Cleopatra: Goddess of Egypt, Enemy of Rome - Hardcover

Brooks, Polly Schoyer

3.38

29 ratings by Goodreads

9780060236076: Cleopatra: Goddess of Egypt, Enemy of Rome

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060236078 ISBN 13: 9780060236076

Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books, 1995

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A chronicle of the life of one of history's most famous women shows how Cleopatra, distantly related to Alexander the Great and worshipped as a goddess in Egypt, became a major figure in the ancient struggle for power in the Mediterranean

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About the Author:

Polly Schoyer Brooks most recent works are Queen Eleanor which School Library Journal called "an excellent and accurate biography;" and, Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc which Booklist praises for being "written in a lively style that will hold the attention of students and browsers."

From School Library Journal:

Grade 6-10?This biography, with its dramatic cover and intriguing subtitle, is immediately appealing to readers. The text is engaging and well written (though a bit casual in tone). The illustrations are pertinent, and there are several maps. Unfortunately, Brooks makes major errors. She states that Cleopatra's grandfather willed Egypt to Rome, but the culprit was her father's cousin. Brooks never refers to Cleopatra's father by his common Greek nickname Auletes, and dates his birth at 80 B.C., making him 11 years old when Cleopatra (his third child) was born. (He ascended the throne in 80 B.C.) The author describes Caesar, in 48 B.C., viewing a new temple "graced by two ancient obelisks," Cleopatra's Needles; the obelisks, however, weren't moved to this site until 13 B.C. Finally, she claims that Octavius wanted Cleopatra to commit suicide, a point of view unsubstantiated by Plutarch (on whom she otherwise relies heavily) and modern biographers. Both here, and elsewhere in the book, Brooks resorts to fictionalizing; Octavius "knew," "remembered," "thought," and "dared," while Cleopatra "found," "vowed," "wanted" and, in the worst case, "shuddered at the thought." Due to these problems, Cleopatra is unacceptable as good biography. Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler's Cleopatra (Chelsea, 1987), though less interesting, is far more accurate and is preferred for this age group.?Ann W. Moore, Guilderland Public Library, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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