Cleopatra MP3 CD – Audiobook, January 1, 2016

After getting used to the longer sentence style and thoughts, I found it to be a very fair and insightful view of Her life and personality. It was balanced and succinctly showed the cultural conditions of the time while giving the history of Cleopatra's family and of the Library of Alexandria and the founding of the city. He brought out the motives and political underpinnings of the situations while keeping the story moving. I particularly liked the way he set the stage for events by giving a backdrop of strong influences with an understanding who the various Romans were, why they acted. This is history made believable.The style of writing takes a page or two to get used to, but is easy and worth it. Good easy reading with lots of action.

I order way to many books, not. Just have so many, I don't always get to them the same day I purchase (tho this one was free). I love anything Egyptian so took a quick look, and read it in one sitting. Very informative book.

Before reading this book, I had no idea about the extent of cruelty, crime and incest that went on during the Ptolemies dynasty in the kingdom of Egypt. I also didn’t know that there were numerous women of royal blood who were given the name Cleopatra. This is a wonderful biography of the Great Cleopatra and it includes many interesting facts during that period of history. I learned a lot reading this book. It is well-researched and extremely informative about her life.

I love delving back into ancient Egyptian history, and let's face it - Cleopatra was Queen of them all. Whilst the language is a little bit flowery in parts, it's wonderful to whisked back in time so thoroughly and completely. All credit to Jacob Abbott who must have spent years putting this volume together.

The title says Cleopatra but it reads as Those That Knew Cleopatra. I was disappointed that the bulk of the book was about early Egypt, the dynasty of her family and Mark Antony. I knew Antony would be heavily covered but so much of that history has little to do with Cleopatra. Three stars for thoroughness.

This is part of an exceptional series of biographies from the wonderful school of historians of the mid-nineteenth century, in this case by the brothers John and Jacob Abbott. I hope that I will be forgiven for posting this review at various titles I have read.I would like to quote Abraham Lincoln's letter to the brothers, for it is incredibly powerful."I want to thank you and your brother for Abbott's series of Histories. I have not education enough to appreciate the profound works of voluminous historians, and if I had, I have no time to read them. But your series of Histories gives me, in brief compass, just that knowledge of past men and events which I need. I have read them with the greatest interest. To them I am indebted for about all the historical knowledge I have."Some may be put-off by the oftentimes long background stories, which can get somewhat tangential to the subject. Jacob especially seems prone to this. However, I find the Abbott's bios fascinating even when they get carried away and wander a bit too far from home. As a true history lover, it is hard to loose me.As for judgments and opinions, yes, the Brother's Abbott give them freely and without reservation. While some will no doubt consider their views dated, please keep in mind that these books were written practically two centuries ago, when people thought very differently. In most cases, however, I find their ideas to be timeless, and in this sense, quite refreshing. If only today's historians could write so passionately and sensitively.

love cleopatra and reading about her is awesome

I found this book very disappointing. Listing subtitles under the chapters made it drawn out. Using a Kindle, there were no illustrations, though a caption for the illustration was. I have read some of his books in the past and totally enjoyed them. This book is not one of them. Could not recommend.

I don't know anything about who wrote this but whilst I thought it would make an interesting read, it doesn't! The language used is so old and long winded, I am missing huge chunks, for example he goes on and on and on about the weather and the deserts etc

Nice old-school biography - read this in front of the fire on a cold winter night and be transported back in time.

Not read yet

Love it.

Good reading

This classic biography of the infamous Egyptian queen brings to life the ancient time of Cleopatra and the fascinating story of the girl who became ruler of a wealthy and powerful empire.

Vecchissima biografia di Cleopatra scritta da un autore bigottino che giudica prevalentemente i valori di Cleopatra secondo gli schemi rigidi del suo tempo e non inseriti nel loro contesto storico e culturale. In ultima analisi si parla forse più di Cesare, Antonio, Bruto, Cassio, che non di Cleopatra, la cui condotta politica e personale viene più che altro giudicata.