Overview

From the prizewinning author of Caesar and How Rome Fell, a major new account of the charged love affair between Antony and Cleopatra, richly informed by military and political history A masterfully told—and deeply human—story of love, politics, and ambition, Adrian Goldsworthy’s Antony and Cleopatra delivers a compelling reassessment of a major episode in ancient history. In this remarkable dual biography of the two great lovers of the ancient world, Goldsworthy goes beyond myth and romance to create a nuanced and historically acute portrayal of his subjects, set against the political backdrop of their time. A history of lives lived intensely at a time when the world was changing profoundly, the book takes readers on a journey that crosses cultures and boundaries from ancient Greece and ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire. Drawing on his prodigious knowledge of the ancient world and his keen sense of the period’s military and political history, Goldsworthy creates a singular portrait of the iconic lovers. “Antony and Cleopatra were first and foremost political animals,” explains Goldsworthy, who places politics and ideology at the heart of their storied romance. Undertaking a close analysis of ancient sources and archaeological evidence, Goldsworthy bridges the gaps of current scholarship and dispels misconceptions that have entered the popular consciousness. He explains why Cleopatra was consistently portrayed by Hollywood as an Egyptian, even though she was really Greek, and argues that Antony had far less military experience than anyone would suspect from reading Shakespeare and other literature. Goldsworthy makes an important case for understanding Antony as a powerful Roman senator and political force in his own right.

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Reviews

[Goldsworthy] is excellent in puncturing the myth of Antony as a great Roman military tactician. . . . He is also refreshingly frank about the unimportance of Cleopatra herself. This was a world in which the power of Rome ruled. --Mary Beard, Financial Times<br> --Mary Beard Financial Times

Goldsworthy reveals that Antony and Cleopatra were far more complex, interesting, and ultimately human figures, than ancient propagandists or modern theorists have made them out to be. My guess is that they would approve, and so will readers. --Guy MacLean Rogers, Wellesley College--Guy MacLean Rogers [Goldsworthy] is excellent in puncturing the myth of Antony as a great Roman military tactician. . . . He is also refreshingly frank about the unimportance of Cleopatra herself. This was a world in which the power of Rome ruled. --Mary Beard, Financial Times --Mary Beard Financial Times [Goldsworthy] does a splendid job of putting their lives in context and forcefully reminding us of the most salient aspects of their story while dispersing the romantic fog that has clung to them. --Christopher Silvester, The Express (London) --Christopher Silvester The Express (London) [Goldsworthy] tells the story of [Cleopatra''s] dynasty with huge skill. . . . Carefully interweaved into this extraordinary tale is another: the rise of Rome from tatty city state to Mediterranean domination. --Peter Heather, BBC History Magazine --Peter Heather BBC History Magazine [Goldsworthy] set[s] out simply and lucidly . . . [not just] the story of their affair . . . but also a portrait of the political and military world in which it took place. --Sam Leith, The Times (London) --Sam Leith The Times (London) Adrian Goldsworthy is one of our most promising young military historians today. --Sir John Keegan, author of The Iraq War --Sir John Keeagn

Goldsworthy reveals that Antony and Cleopatra were far more complex, interesting, and ultimately human figures, than ancient propagandists or modern theorists have made them out to be. My guess is that they would approve, and so will readers. --Guy MacLean Rogers, Wellesley College--Guy MacLean Rogers [Goldsworthy] is excellent in puncturing the myth of Antony as a great Roman military tactician. . . . He is also refreshingly frank about the unimportance of Cleopatra herself. This was a world in which the power of Rome ruled. --Mary Beard, Financial Times --Mary Beard Financial Times [Goldsworthy] set[s] out simply and lucidly . . . [not just] the story of their affair . . . but also a portrait of the political and military world in which it took place. --Sam Leith, The Times (London)--Sam Leith The Times (London) [Goldsworthy] does a splendid job of putting their lives in context and forcefully reminding us of the most salient aspects of their story while dispersing the romantic fog that has clung to them. --Christopher Silvester, The Express (London)--Christopher Silvester The Express (London) Adrian Goldsworthy is one of our most promising young military historians today. --Sir John Keegan, author of The Iraq War --Sir John Keeagn [Goldsworthy] tells the story of [Cleopatra''s] dynasty with huge skill. . . . Carefully interweaved into this extraordinary tale is another: the rise of Rome from tatty city state to Mediterranean domination. --Peter Heather, BBC History Magazine --Peter Heather BBC History Magazine

Goldsworthy reveals that Antony and Cleopatra were far more complex, interesting, and ultimately human figures, than ancient propagandists or modern theorists have made them out to be. My guess is that they would approve, and so will readers. --Guy MacLean Rogers, Wellesley College--Guy MacLean Rogers Adrian Goldsworthy is one of our most promising young military historians today. --Sir John Keegan, author of The Iraq War --Sir John Keeagn [Goldsworthy] tells the story of [Cleopatra''s] dynasty with huge skill. . . . Carefully interweaved into this extraordinary tale is another: the rise of Rome from tatty city state to Mediterranean domination. --Peter Heather, BBC History Magazine --Peter Heather BBC History Magazine [Goldsworthy] set[s] out simply and lucidly . . . [not just] the story of their affair . . . but also a portrait of the political and military world in which it took place. --Sam Leith, The Times (London) --Sam Leith The Times (London) [Goldsworthy] is excellent in puncturing the myth of Antony as a great Roman military tactician. . . . He is also refreshingly frank about the unimportance of Cleopatra herself. This was a world in which the power of Rome ruled. --Mary Beard, Financial Times --Mary Beard Financial Times [Goldsworthy] does a splendid job of putting their lives in context and forcefully reminding us of the most salient aspects of their story while dispersing the romantic fog that has clung to them. --Christopher Silvester, The Express (London) --Christopher Silvester The Express (London)

Goldsworthy reveals that Antony and Cleopatra were far more complex, interesting, and ultimately human figures, than ancient propagandists or modern theorists have made them out to be. My guess is that they would approve, and so will readers. --Guy MacLean Rogers, Wellesley College--Guy MacLean Rogers [Goldsworthy] set[s] out simply and lucidly . . . [not just] the story of their affair . . . but also a portrait of the political and military world in which it took place. --Sam Leith, The Times (London) --Sam Leith The Times (London) Adrian Goldsworthy is one of our most promising young military historians today. --Sir John Keegan, author of The Iraq War --Sir John Keeagn [Goldsworthy] tells the story of [Cleopatra''s] dynasty with huge skill. . . . Carefully interweaved into this extraordinary tale is another: the rise of Rome from tatty city state to Mediterranean domination. --Peter Heather, BBC History Magazine --Peter Heather BBC History Magazine [Goldsworthy] is excellent in puncturing the myth of Antony as a great Roman military tactician. . . . He is also refreshingly frank about the unimportance of Cleopatra herself. This was a world in which the power of Rome ruled. --Mary Beard, Financial Times --Mary Beard Financial Times [Goldsworthy] does a splendid job of putting their lives in context and forcefully reminding us of the most salient aspects of their story while dispersing the romantic fog that has clung to them. --Christopher Silvester, The Express (London) --Christopher Silvester The Express (London)

[Goldsworthy] is excellent in puncturing the myth of Antony as a great Roman military tactician. . . . He is also refreshingly frank about the unimportance of Cleopatra herself. This was a world in which the power of Rome ruled. --Mary Beard, Financial Times --Mary Beard Financial Times

Author Information

Adrian Goldsworthy is a leading historian of the ancient world. The author of many books, including How Rome Fell, Caesar, The Roman Army at War, and In the Name of Rome, he lectures widely and consults on historical documentaries produced by the History Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. Goldsworthy is also the recipient of numerous prizes. He lives in Wales.

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