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Summary: An Outstanding Piece of Literature!
Review: After reading Margaret George's other outstanding books, The Autobiography of Henry VIII and Mary Queen of Scots and the Isles, I decided to read Memoirs of Cleopatra. This book was magnificent! By the second chapter I was hooked! The descriptive writing was moving and enchanting! I loved the lush detail, personal views from Cleopatra, and the scenery. I felt as if I was with her throughout out her life and known her. This is the only book that 900 pages seems to be not enough. This book was illuminating, enlightening, and entertaining! I highly recommend this book to everyone. Please do not judge this book by the ABC production CLEOPATRA. This book is the real thing!
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Summary: Cleopatra was not a vamp.
Review: Cleopatra was an intelligent and articulate woman, involved in two monogamous relationships, mother of 4, and politician whose post was that of Queen of Egypt. Ms. George held me spellbound with this historic icon she brought to life in some 900+ pages. The characters were fully fleshed out and maintained their individuality throughout the text. There were a couple of myths I expected George to dispel surrounding the death of Cleopatra's second "husband", the Battle of Actium, and her death by snake bite. At all times however, each event was seen through the eyes of the characters and what is currently known about the event. As a reader I came away enlightened, educated, and refreshed. I completed the reading within 10 days and was sorry there weren't more pages. It was so easy for me to let the world pass me by while I accompanied the Queen on her tragic journey through her life in the last century B.C. Most tasteful and steamiest romantic passages I've read. It was the most natural feeling of euphoria I've ever experienced. Gore Vidal eat your heart out!
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Summary: An excellent exmample of good literature.
Review: This book had it all -- romance, intrigue, etc. but my favorite thing about it was that it showed Cleopatra as how I imagined her, a strong minded, determined, beautiful woman, who, if not for some dumb headed men, would probably have been the ruler of Rome, basically all the known world. The movie was awful, some cheap sex flick that involved Billy Zane half naked alot (Although the actress who played Cleopatra was good). Don't base the book on this movie. It can be a bit boring at times, describing scenery and all that stuff, but it's overall grade: An A++++++++++!
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Summary: This book shined brighter than the Pharos Lighthouse!!!
Review: Many readers may now be discouraged from reading this book, thanks to the totally inaccurate ABC re-telling in its recent production of CLEOPATRA. Don't be discouraged! George's account was based on HISTORICAL DIGGING and NOT Hollywood fantasy! Having read several accounts of Cleopatra VII's life, I found George's to be especially refreshing. Her accounting of the Battle of Actium shed important, new historical accounts/theories on what probably happened. History has always been so HARD on both Cleopatra and Antony. Though they both made their share of mistakes (who hasn't?!), George's book strips away the cold marble facades of their museum busts, and places flesh and beating hearts into their characters. And for those who are loath to believe that Octavian (Caesar Augustus) was beyond flaw, remember that the way one acts in victory says MUCH about one's character. The tragedy revealed at the end of the book (the murders of two sons of Cleopatra and Antony, and the destruction of their statues and the smearing of their names) should be evidence enough that sometimes history can be extrememly wrong. Thanks Margaret George for finally telling the OTHER side of the story. It was illuminating, and I cried when Antony died. Readers, get your Kleenex OUT!
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Summary: Memory of Cleopatra?
Review: A bit too unrealistic, I thought. Such detailed descriptions and impressions on every person, every landscape, every banquet were certainly a pleasure to read ... at first. But this book, Memoirs of Cleopatra is written as an autobiography decades after all those events. It isn't written as a journal, as they happen just now. According to this book, Cleopatra must have been not only beautiful, strong minded, politically correct, excellent in languages, but also had the best memory in history. Or shall I call, "Memory of Cleopatra"?The indication that the "scrolls" were written years later, in fact, after her defeat in Actium comes here and there throughout the book. Beginning as early as the middle of the first scroll, when she bemoans her own fate, while describing her sister Arsinoe's, doomed to be displayed in Roman streets as a captive in chains. And constantly afterwards. Yet the answer does not come until late in the 9th scroll, when she finally reveals the purpose of the memoir that it was created to tell her side of the story as opposed to Octavian's. That's when the novel really opens up and takes us into the next dimension. All the battle scenes, banquets, sorrow and love, only a prelude now. Her inner struggle takes over now. I could now fall so deeply into the character as if her feelings were my own ... finally. It was a great joy. But, then, why did I have to wait that long? It could have been much better written by spending more on Cleopatra's inner psyche than getting lost in all the details signifying little. In short, too much history and less literature.
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Summary: Awesome!
Review: As a senior high school student, I decided to read the Memoirs of Cleopatra as an independent study unit. At the time, the idea sounded bizzare, choosing a story much longer than the rest of the students in my class. On the other hand, I was up to the challenge. After much procrastination, I began to read George's novel and found the story to be very outstanding. I didn't know too much about the controversal character of Cleopatra until I read the book. I admire George for the way she placed her life in such an excellent narrative story. I actually felt I was with Cleopatra throughout her life. I felt her victories, joys, losses and pains. I was following her every move. Cleopatra is indeed a strong, determined woman living in a society dominated by men. She encourages women all around the world to stand up for themselves, even in the face of danger.
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Summary: Cleopatra was of Greek descent; she was NOT African!!!!!
Review: I am writing this review in response to the one reviewer who was disgusted by the racist society which "cannot acknowledge the beauty of an African queen." Cleopatra was of Greek descent. She did not have one drop of Egyptian blood. Therefore, I am sorry to disappoint those who believe that she was black in telling them that she was not. Interestingly, this is a fact which, incidentally, credits her amazing intelligence and saavy in being the first ruler of Egypt who could actually speak the language of the people. The Memoirs of Cleopatra is a wonderful read, and potential readers should not measure the book's worth by the miniseries.
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Summary: sensitive, intensely personal, yet historically accurate.
Review: Margaret Georges account of Cleopatra Queen of Egypts life adheres to historical accuracy while providing an intensely personal insite into the psyche of one of historys most fascinating personalities. The first person technique combined with the authors wonderful intuition and imagination allows the reader to know the human being and woman behind the legend and historical figure. We learn that the Egyptian queen,in addition to being a shrewd politician, scholar, and linguist, was both a devoted mother and the kind of lover who in Georges words "gave all of myself". Yes, political expedience may have motivated the young queen to seduce Julius Caesar, yet the woman behind the politican fell genuinely in love and later became devoted mother and wife well as the ambitious egotist who could ruthlessly plot the murder of her younger sister. Thus through Margaret Georges insights we learn that the Queen of Egypt, who sincerely believed herself to be the living embodiment of the Goddess Isis, was also refreshingly human. As a human being and a woman, we can empathize with her even as we may recoil at her monumental ego and overriding ambition. This is a novel to be read and reread. There will be a new insight to delight the reader with every new reading, and perhaps a new insight into ones own self through insight into this complex woman who was also a major historical player in her time and throughout history.
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Summary: Wonderful, well developed and researched story.
Review: The history you'll learn is enough to recommend the book, the captivating characters and story are bonus. Well worth every penny. The ABC miniseries is but a shallow rendition, don't let it put you off.
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Summary: ABSOLUTELY RIVETING !!
Review: In a time of great upheavel, as the tentacles of the Roman Empire embraced the world and powerful men struggled for ultimate power, a Ptolomeic queen emerged and tilted the balance of power. The intriguing saga of this alluring woman -- Cleopatra, queen of the Nile -- vividly comes to life in Margaret George's stunning biographical novel. From page one, readers are transported to the sensual city of Alexandria and follow the mesmerizing tale of the rise and fall of one of history's most enticing figures. Once I started reading this novel, I just could not put it down. One of the best novels I have ever read!!
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