Take a photo of a barcode or cover
neha_maybe's review against another edition
4.0
The way the history and the fiction grows parallel is brilliant. And enjoyable
pdonovan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
paul_cornelius's review against another edition
4.0
One of Haggard's earlier works, Cleopatra is downright sinister in its revelations about human greed, lust, and revenge. Love does not operate other than to fuel lust on the part of Harmachis, greed on the part of Cleopatra, and revenge on the part of Charmion, the frustrated would-be lover of Harmachis who drags Harmachis into destruction with her. Indeed, all are concerned with vengeance in this novel, even the gods and their priests. Never have I read such an ending to any of Haggard's books. He leaves us in Cleopatra without hope for this world or the next, the latter being even more terrible than the brief time spent across our Earthly lifespan.
Otherwise, the book is notable for Haggard's use of archaic language throughout. I'm not sure it's as successful as it could be--often veering into the inauthentic rather than verisimilitude. I have read instances where Haggard salts his characters' speech with archaic words and phrases, and it all works quite well. But it does so because it is sampled and mixed in among the vitality of his present day language. Here, in Cleopatra, its use has the feel of cobwebs sprayed into the set of a haunted castle on a movie set. It feels unreal; it is unreal. And we are left with a carpet of death but no feeling of remorse for anyone.
Otherwise, the book is notable for Haggard's use of archaic language throughout. I'm not sure it's as successful as it could be--often veering into the inauthentic rather than verisimilitude. I have read instances where Haggard salts his characters' speech with archaic words and phrases, and it all works quite well. But it does so because it is sampled and mixed in among the vitality of his present day language. Here, in Cleopatra, its use has the feel of cobwebs sprayed into the set of a haunted castle on a movie set. It feels unreal; it is unreal. And we are left with a carpet of death but no feeling of remorse for anyone.
ophidia's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
distopian_'s review against another edition
5.0
বরাবরের মত এবার হারিয়ে গেছি মিশরে, পিরামিডে, প্রতিটা চরিত্রের গভীরে। ভালোবাসা আর বিশ্বাসঘাতকতা যে কতটা গভির ভাবে মিশে থাকে হ্যাগ্রার্ড সাহেব আরো একবার বুঝিয়ে দিলেন!
boring_bengali's review against another edition
3.0
প্রধান পুরোহিতের ছেলে সন্তান গল্পের নায়ক হারমাচিসের মা স্বপ্নে দেখলেন যে তার ছেলে একদিন মিশরের রাজা হবে।
হারমাচিসকে রাজা হিসেবে তৈরি করা শুরু হল।
হারমাচিসের মায়ের দেখা সব স্বপ্নই নাকি সত্যি হয়। কিন্তু এই স্বপ্ন কেনো সত্যি হল না বুঝতে পারলাম না।
এই ভিত্তিহীন স্বপ্নের পিছনে না ছুটলেই বরং হারমাচিসের জীবন টা সুন্দর হতো। ক্লিওপেট্রা বিদেশী শাসক হলেও তার শাসনে তেমন কোনো ত্রুটির কথা গল্পে উল্লেখ নেই যার কারণে তাকে ক্ষমতা থেকে সরানোর জন্য সবাই এত ব্যস্ত।
যাইহোক বইটি অনেক রোমাঞ্চকর ঘটনায় ভরপুর।
পড়ে মজা পাবেন।
হারমাচিসকে রাজা হিসেবে তৈরি করা শুরু হল।
হারমাচিসের মায়ের দেখা সব স্বপ্নই নাকি সত্যি হয়। কিন্তু এই স্বপ্ন কেনো সত্যি হল না বুঝতে পারলাম না।
এই ভিত্তিহীন স্বপ্নের পিছনে না ছুটলেই বরং হারমাচিসের জীবন টা সুন্দর হতো। ক্লিওপেট্রা বিদেশী শাসক হলেও তার শাসনে তেমন কোনো ত্রুটির কথা গল্পে উল্লেখ নেই যার কারণে তাকে ক্ষমতা থেকে সরানোর জন্য সবাই এত ব্যস্ত।
যাইহোক বইটি অনেক রোমাঞ্চকর ঘটনায় ভরপুর।
পড়ে মজা পাবেন।
lbrex's review against another edition
3.0
This is certainly not Haggard's best work. While there are some fine discussions of Egyptian religion (doubtlessly caught up in some way with Haggard's seeming interest in Theosophy), many of the characters in this novel are shadows of the more interesting and complicated figures in _She_. I was struck by the deep feelings of sexual shame on the part of the narrator in this text. Haggard seems aware of this fact to a degree, but this awareness cannot make up for the book's obsessive return to the narrator's disturbed sense that he is, in fact, a sexual being. The reader is forced repeatedly to confront the fact that Harmachis, Haggard's priest protagonist and descendent of the pharaohs, was attracted to Cleopatra and let her cloud his judgment! Parallel with Harmachis's feelings are those of Charmion, a potential ally of Harmachis who he spurns. As a result, she betrays him and all of Egypt. The fall of an entire civilization is repeatedly attributed to the out-of-control desire of women (and to the desire of men for women, since desire for women is apparently the fault of the women themselves). While many of these ideas are not out of place in Haggard's work, there's not enough going on in _Cleopatra_ to distract the reader from their crudeness. The depictions of Isis are, however, fascinating, and I thought Cleopatra's death was handled well (as was the accompanying illustration).
_Cleopatra_ is best for diehard Haggard fans, but certainly is not near the top of his five best novels. Also, it should be of interest for those looking to read tales of vengeance or historical fiction.
_Cleopatra_ is best for diehard Haggard fans, but certainly is not near the top of his five best novels. Also, it should be of interest for those looking to read tales of vengeance or historical fiction.
hylian_narwhal's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
ragne's review against another edition
4.0
This is not an easy read. It's written in "old timey English", so unless you can read for instance Shakespeare fluently, it will take some time. As English is not my first language, I was glad I read it on Kindle, which has a good, easy to use dictionary.
However, it is well worth the "trouble". The language gives the story a certain credibility.
The characters are both good and evil, which makes them believable. Haggard's knowledge of history and mythology is great, and I learned some stuff I hadn't known.
Even though Harmachis is a fictional character, you will find yourself thinking this is plausible, and this is how it really could have happened. It gives the impression of really being based on scrolls found in Harmachis' tomb.
However, it is well worth the "trouble". The language gives the story a certain credibility.
The characters are both good and evil, which makes them believable. Haggard's knowledge of history and mythology is great, and I learned some stuff I hadn't known.
Even though Harmachis is a fictional character, you will find yourself thinking this is plausible, and this is how it really could have happened. It gives the impression of really being based on scrolls found in Harmachis' tomb.