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erikajay's review
4.0
I didn’t know anything about cleopatra except she slept with Caesar and Mark Anthony. But now I know a lot more!
The author did a good job of trying to give a fair representation of Cleopatra, she discusses the shortcomings and possible biases of her sources, which is a mark of a good historian.
The author did a good job of trying to give a fair representation of Cleopatra, she discusses the shortcomings and possible biases of her sources, which is a mark of a good historian.
novelette's review
2.0
A little hard to follow and dry. But as it has been pointed out, this is non-fiction
aceinit's review against another edition
3.0
A read that never ceases to be interesting. However, at times it can be enormously frustrating. Much of Cleopatra’s time with Caesar is skipped over in favor of lavish descriptions of Alexandria and Rome during their lifetimes. Shockingly little is said about the two famous subjects themselves. Though I can understand that most of Cleopatra’s history was lost due to Octavian/Augustus and the rule of victors writing the histories, I find it disheartening that even the great Caesar himself does not merit more solid facts and page time...particularly when it later becomes how much is given to other figures such as Herod.
On the subject of Cleopatra’s time with Antony, we have more information, but this gives way to a plethora of the same speculation the author had stated she wished to avoid as their history nears its fatal end.
Constructing an accurate biography of someone about whom we know so little is a o-doubt frustrating task, but Schiff largely does an admirable job. But there were times when I wish she would have sacrificed so much time spent on setting, plateware and economics for simply admitting that there were some things we just don’t know, and likely never will.
On the subject of Cleopatra’s time with Antony, we have more information, but this gives way to a plethora of the same speculation the author had stated she wished to avoid as their history nears its fatal end.
Constructing an accurate biography of someone about whom we know so little is a o-doubt frustrating task, but Schiff largely does an admirable job. But there were times when I wish she would have sacrificed so much time spent on setting, plateware and economics for simply admitting that there were some things we just don’t know, and likely never will.