Like most people, I knew who Antony and Cleopatra were before I started this book. In the introduction Adrian Goldsworthy notes that they are two out of a handful of people that are still remembered by many over 2,000 years after they lived. I was familiar with the history surrounding their lives based on other books I have read about the time period. Those books however were focused on Julius Caesar or Augustus. So I was interested in seeing how Goldsworthy would present the story with the focus on Antony and Cleopatra.
Goldsworthy did a good job of providing a better understanding of the Ptolemy dynasty than I had previously grasped. Goldsworthy also does a good job outlining the major events in the life of Antony. There doesn’t seem to be much discussion about Cleopatra from the time she met Caesar unless Antony is there.
At times the book seemed overly repetitive. It felt like there were far more variations of the following sentence than needed. “Cleopatra had become ruler of an expanded realm through Antony’s generosity. If he lost the war then she too might lose all that she had gained.”
If you are looking to gain a greater understanding of Antony and Cleopatra there is plenty to learn in this book.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would rate it 3 out of 5 stars.
“What about Roxane?” Alexander asked.
“Your prisoner bride?”
“Such disrespect is worthy of death!”
“There is no possible way that you could love her or that she could truly love you.”
“What gives you the insight to speak so assertively about matters you know nothing about?”
“Daughter of Oxyarthes, the man who surrendered the Iron Gates to you, makes for a very political marriage.”
“Continue,” said Alexander.
“At a feast celebrating your latest victory a number of young women were brought in for entertainment. You spotted one of them whose beauty far surpassed the others and you decided on the spot to marry her once you learned she was the daughter of Oxyarthes. You needed to cement a strong relationship with the local leaders. What better way to do this than through marriage? You didn’t share a common language and never even spoke to each other beforehand. She never was given a choice. So she is your prisoner bride.”
“You have a vague outline of the past. I suppose it is remarkable that you have as much ...
