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colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars maybe I'll change to five..
I loved this, she writes in such detail and its beautiful written. I feelt fully emersed in the story and didn't want it to end.
I loved this, she writes in such detail and its beautiful written. I feelt fully emersed in the story and didn't want it to end.
spiralbody's review against another edition
1.0
Historically accurate but a bland slog to get through
pillywiggin's review against another edition
5.0
The best historical fiction treatment of the turbulent times from the life of Sulla to the ascension of Octavius. One of the best historical fiction series ever, but be prepared to read all of the books once you start, because you won't be able to put them down.
jennyn52779's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jhouses's review against another edition
3.0
Un adecuado final para la saga de Roma. Además permite empalmar suavemente con el "Yo, Caludio" de Graves.
emiliemoeller's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me a long time to read but I persisted because there were great snippets of love/political roman history, but they were interspersed with incredibly dense war sections containing a LOT of names and seemed to stretch on in between what i would consider the more interesting stuff. Still- this book is an amazing history book, but a little less amazing historical fiction if thats what youre looking for.
evailonak's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kandicez's review against another edition
5.0
January 2015 -
McCullough's writing slays me because it's so smart. I feel smarter after devouring one of her novels. She researches EVERYTHING so every word and description feels spot on.
I always fall deeply into McCullough's books. Her writing style is so accessible, that even when the story is mired in history, geography, Latin, unfamiliar words, hard to remember names...I still live it as I read!
I love the story of A&C and have read many versions. The uber-romantic ones appealed to me when I was younger (of course), but now that I have "matured" McCullough's version seems so much more realistic. Antony was a boor. By all accounts, he was handsome, charming, and strong, but at the same time, he was a womanizer, drank to excess, and suffered feelings of inadequacy. These are the same faults that kept Gaius Julius Caesar from naming him his successor. This was a blow from which Antony never recovered.
Cleopatra, except in the most romantic versions of her life, was not a great beauty. Her appeal lay in her intelligence, reality, and speaking voice. There is no doubt she was an effective ruler. Caesar helped her develop her leadership skills after securing her throne. I find it believable that they shared a true love. Yes, the relationship was mutually beneficial, but only love would account for the longevity of their time as a couple. Antony arrives on the scene when she is already firmly ensconced in her reign. Caesar not only paves the way for Cleopatra's life but, in essence, paved the way to her for Antony.
Cleopatra's wealth was a great way for Antony to further his campaign. He didn't seek her out for an affair of the heart. She was a woman. He liked women. She needed a "godlike" man to father her children. They were infinitely useful to one another. I'm sure they developed real feelings, especially as their children were born, but theirs was a relationship of convenience. Out of sight, out of mind, seemed to be their approach to separations. It was perfectly acceptable and utterly realistic.
As she always does, McCullough brought Egypt and Rome to life for me. Each place Antony or Octavian visited felt very tangible, real, right here, right now, not centuries past. Politics are always the most intriguing aspects of any book on ancient civilization. Here, although the title is Antony and Cleopatra, we learn as much about Octavian's politics and motivations as theirs. No author will make me hate him less, but McC lets me understand him at least.
It's hard to read the end of any story about these doomed lovers, but here it's told in a tasteful, understandable way. We expect it, yes, but we can also understand it. Not just for the cruel deaths they suffer, but for the political maneuvering that made their deaths inevitable and unavoidable.
McCullough's writing slays me because it's so smart. I feel smarter after devouring one of her novels. She researches EVERYTHING so every word and description feels spot on.
I always fall deeply into McCullough's books. Her writing style is so accessible, that even when the story is mired in history, geography, Latin, unfamiliar words, hard to remember names...I still live it as I read!
I love the story of A&C and have read many versions. The uber-romantic ones appealed to me when I was younger (of course), but now that I have "matured" McCullough's version seems so much more realistic. Antony was a boor. By all accounts, he was handsome, charming, and strong, but at the same time, he was a womanizer, drank to excess, and suffered feelings of inadequacy. These are the same faults that kept Gaius Julius Caesar from naming him his successor. This was a blow from which Antony never recovered.
Cleopatra, except in the most romantic versions of her life, was not a great beauty. Her appeal lay in her intelligence, reality, and speaking voice. There is no doubt she was an effective ruler. Caesar helped her develop her leadership skills after securing her throne. I find it believable that they shared a true love. Yes, the relationship was mutually beneficial, but only love would account for the longevity of their time as a couple. Antony arrives on the scene when she is already firmly ensconced in her reign. Caesar not only paves the way for Cleopatra's life but, in essence, paved the way to her for Antony.
Cleopatra's wealth was a great way for Antony to further his campaign. He didn't seek her out for an affair of the heart. She was a woman. He liked women. She needed a "godlike" man to father her children. They were infinitely useful to one another. I'm sure they developed real feelings, especially as their children were born, but theirs was a relationship of convenience. Out of sight, out of mind, seemed to be their approach to separations. It was perfectly acceptable and utterly realistic.
As she always does, McCullough brought Egypt and Rome to life for me. Each place Antony or Octavian visited felt very tangible, real, right here, right now, not centuries past. Politics are always the most intriguing aspects of any book on ancient civilization. Here, although the title is Antony and Cleopatra, we learn as much about Octavian's politics and motivations as theirs. No author will make me hate him less, but McC lets me understand him at least.
It's hard to read the end of any story about these doomed lovers, but here it's told in a tasteful, understandable way. We expect it, yes, but we can also understand it. Not just for the cruel deaths they suffer, but for the political maneuvering that made their deaths inevitable and unavoidable.
teriboop's review against another edition
3.0
The final saga of Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series is Antony and Cleopatra. The story chronicles the time period of 41 BC to 27 BC in
Rome and Egypt. Julius Caesar has died leaving Cleopatra and his son Caesarian to ruling Egypt and Octavian and Antony are fighting for the Roman throne. Cleopatra also has designs on the throne for her son, Julius' heir. Love, sex, conspiracy and war.
I was excited to read this book before I realized it was the last of a series, and one I had not read. I thought it did well, standing on its own, but now I would like to read the whole series. I think it would have helped keep my interest at the beginning more, but ultimately I was sucked into the story. I didn't get that Antony and Cleopatra was such a great love story, as I had always thought the case. They used each other and by the time they realized they really loved each other, they did themselves in. It's just a reminder that in life it's better to make love not war.
Rome and Egypt. Julius Caesar has died leaving Cleopatra and his son Caesarian to ruling Egypt and Octavian and Antony are fighting for the Roman throne. Cleopatra also has designs on the throne for her son, Julius' heir. Love, sex, conspiracy and war.
I was excited to read this book before I realized it was the last of a series, and one I had not read. I thought it did well, standing on its own, but now I would like to read the whole series. I think it would have helped keep my interest at the beginning more, but ultimately I was sucked into the story. I didn't get that Antony and Cleopatra was such a great love story, as I had always thought the case. They used each other and by the time they realized they really loved each other, they did themselves in. It's just a reminder that in life it's better to make love not war.