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MY REVIEW
I enjoyed CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER as that has been a period of history that I have always been drawn to. Don't get excited that I have turned into an Egyptian history expert, but rather grew up loving all those movies made about that time period (let's not carried away into thinking there is any kind of great intellectual expertise on my part, for sure). Of course, Elizabeth Taylor's portrayal of Cleopatra and all the publicity and controversy that went along with the filming of the movie at that time leading the way. So in reading this book, I got some great mental images of what the story "looked" like from the wonderfully written descriptive settings and character development by Michelle Moran.
The story takes us from Cleopatra and Marc Anthony dying romantically and tragically, leaving behind evidence of that love in the children, twins Selene and Alexander and younger brother Ptolemy. The children are in danger of being executed as the story is told by Selene. They are led off in chains to Rome but only the twins survive the trip. They are taken to live with Octavia who was left by Marc Anthony for Cleopatra. She is sister of Octavian the ruler. They enter into a world in Rome that is unknown to them and recreated expertly in Moran's words.
Michelle Moran brings to life Octavian and their entire life and lifestyle with expert research written in captivating narrative. Selene's view of all of this is something that she can't quite fathom or believe in..from the rich conquerors to the soldiers, and all the way down to the slaves. We learn that children of the rich and royal are bred to make beneficial marriages for their families. Selene, in a rarity due to her intelligence, is allowed to study everything from architecture to languages which is normally unheard of for a girl in those days. Filled with rich characters like Marcellus, the handsome nephew of Octavian and in turn his aide, Juba, who plays an important part in the twins' lives, the story of Selene is captivating. I recommend this book to people who like historical fiction as well as a good story with just the right amount of romance.
The story takes us from Cleopatra and Marc Anthony dying romantically and tragically, leaving behind evidence of that love in the children, twins Selene and Alexander and younger brother Ptolemy. The children are in danger of being executed as the story is told by Selene. They are led off in chains to Rome but only the twins survive the trip. They are taken to live with Octavia who was left by Marc Anthony for Cleopatra. She is sister of Octavian the ruler. They enter into a world in Rome that is unknown to them and recreated expertly in Moran's words.
Michelle Moran brings to life Octavian and their entire life and lifestyle with expert research written in captivating narrative. Selene's view of all of this is something that she can't quite fathom or believe in..from the rich conquerors to the soldiers, and all the way down to the slaves. We learn that children of the rich and royal are bred to make beneficial marriages for their families. Selene, in a rarity due to her intelligence, is allowed to study everything from architecture to languages which is normally unheard of for a girl in those days. Filled with rich characters like Marcellus, the handsome nephew of Octavian and in turn his aide, Juba, who plays an important part in the twins' lives, the story of Selene is captivating. I recommend this book to people who like historical fiction as well as a good story with just the right amount of romance.
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2 comments:
Marc Antony and Cleopatra die and leave twins Selene and Alexander and younger brother Ptolemy who are in danger!
Great book!
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I have this book, so don't enter me. I'm glad to see it's so good - I'm fascinated with Egypt too.
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