Synopses & Reviews
The subject of myth for more than two millennia, Cleopatra has long been obscured by Roman propaganda, Shakespearean tragedy, and Hollywood glamour. Yet Cleopatra was a woman of passion, magnetism, and political genius, the last and perhaps the greatest Egyptian pharaoh. In
Cleopatra the Great, world-renowned Egyptologist Joann Fletcher draws on a wealth of newly discovered information and research to reveal this vital woman as she truly was—a polymath monarch; a potent combination of traditionalist and innovator; an astute futurist; and a ruthless opportunist who would let nothing stand in her way.
Cleopatra the Great tells the story of a turbulent time and the extraordinary woman at its center. Intelligent and compulsively readable, this is an unparalleled biography worthy of one of history's most fascinating leaders: politician, mother, and goddess, the legendary Cleopatra.
Synopsis
"Joann Fletcher has the good grace and specialist knowledge to do away with Roman romances. This book's bedrock is Egyptology. . . . Cleopatra was, indeed, not just a 'baleful beauty;' she was great." --History Today
World-renowned Egyptologist Joann Fletcher offers an extraordinary look at one of Egypt's most intriguing leaders--the legendary Cleopatra. In the tradition of biographies by Stacy Shiff, Duane Roller, and Adrian Goldsworthy, and drawing on astonishing new evidence about Cleopatra's life--including tax records, personal correspondence, and the discovery of her palace quarters beneath the Mediterranean Sea--Fletcher presents Cleopatra's life in glorious detail, revealing the woman behind the myths.
Synopsis
“Joann Fletcher has the good grace and specialist knowledge to do away with Roman romances. This books bedrock is Egyptology. . . . Cleopatra was, indeed, not just a ‘baleful beauty; she was great.” —
History Today World-renowned Egyptologist Joann Fletcher offers an extraordinary look at one of Egypt's most intriguing leaders—the legendary Cleopatra. In the tradition of biographies by Stacy Shiff, Duane Roller, and Adrian Goldsworthy, and drawing on astonishing new evidence about Cleopatras life—including tax records, personal correspondence, and the discovery of her palace quarters beneath the Mediterranean Sea—Fletcher presents Cleopatras life in glorious detail, revealing the woman behind the myths.
About the Author
Dr. Joann Fletcher is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeology at the University of York and Consultant Egyptologist for Harrogate Museums and Arts. She has undertaken excavation work in Egypt, Yemen, and the UK, and has examined mummies both on site and in collections around the world. Dr. Fletcher writes for The Guardian newspaper and the BBC's History Online Web site, and has made numerous appearances on television and radio. She divides her time between her native Yorkshire, northern France, and Egypt.