Cleopatra : Goddess of Egypt, Enemy of Rome

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

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.

Brooks (Queen Eleanor: Independent Spirit of the Medieval World) argues eloquently, and with a dash of feminist zeal, that Cleopatra's long-standing image as seductress and "wicked, lustful manipulator" springs from the volumes of vituperative Roman propaganda written during her lifetime and ignores the few extant records of the queen's "true accomplishments." Accordingly, the rich, action-filled portrait that emerges here of the last Ptolomeic ruler of Egypt is an admiring one: she is charming and erudite, multilingual, a brave warrior, a savvy politician and, above all, a beloved queen dedicated to maintaining Egypt's independence from Rome. Her relationship with Julius Caesar is portrayed as motivated by personal attraction, not political expediency; with Mark Antony, mutual need is said to have led to affection. Avoiding the temptation to tell too much, Brooks demonstrates a keen eye for recognizing the essential components of a compelling narrative. Maps and photographs of statues, paintings and ancient artifacts are included. Ages 11-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 7^-10. For an older audience than Diane Stanley's Cleopatra (1994) is for, this is as much an account of the Roman struggle for control in the Mediterranean as it is a biography of Egypt's famous queen. In fact, details of the military campaigns and power struggles of Caesar, Antony, and Octavius sometimes overshadow the portrait of Cleopatra. However, Brooks' writing style is direct, readable, even casual ("It was some show" ). She discusses Cleopatra's wealth and glamour and her passionate relationships with Caesar and Antony, but Brooks also shows how Cleopatra's powerful Roman enemies used vicious propaganda to demonize the queen as an evil, lustful, foreign siren. Brooks makes us question that simplistic view of a woman who was a remarkably intelligent and capable leader. Illustrations include representations of Cleopatra by Romans and Egyptians; chapter notes add further background. Hazel Rochman