Overview

"One of Italy's most revered cultural figures reconstructs the extraordinary life of the legendary Cleopatra at the height of her power in this epic story of passion, intrigue, betrayal, and war. Our world today would not be the same without Cleopatra. While she is one of the most famous figures in history, the legendary Egyptian queen remains, in many ways, an enigma. In this mesmerizing history, Alberto Angela offers a fresh and dynamic portrait of this extraordinary ruler, revealing a strikingly modern woman born in an ancient era and skilled in the art of diplomacy and war, who would conquer the heart of a general--Marc Antony--and Rome itself. Cleopatra focuses on a twenty-year period that marked a sweeping change in Roman history, beginning with the assassination of Julius Caesar that led to the end of the Republic, and ending with the suicides of Antony and Cleopatra and the birth of the Augustan Empire. Angela brings the people, stories, customs, and traditions of this fascinating period alive as he transports us to the chaotic streets of the capital of the ancient world, the exotic port of Alexandria in Egypt, and to the bloody battlefields where an empire was won and lost. Meticulously researched and rich with vivid detail, this sweeping history, reminiscent of the works of Simon Schama, Mary Beard's SPQR, and Tom Holland's Rubicon, recreates this remarkable era and the woman at its turbulent center. Translated from the Italian by Katherine Gregor ""[Cleopatra] combines scholarship with novelistic detail and character depth...[Alberto Angela] effectively draws on previous scholarship, wading through legend and myth to get at the truth of what actually occurred... a character-rich historical biography."" -- Kirkus Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook."

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9781799957041

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Reviews

Angela strives to make the ancient world accessible to modern readers. -- Publishers Weekly

A compelling and convincing fresco, full of action and emotion. -- La Repubblica (Rome) Narrator Derek Perkins brings the enigmatic Egyptian queen to life...by Perkins's British intonation and authoritative tone...As Perkins adds judicious pacing and dramatic pauses, no historic stone is left unturned in the detailed descriptions of busy Roman streets, gory battlefields, and sumptuous palaces...Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award. -- AudioFile This popular history captures the essence of one of the most iconic figures in world history...Combines scholarship with novelistic detail and character depth...Will have special appeal to young students of history. -- Kirkus Reviews Angela strives to make the ancient world accessible to modern readers. -- Publishers Weekly

"""A compelling and convincing fresco, full of action and emotion."" -- ""La Repubblica (Rome)"" ""Narrator Derek Perkins brings the enigmatic Egyptian queen to life...by Perkins's British intonation and authoritative tone...As Perkins adds judicious pacing and dramatic pauses, no historic stone is left unturned in the detailed descriptions of busy Roman streets, gory battlefields, and sumptuous palaces...Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award."" -- ""AudioFile"" ""This popular history captures the essence of one of the most iconic figures in world history...Combines scholarship with novelistic detail and character depth...Will have special appeal to young students of history."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews"" ""Angela strives to make the ancient world accessible to modern readers."" -- ""Publishers Weekly"""

Author Information

Alberto Angela is a global ambassador of Italian art, history, and culture. Born in Paris in 1962, he is a paleontologist, naturalist, and journalist, as well as an established author and television host of programs such as Meraviglie, which is watched by more than six million viewers per episode. Derek Perkins is a professional narrator and voice actor. He has earned numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, as well as numerous Society of Voice Arts nominations. AudioFile magazine named him a Best Voice consecutively in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Augmented by a knowledge of three foreign languages and a facility with accents, he has narrated numerous titles in a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.

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