Cleopatra’s image has always been manipulated by her enemies, the Romans, who defeated her in war. Augustus in particular had a vested interest in making her look evil and dangerous. But who was the last queen of Egypt, really? In this lively, sometimes irreverent biography, Shecter unabashedly looks at Cleopatra’s story from the queen’s point of view. Using both primary and secondary sources, she teases out a picture of a brilliant and savvy politician and ruler. With sidebars and end-notes balanced by an approachable voice, the book, according to Booklist, “will draw many readers.”
School Library Journal: “Short chapters with banner headlines every few paragraphs organize Cleopatra’s action-packed life into easily processed pieces… the scholarship is sound: in this case, a spoonful of Pop-Rocks may help the Ptolemies go down.”
Booklist: “This attractive book presents Cleopatra’s story through an unusual text, many informative sidebars, and excellent color illustrations: maps, photos of ancient artifacts, and artworks from many historical periods.”
