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

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,452 ratings

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Bestselling novelist Margaret George brings to life the glittering kingdom of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, in this lush, sweeping, and richly detailed saga, the basis for the Cleopatra TV mini-series.

Told in Cleopatra's own voice,
The Memoirs of Cleopatra is a mesmerizing tale of ambition, passion, and betrayal in the ancient Egyptian world, which begins when the twenty-year-old queen seeks out the most powerful man in the world, Julius Caesar, and does not end until, having survived the assassination of Caesar and the defeat of the second man she loves, Marc Antony, she plots her own death rather than be paraded in triumph through the streets of Rome.

Most of all, in its richness and authenticity, it is an irresistible story that reveals why Margaret George's work has been widely acclaimed as "the best kind of historical novel, one the reader can't wait to get lost in." (
San Francisco Chronicle).

"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Fans of the author who loved her biographies of Henry VIII and Mary Queen of Scots will find this story of Egypt's ancient queen equally engrossing. The author's impeccable research brings a long ago civilization thoroughly to life, and her portraits of Cleopatra, Caesar and Antony are wonderful. A spellbinding book.” ―Barbara Taylor Bradford

“A thrilling story...[Cleopatra's] 'memoirs' are vivid and enthralling. Read them.” ―Washington Post

“[A] time machine...It's as if you lived there, walked the streets and counseled the Queen throughout her turbulent life.” ―Cincinnati Enquirer

“Awash in sensuous, jewel-like detail... As if ancient frescoes had sprung alive.” ―Entertainment Weekly

“George is such a skilled writer the book seems built no the intimate details of the five senses” ―Memphis Commercial Appeal

“Readers looking to be transported to another place and time will find their magic carpet here.” ―Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Margaret George is the author of The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, The Memoirs of Cleopatra, and Elizabeth I, among other novels. Margaret first got the idea to write historical fiction when, after reading numerous books that viewed Henry VIII through the eyes of his enemies and victims, she found herself wondering if there might be another side to the story. She became determined to let Henry speak for himself, and it took fifteen years, about three hundred books of background reading, three visits to England to see every extant building associated with Henry, and five handwritten drafts for her to answer the question: What was Henry really like? Margaret was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and has traveled extensively. She and her husband live in Madison, Wisconsin.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0312187459
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (May 15, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 976 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780312187453
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312187453
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.68 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,452 ratings

About the author

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Margaret George
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Margaret George specializes in epic fictional biographies of historical figures, taking pains to make them as factually accurate as possible without compromising the drama. Her THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HENRY VIII had its 30th anniversary this past September, and continues to be popular. ABC-TV based its 1999 Emmy-nominated “Cleopatra” miniseries on her THE MEMOIRS OF CLEOPATRA. All of her books have been bestsellers, with twenty-one foreign translations.

Margaret’s father was in the Foreign Service and so she lived overseas for her early life, in such different places as tropical Taiwan, desert Israel, and cold war Berlin, all of which were great training for a novelist to be. She started writing ‘books’ about the same time as she could write at all, mainly for her own entertainment. It was a diversion she never outgrew. Her published works are: THE AUTOBIOGAPHY OF HENRY VIII, MARY QUEEN OF SCOTLAND AND THE ISLES, THE MEMOIRS OF CLEOPATRA, MARY CALLED MAGDALENE, HELEN OF TROY, ELIZABETH I, and an illustrated children’s book, LUCILLE LOST. Her newest one, THE CONFESSIONS OF YOUNG NERO, is coming out in March 2017.

Margaret lives in Madison, Wisconsin, and Washington DC, and has a sextagenarian tortoise as a pet.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,452 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-researched. They appreciate the detailed descriptions of Egypt and events. The writing style is described as rich and marvelous. Readers find the story compelling and interesting, making it one of the most compelling love stories of all time. The character development is praised as wonderful and superb. Overall, customers consider the book an amazing version of Cleopatra's life.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

181 customers mention "Readability"168 positive13 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an interesting and well-told tale that is worth their time. The research and details make the experience more believable.

"...Her ability to soak up knowledge like a sponge is one of my favorite qualities of Cleopatra...." Read more

"...love, and an interesting blend of historical facts and filling in the gaps with juicy stories...." Read more

"...And for that alone, she must be honored. Fantastic work." Read more

"I really enjoyed reading this novel, as Margaret George did a marvelous job of describing the events and people who surrounded Cleopatra...." Read more

102 customers mention "Historical accuracy"102 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-researched and accurate. They appreciate the detailed account of Cleopatra's life and times, as told by Cleopatria herself. The book provides a clear view of how Egyptians and Romans viewed life in that era.

"...You can see how clever and curious she is from a young age...." Read more

"...It's full of charm, wit, treachery, pain, love, and an interesting blend of historical facts and filling in the gaps with juicy stories...." Read more

"...The reader reaps the benefits of an author who has obviously performed extensive research, allowing us to experience the lives of characters who..." Read more

"...the research myself, I can see that Margaret George has made very historically correct, or at least acceptable choices...." Read more

82 customers mention "Writing quality"69 positive13 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing quality. They find it well-written, readable, and easy to understand. The language is simple yet modernized enough to be understood. The book provides accurate history covering Roman and Egyptian history.

"...And it was oh so close. Thats the gift of a marvellous writer - immersing us so much into a long dead persons mind that you feel so one with them..." Read more

"...to set the scenes around Cleopatra were very interesting and eminently readable...." Read more

"...Now Ms. George ain't no Stephanie Meyer.. Shes an amazing writer...CLEARLY she did her research. Like some details are just too on point. &..." Read more

"...The language is simple enough and modernized enough to be understood while not feeling overly dramatized...." Read more

55 customers mention "Interest"51 positive4 negative

Customers enjoyed the story. They found it entertaining and compelling, with a believable atmosphere of ancient Rome. The events of the heroine's life were meaningful and engrossing, giving a personal feel to the novel. Readers appreciated the author's passion, caring, love, and wit.

"...It gave a more personal feel to the novel. I especially loved how the story is so highly detailed...." Read more

"...I was on a magical journey as I read this long book. It's full of charm, wit, treachery, pain, love, and an interesting blend of historical facts..." Read more

"I enjoy learning history through an entertaining read of a great story...." Read more

"...Overall, The Memoirs of Cleopatra is full of courtly and political intrigue, betrayal, romance, and drama...." Read more

43 customers mention "Character development"43 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development. They find the book weaves history and Cleopatra's humanization into a superb character. They appreciate her bravery and character. The portrayal of Caesar is adequate, though not impressive. Overall, readers describe the historical icon as completely human, multi-dimensional, and loyal to her people.

"...Once she came into power, Cleopatra's pure perseverance and durability were what made her the ruler she was...." Read more

"...Besides Cleopatra, I thought the characters were all very fleshed out. Caesar is calculating and prudent. Antony is pleasure-loving and weak-willed...." Read more

"...On the other hand, she does a beautiful portrayal of the major characters in the book...." Read more

"...way George shows Cleopatras, intelligence, humour, gentleness, and loyalty and love for her servants, family and followers as well as her lovers -..." Read more

43 customers mention "Cleopatra's life"43 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book about Cleopatra's life. They say it's an engaging way to describe her life from start to finish. The book is described as a first-person account from Cleopatru's perspective, with a fictional story that adheres to confirmed facts about her life. Readers find it hard to put down and fall in love with the great woman.

"...I undoubtedly enjoyed reading The Memoirs of Cleopatra. Every page was an adventure, and I experienced every possible emotion while reading...." Read more

"...Cleopatra herself, tireless, shrewd and inspiring...." Read more

"...recreate the rich settings, hardly documented events and travels in the life of Cleopatra, and customs that abound in the life of the Egyptian royal..." Read more

"...Julius Caesar is masterpiece. Caesar was an enigma in some respects, and he's a man of contradictions in the book...." Read more

49 customers mention "Length"21 positive28 negative

Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it a good read for long trips or plane rides, with many pages. Others feel it's too long, though they still enjoyed reading it to the end.

"...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!..." Read more

"...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..." Read more

"...of detailed descriptions of Egypt and events, but it is about 2x too long for my taste...." Read more

"Margaret George blew my socks off with this amazing novel! I was on a magical journey as I read this long book...." Read more

28 customers mention "Detail"19 positive9 negative

Customers have different views on the book's detail. Some find it amazing and vivid, capturing the human essence beautifully. Others feel there is too much detail, making the vision lose focus.

"It's really a stunning work, and having now done most of the research myself, I can see that Margaret George has made very historically correct, or..." Read more

"...George does a tremendous job to recreate the rich settings, hardly documented events and travels in the life of Cleopatra, and customs that abound..." Read more

"...Like some details are just too on point. &..." Read more

"...It's like closing your eyes in a scary movie. Octavius is beautifully created, too, he's handsome and blond, but he's not lovable...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2022
    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.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2024
    Margaret George blew my socks off with this amazing novel! I was on a magical journey as I read this long book. It's full of charm, wit, treachery, pain, love, and an interesting blend of historical facts and filling in the gaps with juicy stories. While reading this book, you will truly feel like you transported to another time and place, and it will feel like magic. Have fun!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2017
    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.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • DT.
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is huge!!!
    Reviewed in India on March 11, 2023
    The book is so well written and detailed, I love it. Really happy with the price as well, go for it, especially if you love history.
    Customer image
    DT.
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is huge!!!
    Reviewed in India on March 11, 2023
    The book is so well written and detailed, I love it. Really happy with the price as well, go for it, especially if you love history.
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  • Mandy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Great story and writing, VERY long
    Reviewed in France on March 9, 2022
    Okay, it's good. It's well written, it's super well researched and some of the scenes are just gorgeous. And there's something about reading a whole life that is quite an experience.
    Now. I read this after Helen of troy, which I sped through with delight.
    Cleopatra was tougher to go through.
    It took me nearly a month to read through it, and i'm a fast reader. But by the end I really couldnt wait to be done with it. Honestly some of the military detailed scenes completely lost me.
    It's a great book, for sure, but i'd suggest keeping it for times where you have a lot of time to read through it, or you'll be spending months on it.
  • E Jane White
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a book!
    Reviewed in Canada on December 12, 2018
    I love historical fiction and this book was so full of characters lives that you felt you were right along with them through their struggles and successes and all things in between.
  • Marianne Piekkala-Fletcher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cleopatra' s remarkable story
    Reviewed in Australia on October 13, 2017
    This book was very long but so a driving that you feel sad when it ends. Reading this book, you gain a comprehensive understanding of Cleopatra' s character, intelligence, strength and political acumen. Margaret George's Cleopatra was so much more than the fabled beautiful queen of Egypt, she was a formidable opponent and a loyal friend.
    I recommend this book to anyone interested in the story behind the history.
  • munchkinsraves
    5.0 out of 5 stars 'Memoirs of Cleopatra': A great book that leaves you wanting to know more
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2011
    I first read the 'Memoirs of Cleopatra' many years ago....It was in our collection and became a victim of a disappearing act. That was years ago... Now, when I saw the title I pounced on it:'YESSS'!!!
    I loved it the first time I read it, and here the second time, its just as good. It is not a book that you want to put down in a hurry. The pages turn themselves...
    Written in the first person, it gives a unique insight into this queen who ruled over 1,000 years ago.The detail is rich, the history well researched. Ms. George draws on the few items there are left of this enigmatic,yet forever fascinating queen that feature her portrait, from the coin to the idealised portraits in stone.
    They always say that history is written from the 'eyes of the victor' of whatever battle[s], in this case,Actium and Cleopatra has not always been portrayed in the most favourable light. This work 'evens the score a bit', presenting history from a more 'fair' point of view...
    Even if you are not one for history, you are sure to enjoy this. Do not be put off by its size...the pages just fly by.