Cleopatra

[Andromeda_Organa]

For personal reasons, I'd really like to know of some novels on Cleopatra. I've read "Memoirs" but what about others?

[annis]

She's a popular subject
Here are a few:

H Rider Haggard did one in 18898
"Cleopatra" (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/h-rider-haggard/cleopatra.htm)

Colin Falconer
"When We Were Gods" (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/colin-falconer/when-we-were-gods.htm)

Karen Essex has a two novel "Kleopatra" (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/e/karen-essex) series
1) Kleopatra
2) Pharaoh

Colleen McCullough
Has written a couple of novels featuring Cleopatra
One is about Julius Caesar and Cleopatra
"October Horse" (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/colleen-mccullough/october-horse.htm)
And another about Marc Antony and Cleopatra
"Antony and Cleopatra" (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/colleen-mccullough/antony-and-cleopatra.htm)

Did you see this article posted by Ash on the Historical Myths thread? It's a composite image showing what Cleopatra might have really looked like:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1095043/Sorry-Liz-THIS-real-face-Cleopatra.html

[Tanzanite]

She's a popular subject
Here are a few:


Colleen McCullough
Has written a couple of novels featuring Cleopatra
One is about Julius Caesar and Cleopatra
"October Horse" (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/colleen-mccullough/october-horse.htm)


The October Horse is billed as being about Caesar and Cleopatra, but I read it earlier this year and very little of the book features Cleopatra (I'm guessing less than 200 pages out of almost 1000). That was the reason I wanted to read the book and I was very disappointed.

[annis]

Yes, I have to agree that "October Horse" does focus more on Caesar than Cleopatra. I found "Antony and Cleopatra" rather disappointing- I didn't think it Colleen McCullough's best work. She has been battling illness the past few years, and maybe it shows.

[annis]

I just remembered another Cleopatra book. It's an older one, published around 1976-7, but you might be able to get it through your library.
Martha Rofheart "The Alexandrian" (http://www.amazon.com/Alexandrian-Martha-Rofheart/dp/0515044040)

[gyrehead]

Yes, I have to agree that "October Horse" does focus more on Caesar than Cleopatra. I found "Antony and Cleopatra" rather disappointing- I didn't think it Colleen McCullough's best work. She has been battling illness the past few years, and maybe it shows.

I agree. It was a good book, but nowhere near the greatness of the rest of the series. Let alone the first four books which were just brilliant for me.

I was a bit taken aback at how vapid and really ineffective McCullough decided to make Cleopatra. In 'A&C' she comes off as the wishy washy woman who only can acheive greatness if she acts on what Caesar had told her or what Antony tells her or what Caesarion (in his Caesar clone mode) tells her. Only Romans are smart and wonderful and politically savvy and and good leaders and rulers. It got rather silly at times. I was okay with McCullough clearly being a fangirl of Caesar's in her writing. But what she did to Cleopatra was just plain silly. She doesn't have to like her but she could at least portray her as having a brain.

[nona]

It took me five months to read the October horse as I would read a couple hundered pages and to take a break, very long and dull in some areas but over all a good book on Ceasar, not so much on Cleopatra.

[nona]

anyone heard of I, Cleopatra, forgot author but it's out of print and hard to find or at least I'm not finding it, but would love to find it so if you might know where I can get it please let me know.

[annis]

Is it this one, by William Bostock, pub 1077, Nona? If so, looks as if it should be available from several Amazon sellers.
http://www.amazon.com/I-Cleopatra-William-Bostock/dp/0446813796

It's not one i've come across- sounds interesting.

[nona]

Is it this one, by William Bostock, pub 1077, Nona? If so, looks as if it should be available from several Amazon sellers.
http://www.amazon.com/I-Cleopatra-William-Bostock/dp/0446813796

It's not one i've come across- sounds interesting.

actually it is! I could have sworn I checked amazon and there were none but thanks I'm going to order it asap and I'll let you know how it goes.

[Margaret]

Also, one of Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rose mysteries, The Judgment of Caesar, features Cleopatra. This one is not from Cleopatra's point-of-view, and is not an especially sympathetic portrayal of her, which I find refreshing for that very reason. While the Saylor's detective and the mystery he unravels is completely fictional, Saylor is a stickler for doing good research, and I'm inclined to have a lot of faith in the authenticity of his portrayal of the time and place.

[nona]

I've had Catalina's Riddle on my tbr mountain for a few years now and still have not read it yet but I hear great things about him so will have to bump it up.

[Stephanie Dray]

There is a new biography of Cleopatra coming out by Pulitzer Prize winner, Stacy Schiff. It's also been optioned for a movie. Additionally, Duane Roller has just come out with an excellent biography of Cleopatra which reveals that she may have been more Egyptian than previously thought.

Additionally, a number of John Maddox Roberts' mysteries have guest appearances with Cleopatra, and for that matter, don't forget Michelle Moran's Cleopatra's Daughter.

If you're trending towards the more historical fiction/fantasy side, check out Judith Tarr's Throne of Egypt and Jo Graham has an excellent book entitled Hands of Isis, as told by the handmaiden Charmion.

[rockygirl]

There is a new biography of Cleopatra coming out by Pulitzer Prize winner, Stacy Schiff. It's also been optioned for a movie. Additionally, Duane Roller has just come out with an excellent biography of Cleopatra which reveals that she may have been more Egyptian than previously thought.

Additionally, a number of John Maddox Roberts' mysteries have guest appearances with Cleopatra, and for that matter, don't forget Michelle Moran's Cleopatra's Daughter.

If you're trending towards the more historical fiction/fantasy side, check out Judith Tarr's Throne of Egypt and Jo Graham has an excellent book entitled Hands of Isis, as told by the handmaiden Charmion.

I just read Hand of Isis a couple of weeks ago. I have to agree, it's fantastic.