable Queen in Alexandria. Each novel is thoroughly researched and richly imagined; Butts' style is fluid, the writing is crisp and colloquial, and the scenes she composes are dramatic. These are historical novels unlike all but a few others; Butts' purpose is to go so far beneath the conventional understanding of Greek and Roman history as to retrieve specific meaning relevant to the contemporary social and political arenas. She realized, for example, how distorted and sexually compromised the figure of Cleopatra had become in the hands of male historians and dramatists (only S
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0929701429
ISBN13:9780929701424
Release Date:September 1994
Publisher:McPherson
Length:385 Pages
Weight:1.20 lbs.
Dimensions:1.3" x 5.6" x 8.5"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
An old romantic-era gem
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
Mary Butts died at 45, but left her mark on English women's fiction. This is not her best novel, but it's nevertheless charming. One must note that it has more in common with the novels of the romantic era than the modern historical novel, and furthermore, historical accuracy is not always high, even understanding it was researched and written in the 1920s-early 30s. Still, the work is rich in language and philosophic speculation. For those interested in an novel about Alexander from the earlier period, this is the one to read (along with Nikos Kazantzakis' young-reader's novel, ALEXANDER THE GREAT).
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
