Cleopatra

A Life

By: Stacy Schiff

Narrated by: Robin Miles

The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer brings to life the most intriguing woman in the history of the world: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.

Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator.

Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world. She was married twice, each time to a brother. She waged a brutal civil war against the first when both were teenagers. She poisoned the second. Ultimately she dispensed with an ambitious sister as well; incest and assassination were family specialties. Cleopatra appears to have had sex with only two men. They happen, however, to have been Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, among the most prominent Romans of the day. Both were married to other women. Cleopatra had a child with Caesar and -- after his murder -- three more with his protégé. Already she was the wealthiest ruler in the Mediterranean; the relationship with Antony confirmed her status as the most influential woman of the age. The two would together attempt to forge a new empire, in an alliance that spelled their ends. Cleopatra has lodged herself in our imaginations ever since.

Famous long before she was notorious, Cleopatra has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons. Shakespeare and Shaw put words in her mouth. Michelangelo, Tiepolo, and Elizabeth Taylor put a face to her name. Along the way, Cleopatra's supple personality and the drama of her circumstances have been lost. In a masterly return to the classical sources, Stacy Schiff here boldly separates fact from fiction to rescue the magnetic queen whose death ushered in a new world order. Rich in detail, epic in scope, Schiff 's is a luminous, deeply original reconstruction of a dazzling life.

Critic reviews

"Stacy Schiff does a rare thing: She gives us a book we'd miss if it didn't exist."—Wall Street Journal

"A masterpiece."—Daily Beast

An important corrective

Fascinating, erudite, a delight to listen to the story of this incredible historical figure, who was responsible herself for creating an incredible history. Highly recommend as a listening experience. Probably equally good in black and white.

Amazing Story

I didn't know that much about Cleopatra, so I picked this up. Stacy Schiff writes in a gripping style that captivates, educates, and entertains. Her story is based on sources of the time as well as more modern archaeology and research into the life of this fascinating enigma of a woman. While listening, I had to keep reminding myself that this was real, as her style made it conversational and almost gossipy. She sticks to the facts, and tells the unvarnished truth. This book is for anyone who wants to know more about Cleopatra, other than what you learned in history class. You will not be disappointed!

Excellent book

What an excellent book. Well written and well read. Straight up facts but not boring!!!!

Best Cleopatra Book Ever

I love the sources she sites, the differing opinions used, and all the ways we are invited to view Cleopatra. In depth, intriguing (even though the story is familiar), always interesting, this version of such a multifaceted personality comes to life in logical ways. (Not the over romantic movie versions.)

The narrator’s voice is pleasant and easy to listen to.

I’ll definitely be listening to this one again!

Wow. This is an amazing work.

I always wanted to learn about Cleopatra. I feel fortunate to not have watched Elizabeth Taylor movies etc. This work presents an amazing woman. I feel young women should learn about the “more real” Cleopatra. I do wish we could know more about her. I wonder if it would be possible to learn how she was schooled in speaking and presentation and strategy. Although her end is disappointing to me, her entire life is amazing. The narrator is excellent. This definitely reads like a novel much of the time. Truth is more fantastic than fiction here. Loved it. Grateful for the research and presentation. Highly recommend.