The Memoirs of Cleopatra: A Novel Paperback – May 15, 1998

Margaret George's The Memoirs of Cleopatra tackle the difficult task of telling the story of Cleopatra's life. The last Ptolemy to rule Egypt. The great Queen of Egypt. Cleopatra was not only a clever Queen but also a mother and woman who loved two powerful Roman commanders. She faced many challenges before and during her rule. Writing this novel had to have been daunting, but George pulled it off beautifully.The Memoirs of Cleopatra is written as if Cleopatra is writing her life story on scrolls for someone to read once she is gone from the world. She wanted her truth written to combat others' versions of Cleopatra. I enjoyed George's choice to write out Cleopatra's life this way. It gave a more personal feel to the novel. I especially loved how the story is so highly detailed. This is a 900+ novel filled with every possible observation, small or large, that made up Cleopatra's daily ongoings and significant life events.I deeply admire the Cleopatra presented in The Memoirs of Cleopatra. You can see how clever and curious she is from a young age. Her ability to soak up knowledge like a sponge is one of my favorite qualities of Cleopatra. Once she came into power, Cleopatra's pure perseverance and durability were what made her the ruler she was. Every choice she made in the novel was to keep Egypt safe and prospering. Her love for her country. George made it clear that although Cleopatra was a fighter in spirit, she was also a true lover. I loved reading about Cleopatra as a mother. It was apparent that she was a devoted mother and only wanted the best for her babies. I also appreciated the genuine friendship between her attendants, Iras, Charmian, Mardian, and Olympos.Now with her strengths also came weaknesses that I did not like. Her ambition that emerged during her time with Caesar and kept growing afterward was my least favorite aspect of her personality. I wanted her to live a happy and peaceful life in Egypt with her children. But a ruler's mindset can be taken over by the temptation of growing an empire for her family.It would not be the story of Cleopatra without two men: Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. The two loves of her life. The two men were so different from one another. One is perceived to be a god among men. Another is a mortal forced into a role he did not want. Caesar came into Cleopatra's life when she fought for her right to be Queen of Egypt. The instant connection between them was staggering to behold in written form. George somehow brought these two larger-than-life beings together in a mystical yet organic way. Cleopatra and Caesar's tale of love was anything but ordinary. This was clear when George represented them as reincarnations of the goddess Isis and the god Amun during the two lovers' first meeting and night together. George showed how difficult it was for Cleopatra to love a man who was not seen as a mere mortal. It was angering at times to see Caesar's life in Rome (his wife, the Senate, Roman customs) affect Cleopatra so much. I didn't particularly like Caesar as a love interest. He couldn't give her the love and affection Cleopatra truly deserved. She couldn't control who she fell in love with, and for that, she was constantly attacked for it by the Romans.And her torture by the Roman people did not end with Caesar's death. No. Cleopatra's heart would lead her to one other Roman man. During the love affair with Caesar, Marc Antony did not play a huge role in The Memoirs of Cleopatra. He was here and there, but mostly just a side character, as Cleopatra ironically did not think much of him. When they met again years after Caesar's murder, the sparks and chemistry flew off the pages. Cleopatra and Antony's love was full of passion. Everything they did was extreme and passionate, from the love declarations to their fights.In contrast, Caesar couldn't give his whole self to Cleopatra. Antony was a willing servant to his love for her. He was not a perfect man, and he made mistakes, but it couldn't be argued that Antony did not love with everything he had. Antony appreciated Cleopatra for the woman and leader she was. I loved that characteristic of him. However, Antony could be pretty toxic at moments in the novel. He was such a complex character. I sometimes wanted to hate him, but I couldn't ignore his unadulterated devotion to Cleopatra.Let's not forget the worst character in the novel, Octavion. I hated him with my whole heart! I wanted to jump into the pages and beat that cowardly snake. He was the absolute worst. I have nothing nice to say about Octavion. I loved how Cleopatra won her final battle against him by tricking him and ending her life on her terms.I undoubtedly enjoyed reading The Memoirs of Cleopatra. Every page was an adventure, and I experienced every possible emotion while reading. I would recommend this novel to historical fiction readers interested in the mystery of Queen Cleopatra.

The Memoirs of Cleopatra tells the story of Cleopatra VII from her early childhood to her death. Cleopatra was the favorite daughter of Ptolemy XII. When her father had to flee to go to Rome, Cleopatra’s older sisters decided to take the throne for themselves. Cleopatra learned from her older sisters that she could be a strong and capable ruler herself. When Cleopatra becomes queen, she learns that she can not rest easy on the throne. Her husband and brother Ptolemy XIII and her sister, Arsinoe, plot a coup against her. In order to be restored to her rightful position as queen, Cleopatra must ally herself with the Roman general, Caesar.In this novel, Cleopatra tells her side of the story. Cleopatra denounces the myths and charges that are brought up against her by her enemies. Cleopatra is more personable and is very sympathetic. As she reflects on her life, she wonders which course of actions, she might have taken to prevent her fate. However, she concludes that it was destiny. Cleopatra is portrayed as an ambitious and head-strong woman. She can also be very manipulative. Through her faults, it is obvious that she loved Egypt the most. Every action she does has been for what she considers the good of Egypt.Overall, The Memoirs of Cleopatra is full of courtly and political intrigue, betrayal, romance, and drama. At the heart of it all is a woman who fought to make her dreams of a glorious Egypt to come true, only to lose all she has ever loved. Besides Cleopatra, I thought the characters were all very fleshed out. Caesar is calculating and prudent. Antony is pleasure-loving and weak-willed. He is easily manipulated by all around him. Octavian is cold, shrewd, and power hungry. This novel has the makings of a Shakespearean tragedy. Even though we all knew how it ended, I could feel Cleopatra’s looming doom by the poor choices that she makes, and wished that her outcome would have changed at the Battle of Actium. Nevertheless, The Memoirs of Cleopatra will be sure to linger with you long after you have read the final page. While this book is long, it never seemed long for me. This was one of the few books that I didn’t want to end! Margaret George has a talent for making Ancient Egypt come alive. The Memoirs of Cleopatra is one of the rare novels that must never be missed! After reading this novel, you can see why she is known as queen of historical fiction. I have read many books on Cleopatra, and so far this is the best one. I look forward to reading more books from her in the future.

I enjoy learning history through an entertaining read of a great story. The reader reaps the benefits of an author who has obviously performed extensive research, allowing us to experience the lives of characters who lived thousands of years ago, albeit in personalities shaped by the author. The book is written as if it were Cleopatra’s own dictation saved on scrolls through the centuries. Many scenes are set so one knows what’s coming, but it takes a long time to get there, making the story drag in places. The author portrays the idea that Marc Antony’s political and military decisions are heavily influenced by Cleopatra (the naval battle at Actium and her presence against the advice of his advisors), which ultimately leads to his downfall. Marc Antony and Cleopatra are on the cusp of supreme power and authority, uniting the Empires of Rome and Egypt, but Antony is portrayed as a shadow of his predecessor, Julius Caesar, in military, political prowess and as Cleopatra’s lover. Even though Antony has numerous successful land campaigns and is well liked by his troops, he is a dismal failure in Parthia, suggesting strong limitations in his military expertise. The author seems to give too much credit to Cleopatra for the failed strategy in Actium, when it may have been entirely Antony’s flawed reliance on naval power. Antony contributed to previous successful naval campaigns against Sextus. The reader truly feels the despair and sadness of what could have been, when Cleopatra and Antony are ultimately forced into a destiny as their worlds crumble around them.