Cleopatra: A Life

The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian vividly depicts Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt, who is maybe the most fascinating woman in human history.

Her castle was even richer in political and sexual intrigue than it was in onyx, garnets, and gold. Above all, Cleopatra was a brilliant negotiator and a cunning strategist.

Even though she lived for less than 40 years, her existence changed the face of antiquity. She was twice married, to brothers both times. When they were both youths, she led the first in a bloody civil war. The second one she poisoned. In the end, she also did away with her aspirational sister; assassination and incest were family specialties. It seems that Cleopatra only had relationships with two guys. But as it happens, they were two of the most well-known Romans of the time: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Both had previous marriages. After Caesar's assassination, Cleopatra had three additional children with his protégé. Her connection with Antony solidified her position as the most powerful lady of the day, solidifying her position as the richest monarch in the Mediterranean. Together, in an alliance that would serve both of their purposes, the two would try to create a new empire. From that time on, Cleopatra has been deeply ingrained in our thoughts.

Cleopatra, who gained notoriety well before becoming infamous, is remembered throughout history for all the wrong reasons. Shaw and Shakespeare placed words in her lips. Elizabeth Taylor, Tiepolo, and Michelangelo gave her name a face. The drama of Cleopatra's situation and her malleable personality have been lost in the process. Here, Stacy Schiff bravely distinguishes reality from myth in a masterful return to the ancient sources in order to save the charismatic queen, whose passing signaled the start of a new global order. Reich's portrayal of a brilliant life is vivid and very creative, with an epic scale and plenty of details.