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Summary: A perfect example of the genre
Review: I enjoy historical fiction not only for the sheer pleasure of reading, but also for the acquisition of knowledge. I am happy to say that all of Margaret George's books succeed on both levels. Reading a book in this genre always spurs me to further reading on the period, and it's always disappointing to find that an author has played fast and loose with historical facts to write a good story. George stays well within acceptable guidelines when creating her story and still manages to write fascinating material.'The Memoirs of Cleopatra' did read a little more like a romance novel than George's other books, although it's hard to blame her - Cleopatra is a bit more romantic a subject than Henry VIII. And while I did find that I began to be suspicious of the sympathetic treatment 'Memoirs' gave its subject, I don't believe that is a shortcoming, but rather an inevitability of a good biographer identifying with her subject. I disagree with other reviewers that the book was too long; while Cleopatra's life was short, it was thick with events too important to leave out of her life story. On the whole I found the book entertaining and educational; what more can you ask for?
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Summary: ~~~GREAT GREAT BOOK~~~
Review: This was my 3rd Margaret George book and I can't say enough about this great author. Her writing style, told in the first person, makes you feel as if you are living not only WITH Cleopatra, but AS Cleopatra! Her relationships are not overly romanticized. They are reflected in love, as well as pain, and the reader feels the emotions of this great woman's plight in life...and her death. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone even remotely interested in Cleopatra and her time in history.
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Summary: FABULOUS
Review: I saw the ABC movie and It said that the movie was based on the book. I soon found it in a bookstore and saw it's unprecedented length. My mom said maybe Christmas. A few weeks later I saw it in another store. I read up to 81 within 30 minutes. I realized I had to have this book, for already it had entranced and captivated me. I did get for Christmas indeed, and within a week, I finished. Ms. George is an extraordinary writer, and I highly reccomend this novel. Colin, age 12
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Summary: Cleopatra's life from beginning to end
Review: I was excited to read about Cleopatra from the author of such a wonderful historical novel as "Autobiography of Henry VIII". I was also glad that she reverted to using the first person narrative after the less successful re-telling of the story of Mary, Queen of Scotts. I have to say that I enjoyed "The Memoirs of Cleopatra", but it still fell short of my expectations. The biggest problem I had when reading this book is to tune out "Masters of Rome" series of books by Colleen McCullough. After reading the series, I could only look at the history of Ancient Rome through McCullough's eyes and any departure from her story-telling did not sit well with me, even though Margaret George could have been more accurate with her description. The first disparity was the identity of Cleopatra's mother. In "Memoirs of Cleopatra", she is described as Ptolemy VII's half-sister. In "Fortune's Favorites" and "Caesar's Women" by Colleen McCullough, she is described as a daughter of King Mithradates of Pontus. This little detail is probably insignificant but McCullough's version makes Cleopatra's connection to Rome's enemies poignant. Also, McCullough describes an affair between Caesar and Mithradates Nysa, who is in her version Cleopatra's mother's sister or Cleopatra's aunt. It would have been an interesting connection to explore if Margaret George decided to follow this version of Cleopatra's story as well. Although she did not explore any of these possibilities, I kept thinking about all of these connections and that hindered my enjoyment of the novel. The most interesting paradox between the two treatments of Cleopatra's story is the character of Caesar. McCullough devotes all of her books in the series so far to him and he comes out to be a completely different person than Margaret George makes him out to be in "The Memoirs of Cleopatra". I have to agree with George's depiction of Caesar. He is shown as an almost unfalliable person that he undoubtly was (almost being the imperitive word here since McCullough makes him god on earth). However, by this time, I have already bought into McCullough's legend of Caesar so it was a bit disappointing to read about this human version. Other characters that appear in both places confused me. I liked Marc Antony in George's version better because he appeared as more complex individual than in McCullough's version. In her books, he is just a beast in human clothing. Octavian is shown with more potential for later brilliance in McCullough's version, so that is why I like him better in her novles. George makes his emergence unexpected although she writes from Cleopatra's point of view and that might be how she perceived him. Fulvia is too one-dementional in George's version -- she's just some shameless hussy who can't live without a man by her side. I think Fulvia was too unique and interesting (after all she captured the imaginations of Claudius, Curio, and Antony -- very different and strong individuals) for her time to have so little said about her. But again Cleopatra's perception of her might have been different. The characters that appear only in George's version are extremely well realized. Olympus and Mardian were fascinating and the author really let us get to know them. Ptolemy Caesar appears as such a wonderful and brilliant boy that his fate is truly tragic. The Kandake was also an unusual strong femal role-model that is hardly, if ever, heard of in the story of Cleopatra. Cleopatra herself is a wonderful character. George did a wonderful job getting inside her psyche. She was certainly brilliant and a good politian who, alas, followed her heart more often than her reason. I like the way George makes a distinction between Cleopatra's love for Caesar and her love for Antony. The best scene in the whole book is the plan and description of Cleopatra's death. It is amazing that the author can make the readers feel triumphant that this woman is killing herself. The biggest problems with this novel is that it is too long and there are inconsistancies in the description. Cleopatra's stay in Rome is hard to reconcile with history because of so many inconsistancies. For example, how could she cross the pomerium into the city of Rome if no annoited ruler can do that? The length is really felt here because some key moments in time are summarized while superfluous details are elaborated to the point of boredom. All in all, this is a great epic on Cleopatra's life.
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Summary: Cleopatra, Queen of the nile
Review: An incredible book written in the most exquisite taste. I just wish it never ended. A great story about one of the first women to empower the world. I will read it again. I just don't know when! Oh memory, please fail me now.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed to maximum...
Review: Such books it is difficult to rate: the characters - Cleopatra, Caesar, Marc Antony - are so legendary and their story is so generally wide-known and notorious that it is nearly to impossible to percept them as humans that ever lived. And often I couldn't reading this beautiful book - they were so beautiful, daring and head-strong, ruling empires and proving how challenging and fleeting luck can be. This book reads slowlier than two other splendid books by this author: to savour all details (that are the main asset of the book and sometimes turn into its drawbeck)you need time and mood - you feel scent of burning incense, weight of golden necklaces, crispy cool cotton dresses, clanking of breast plates, dust and sweat of Roman crowds - and million of other sensations that the author weaves into thin tapestry enwrapping you. Another note: this novel contains a dozen more love scenes than her other books (it's a story of love and power, in the end). Some scenes make you choke with tears (Caesar's burial, death of both protagonists), some makes you admire enormous wealth of the ancient Egypt. I can only add that 4th book by Ms. George will be an anticipated gift to me.
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Summary: Good descriptions of the ancient world
Review: I have long had a fascination with the ancient world and watch every program on Egypt and Rome that is on TV. I found that this book is very descriptive about the palaces, clothes, jewelry, ceremonies, temples and battles of the ancient world. The author obviously did a lot of extensive research. It's a good book for someone who does not know a lot about the ancient world and would like to know more.
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Summary: Young Girl's Delight?
Review: I was almost put off reading this by the relatively large numbers of Customer Reviews from young girls aged 11-14 who seem to LOVE it! Even the angelic Charlotte Church hyped it in an appearance on Jay Leno's show last week, saying it was so marvelous, she is reading it for the second time, and she is also 14 years old. Most of the readers reviewing this book seem not to know that by the time Cleopatra was queen, the period of Ancient Egypt's greatness was long over. She and the other Ptolemy rulers were GREEK, not of the old Egyptian pyramid-builders blood. One even commented that this book reads like a "novel," apparently not realizing that it IS just a novel, not actually Cleopatra's memoirs. However, it's worth Four Stars as a gigantic literary effort, mostly entertaining even for Adults, Male Adults as well as 14 year old girls, who have an interest in Rome and not-so-ancient Egypt. Why it is almost 1000 pages long is difficult to say, since Cleo wasn't all that old when she got bitten by the asp. For the most part, it IS evocative as some readers have already said, and presents an imaginative panoply of the somewhat decadent period of Egypt's recently-lost greatness. Probably rates the dubious accolade "A good (long) read."
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Summary: not that great
Review: I have always been fascinated by the story of Cleopatra,so, when I found this book at my libray I quickly got it out. The book was very entertaining for the first 300 or so pages, but after that it seemed to drag on and on and I found it quite boring. I also did not like the representation of her as a mostly good person. Though, I don't think history's depiction of her as a scheming seductress is entirely accurate, I still would have liked her to be evil once in awhile. I mean, come on? Do you really believe she went to see Antony dressed up as Venus, without the thought of seducing him not once crossing her mind?
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Summary: An Amazing Literary Experience
Review: As the seventh Cleopatra of the Royal House of Ptolemy, Daughter of Isis and wife to both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, Cleopatra is more than merely a woman, she is the essence of beauty, ambition and power. At nearly one thousand pages, Margaret George's novel, Memoirs of Cleopatra is more than merely a book, it is an epic journey straight to the heart of a woman shrouded in mystery. From the moment I opened the cover of this book, I was transported to the ancient city of Alexandria. I felt the heat of the Egyptian sun on my shoulders, I could smell the exotic fragrances drifting from the palace and I watched as Cleopatra's magnificent fleet glistened in the harbor. The book created the most amazing literary experience I have ever embarked upon. At a time in my life when I needed an escape from reality, The Memoirs of Cleopatra provided just that. The book offers a first person glimpse into one of the greatest stories ever told. Throughout the book, you are right beside Cleopatra as she battles to hold onto her empire. You feel her heartache as Caesar dies, and you feel proud when her son is born. We may never know the true story of Cleopatra. Many of the "facts" we now accept are merely rumors created by her enemies that have lived on throughout the centuries. Was she a seductress? Did she bathe in blood? How did she really die? Margaret George's meticulously researched book is considered a novel, but it offers a fresh look into the life of Cleopatra as it answers many questions. From the moment I turned the last page of Memoirs of Cleopatra, I have and will always be a devoted reader of Margaret George's work.
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