The Memoirs of Cleopatra: A Novel

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Summary: Fascinating and wonderfully written
Review: All of George's novels are interesting, thoroughly researched, and wonderfully written. I am always disappointed when I reach the last page.

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Summary: Immerse yourself in Ancient Egypt!
Review: I have just spent the past two weeks in Ancient Egypt, Rome and living amongst the great people of Alexandria - Walking along the Nile, visiting the Lighthouse, traversing the seas, holding court, making war, making love, having babies, worshiping at temples and preparing for death. Ms. George is a writer of incredible ability. She brings the past into the present and makes you live these lives along with her. Each phrase is a delicious morsel that demads to be devoured quickly and yet savored at the same time. The details of people, places, clothing, and atmosphere are so compeling that the feel is that it was she who experienced it all and not just researched it. This is where her great talent reveals itself. Steeped in wonderous detail and historical data, it is written as compeling as any fiction tale needs to be. It inspires the reader to read other books on the subject and become and explorer of history and truth. I admire such dedication to perfection and hope other will see fit to delve into her works without being put off by the shear size of them. Only a great life warrants 900+ pages! My belief is to share these things with everyone - in that vein, I would be happy to pass my copy along to anyone who wishes it.

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Summary: George turns Egypt's Fabled Queen Into A Cardboard Cut Out
Review: I read and enjoyed Margaret George's Autobiograpy of Henry the VIII, and liked how she made Henry into a very real character. Unfortunately I was sorely disappointed in her treatment of Cleopatra. As a character, her actions were predictable and almost devoid of any sort of feeling or emotion. I found myself comparing this work with William Bostock's "I Cleopatra", and for all its faults, Bostock's work far exceeded George's in terms of characterizations, flow, and historical accuracy. Im sorry, I would like to rate this work higher, but in all good conscience cannot.

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Summary: Outstanding historical novel, very detailed
Review: Memoirs of Cleopatra is an outstanding novel. The near 1,000 pages race by. The reader is mesmerized by Cleopatra's account of her fasinating life. Ms. George experty weaves historical events and people throught the story. She has allowed us to glimpse into the private thoughts and lives of key historical figures from Ancient Rome and Egypt. What is releaved is not only a picture of history but how the events affected the lives of the individual people and how their personalities and view of theworld have influenced their decisions and therefore history. Ms. George has several pages of author's notes in the back of the book in which she explains her research and which events in history were true or why she deviated from popular belief. She also provides titles for further reading broken down into catagories of books about the people or the time period. You will be captivated from the first sentenceto the last in this spellbinding novel.

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Summary: the staggering effect of the movies and television
Review: The book is magnificent, as good or better than her earlier works. The wealth of detail adds much to the total quality of this work, especially in an era in which so much fiction / literature seems to be devoid of detail, obsessed with plot, action and dialogue, and obviously aiming at ultimate film / television treatment. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get Rex Harrison, Richard Burton and Roddy MacDowell out of my head, throughout the entire enjoyable experience.

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Summary: History brought to life
Review: I really enjoyed this latest novel by Margaret George. Having little knowledge of Cleopatra other than what's out there in pop culture, I learned a tremendous amount. Cleopatra fascinated me - she was shrewd, brave and charismatic. I don't think George was quite as comfortable with the subject matter of Egypt as compared to England (Henry VIII). Nonetheless the book picks up momentum as it goes and delivers a remarkable inside look at one of history's most interesting women.

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Summary: Excellent
Review: This book makes history come alive in a very easy-to-read form. I wish learning history in school was as enjoyable as reading this book.

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Summary: An excellent and entertaining read on Cleopatra!
Review: Margaret George truely brings this time period to life. It is a trip back to Cleopatra's Egypt and the people of her time; Julias Caeser, Marc Anthony, and Octavian. It is obviously well researched and it makes for a very entertaining read.

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Summary: The Must Read of the Year
Review: This book is one of the most brilliant books I have read in a long time. Margaret George paints an exquisite, refreshing tale of remarkable women of legend. I think the most amazing experience that one gains when reading this book is the vision of Caesar when a young Cleopatra leaps from the rug. I don't think I could recommend this book highly enough!

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Summary: "brilliant...with the power to subjugate every one..."
Review: OK, so maybe Margaret George's book doesn't quite have the power Dio Cassius attributed to Cleopatra. Nonetheless, The Memoirs of Cleopatra is a captivating story of one of history's most romantic and infamous heroines. George makes excellent use of primary sources and, by incorporating their detail, makes her story all the more believable. Nearly all the accounts we have of Cleopatra come from her enemies; she was, after all, "the lascivious fury who was to become the bane of Rome..." (Lucan, Civil War). It is refreshing to find a novel so thoroughly researched that presents events from a friendly point of view while sticking to the basic historic facts. This story mesmerizes; at the end, you will want to storm Alexandria yourself, not resting until you find the long-lost ruins of Cleopatra's palace and the tomb she shares with Antony.