Cleopatra by Jacob Abbot

"Cleopatra" by Jacob Abbot - Informative.

This Audiobook was a Librivox recording. 

Cleopatra was Egyptian by birth and Greek by ancestry and origin. Alexander annexed Egypt to Greek empire. After his death,  the empire was divided between his generals. Ptolemi took over Egypt. The line of Ptolemi ruled  Egypt for many years. Cleopatra was 11th in the line. 

What was she like? What were the circumstances then? What was her relationship with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony? What role did she play in world politics? What kind of a person was she?

The book takes us through the story starting from the time of Alexander. Establishment of the line of Ptolemi. Savagery, viciousness,  violence and warring in the line of Ptolemi. Incest in the line of Ptolemi for generations. Birth, marriage to brother, ascendance to throne of Cleopatra. Her banishment. Murder of Pompei and arrival of Caesar. Caesars mediation. Cleopatra- Caesar liaison. Fickle alliances. Alexandrian war of 3000 Vs 30000. Assassination of Caesar. Battle of Philippi, two years after Caesar's assassination. It happened between the triumvirate of Antony, Octavian and Lepidus leading the Caesar camp and Brutus & Cassius leading the other resulting in victory of triumvirate. It led to ascendance of Mark Anthony. This culminated in Cleopatra-Anthony liaison, final war and deaths. 

In later part of the book, author paints Cleopatra in shades of dark grey and black. He singles her out for making Mark Anthony her figurative slave and diverting him from his ambition, making him kick his wife and children out of his home. He accuses her of leading Antony into naval fight against Octavian instead of land war and then making him abandon the war and run. She then took to studying poisons and experimented the effects, suffering, time to death on captured soldiers or slaves. Although she lived royally,  she died miserably. 

Author describes the Valley of Nile and explains why there are no forests or animals on the banks of Nile that one can find on the banks of Amazon.

Author writes about the great efforts and expenditure undertaken by Ptolemi Philadelphus to build and stock the famous Alexandria library.

Caesar was charismatic, brave and ambitious. Caesars over indulgence and arranging navy and military wars between captured soldiers for entertainment leading to enormous loss of life divided Rome in two camps. One led by Caesar and another by Brutus and Cassius. This led to Caesar's assassination. 

Mark Antony was very generous and magnanimous. He was recklessly generous. He indulged in excesses when alone and then with Cleopatra. He went completely under her control and made tactical blunders.

Timid, shy, child like & beautiful young Cleopatra becomes vivacious, beautiful and bold lady used to extravagance. Then she transforms into insensitive & heartless queen and then wicked, brutal woman. 

I did not know that Cleopatra was of Greek ancestry, that she was married to her brother, that she had one son from Caesar and three children from Mark Anthony. 

This book is written more like history than story. It could have been made more interesting. 

Why did I read this book? Cleopatra    

What I didn't like? Narration is more like history than story. 

What did I like? Information.

 Not a must read.