Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (November 1, 2010)
- ISBN-13: 978-0316001922
Back-of-the-book blurb: 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 was involved with both 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.
She Is Too Fond of Books’ review: I’ll admit that I had a hard time settling in with Cleopatra on my first attempt. I think it was the busyness of the pre-holiday season that prevented me from focusing. That and the fact that I had absolutely no previous knowledge of the subject. I may have studied a bit about her and Mediterranean history during a class at some point … but I couldn’t have told you three facts about her. After only about 20 pages, I put the book aside, and concentrated on our holiday plans.
I picked up the book again after Christmas; it was our online book group selection for January, so I was on a time limit. I had much more success the second time. Was it the lack of yuletide craziness, or the pressure of a book group deadline? No matter, Cleopatra’s story, in Stacy Schiff’s hands, wrapped around me and pulled me in.
True, I learned only tidbits, which I’ll peg on my lack of background; so many names were re-used throughout generations I really needed a family tree to keep them straight. But, then there was the question of incest and intermarriage, and out-of-wedlock children … that family tree would need to be a fold out with lift-the-flaps to really show the relationships!
Descriptions of the parties and banquets include elaborate tableware, floor mosaics, lush carpets, and gold dishes. On occasion, when a guest admired a couch, a wall hanging, or platter, Cleopatra sent him home with it. This anecdote demonstrates that Cleopatra’s generosity was also a sign of her competitive nature:
The meal itself appeared on gold dishes; at one Ptolemic feast, the dinner vessels alone weighed three hundred tons. … When Alexandrian luxury began to make itself felt in the Roman world, Cleopatra renamed her ostentatious tableware. Her elaborate gold and silver place settings became her “ordinary ware.”
Schiff details Cleopatra’s relationships with Caesar and Antony. Did Cleopatra love either man? Nah … the relationships were most likely highly strategic moves. She did seem to cast a spell on them, especially Antony. Schiff shows how Antony’s detractors could list all his faults, and she does it with a sense of humor that I didn’t expect. In discussing Cicero’s disdain, Schiff says of Antony “excess and conviviality were his middle names.” (p 150). Later, recounting Octavian’s laundry list of Antony’s ills, she adds “and did we mention he drinks?” I found these offhand comments refreshing in a biography; frankly, it made it more of a story, perhaps more “readable” to me.
The color photos in the two bound supplements were especially interesting. Among the archives shown are several coins struck in Cleopatra’s image. According to Schiff, these would have been cast during Cleopatra’s reign, with her approval. In that case, the images are likely accurate – rather than the film beauty of Elizabeth Taylor, we find a woman with a hooked nose and strong chin.
Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra gave me a historic overview of Cleopatra’s rise and fall. Now I’m curious to supplement that history with some historic fiction or even film about the era.
As Jon Stewart says, “Cleopatra is the most well-known woman we don’t know.” More from his interview with Stacy Schiff, below. Hmm, I seem to be having technical difficulties with embedding the video. If you click on the line that says “Stacy Schiff,” you’ll get to the episode; sorry for the inconvenience!:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Stacy Schiff | ||||
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I wish there were more documentation on her life. So much of what Schiff writes necessarily had to be speculation. I suppose though we should appreciate there is what is there about a woman from back then!
I’m really looking forward to reading this one, especially after reading several historical fictions about Cleopatra’s children. I’m glad you were able to get into it on your second try!
I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one who is having a hard time diving into this. Good to know if I stick with it there will be a payoff.
Cleopatra is a fascinating historical figure. I hope to give this book a try at some point. I’m sure I’ll have some difficulty getting into it since I know next to nothing about her.
I’ve heard from a few people that this one was hard to get into, so I thought maybe audio might be a better option? I have to make you laugh…while I was arranging things on my bookshelf, I saw that I actually HAD this book in print. I had no idea. Where did it come from? I am so brain dead sometimes.
I am really looking forward to this book for the simple fact that it is more historical rather than fictional, though I think I would have to be in the right frame of mind to read it. If you are interested in a fictional account of her life, I would recommend Margaret George’s The Memoirs of Cleopatra. It is a great book, but be warned, it’s also a doorstopper! Great review, Dawn!
rhapsody – I doubt Schiff uncovered any new primary source documentation; she did frequently mention two other biographers (was it Dio and Plutarch?) and whether she agreed with their conclusions (and why). Honestly, the battles and changes of power won’t stay in my mind as much as the opulence, and the technology that existed 2000 years ago!
Heather – it’s very readable. A lot of footnotes/end notes (not distractions; I’m mentioning it to bolster the non-fiction aspect … although I read it like a novel!)
Martha – scandal! murder! illicit affairs! (stick with it)
Anna – I believe that’s why I felt so lost (the holiday chaos and no previous knowledge to hang this book from). It’s a smooth read, in my opinion, just a rocky start for me.
Sandy – I think Beth Fish listened to the audio. LOL about surprise book discoveries; I’ve been there!
zibliee – thanks for the recommendation; Michelle Moran’s CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER has also ben suggested …
Great review! I was just checking this book out the other day and wondered if it was any good. Well it sounds pretty good! Thanks for visiting me and leaving me your lovely comments. Come back any time!
LOL, I reviewed this book today as well:
http://manoflabook.com/wp/?p=1244
I’ve been hearing such good things about this. I think it is going on the tbr list. Great review. I have to say, I don’t know much about her either
I think I had an easier time with this because the events and people’s name were familiar to me. I was fascinated with this account.
Dawn, this sounds like a book I would enjoy. I initially kept it off my wish list, but now have reconsidered
BTW…thank you for th kinds words regarding my SIL; I so very much appreciate your kindness.
Get ready to cozy-up for our big snowstorm tonight
Hopefully the second time will be the charm for me as well. I have a feeling that I’m just not smart enough for the book, though.
glad it worked for you the second time around. i am a sucker for covers and this one captivates me! interesting tidbit about the coins, too. whenever i think of cleo, i think of elizabeth taylor…
I know next to nothing about Cleopatra also so I think I would enjoy this book and the opportunity to learn more in the context of historical fiction.
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