The Memoirs of Cleopatra: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: a true masterpiece
Review: margaret george depicts cleopatra in all of her glory. she accurately and passionately brings out the true cleopatra and left no doubt in my mind that cleopatra was truly one of the most passionate, ambitous and yes honorable people to ever live.

Rating:
Summary: A must-read
Review: I am not a lover of historical fiction but purchased this book because I have always had a fascination with Egypt. I took it on a two week trip to Bali and once I started it I could not put it down. I, too, cried when Caesar died. The story and details transported me into another world and every day I was torn between exploring the island and reading by the pool. When I finished, I couldn't help but feel admiration and a sense of loss for this woman who lived so long ago. Books I have read following this one were good in their own right but none have left such an impact on my imagination and my soul.

Rating:
Summary: Simply pure magic
Review: When ABC did a movie about Cleopatra I read in my TV guide that the movie was based on this book. Although the movie was terrible the next day I was at the library I saw it and checked it out. During the two weeks I had checked it out I was rather busy so after not being able to finish the 900+ page book I bought it. It my second favorite novel and longest book I have ever read. I couldn't put it down and still reread it over and over. It is the most truthful historical fiction I have seen. You feel like you are a character in this lush bedazzaling world of passion and loyalty watching the story unfold like a lotus bloom. You have real feelings for all the characters. In the back of the book there is also some words by the author about which parts of the novel are real and which parts had to be made up( which Ms. George did beautifully). The reason this book is so well written with so many real facts is the author spent many years studying Cleopatra before she wrote a word. If you are up to traveling through a mystic realm of magic read this gem of a novel. It will spellbind you too. FINIS

Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: This book brings to life acient cultures, religions, and people. It is a wonderful read! I especially liked the notes in back, where George tells us what is definately based in historical fact.

Rating:
Summary: Long but worth it
Review: Reading this book is like being a fly on the wall of the bedrooms of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Marc Antony. The author's ingenious ability to delve beyond the legends and portray these extraordinary characters as human beings keeps you fascinated throughout the whole length of the book. At the same time, it is highly educational and provides a glimpse of the life and politics during the height of the Roman Empire.

Rating:
Summary: Wears the double crown; beautiful.
Review: This book filled my head with pictures of times and places that don't exist anymore. It gives you a sense of emptiness when you're not reading it. It made me realize what it's like to lose someone you love. When Caesar was murdured, I cried. I felt as though I was the one who's love was just killed. You will never put down this book if you know what's good for you. 'Alas my queen, all good things must come to an end...'

Rating:
Summary: Rich and Textured
Review: This is an incredibly wrought work. Margaret George has left nothing untouched in this amazing novel about one of the history's most fascinating women. It is rich and textured, spanning the minutest thoughts running through the Great Queen's mind. There are few irregularities--occassionaly George reiterates the same sentences throughout the book that are obvious and unnecessary (esp. about Antony). The war planning stretches far, and the dialogue is stilted here. As someone earlier mentioned here, it is also unnaturally modern. However, this book is detailed and I recommend it for any fan of historically accurate fiction. George's afterward is particularly interesting because the tale raises a lot of questions in the reader. We grieve with Cleopatra as she loses Caesar, Antony, and her life but at the same time, we rejoice.

Rating:
Summary: The Memoirs if Cleopatra
Review: I have read MANY books about history and I have found that Margaret George writes a fascinating account of history. SO easy to read and SO enjoyable! I have read ALL of her books and look forward to new ones. This books brings to life the Cleopatra history forgets. The mother she was and the Great ruler of her Beloved Egypt. She would even rival Elizabeth the First. I highly recommend this book for history fans who like to read a well written account of history. Some parts Ms. George does explain are fictional but they are small and more often than not this has to be done since actual accounts of ancient history do not survive or were not written.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best book I've ever read!
Review: I've read and reread a lot of books, but this is the first book I've ever wanted to reread before I finished it the first time! This book (and Cleopatra's life) read as nonfiction, but George's thorough research makes the topic even more interesting, knowing that the major events are true. If you love historical fiction, if you love powerful rulers and court intrigue, if you love lovers and their pitfalls, this book is for you. You get to peer into the mind and heart of one of the most powerful and intriguing woman the world has ever seen. Even though you know how it must, how it does end, you can't help but wish they would only listen to her or that she would rethink this decision or that. You will see the potential they had to create a new world, admire her bravery and character, and sorrow in the fact that she dreamed ahead of her time. Her spirit stays with you long after you turn the last page. I'm thinking of buying a second copy to loan to my friends and family, because I can't bear to part with my original copy.

Rating:
Summary: A needed compliment to a time gone bye.
Review: I found this to be an excellent example of a ficticious novel which quite completes a profile of a woman of which much speculation is assumed. It furthers an interest of the times and truly historical documents of which it is founded.