Cleopatra
by Jacob Abbott
'Cleopatra' Summary
Jacob Abbott's Cleopatra is a work of historical biography, told in a highly dramatic and gripping style. It brings the characters and the circumstances to vivid life, making it an entertaining read for people of all ages. The authentic rendering of ancient Rome, Egypt and the famous characters who played their part in this ancient drama are wonderfully depicted. The romance, betrayal, war, hatred, destruction, murder, the power and the glory of empire are all captured in this sweeping narrative. Abbot's brief preface gives a glimpse of how much this fabulous queen has indeed altered the course of human lives.
Cleopatra's history is portrayed in great detail. The book opens with the lines, “The story of Cleopatra is a story of crime” and frankly speaks of the incestuous practices that existed in ancient Egypt. The queen was by birth an Egyptian but the blood of her Greek ancestors flowed in her veins. Abbot describes the land of Egypt in glowing terms and ascribes many of Cleopatra's faults to the luxury and surrounding she was brought up in. The mighty dynasty of the Ptolemies, the fabled city of Alexandria, Cleopatra's ascent of the throne as a blooming young lass of fifteen, her marriage and exile, the circumstances under which she meets Julius Caesar, their relationship and Caesar's assassination in Rome are all the stuff of legend. Today, most students of history and literature would be familiar with many aspects of the story. Shakespeare himself famously dealt with it in his Antony and Cleopatra, poets and musicians depicted her almost unbelievable power over men, while historians have undertaken serious research into all these claims. However, the lady has, centuries after her tragic and spectacular suicide, remained an enigma.
Jacob Abbot wrote primarily for children. In Cleopatra, he presents history not in the usual vapid, dull way, but in a manner that makes the events come alive, thus making them memorable and interesting for children and adults alike. As a biography that attempts to solve the riddle of Cleopatra's amazing life and times, this is indeed a fascinating read.
Book Details
Author
Jacob Abbott
United States
Jacob Abbott (November 14, 1803 – October 31, 1879) was an American writer of children's books. He was a prolific author, writing juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books...
More on Jacob AbbottDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
The Jesus of History by Terrot R. Glover
This book answers many questions on the history of the times, how the advancement of Christianity could take on such an unfathomable abundance at ligh...
Lucretia Borgia by Ferdinand Gregorovius
According to Original Documents and Correspondence of Her Day. Lucretia Borgia is the most unfortunate woman in modern history. Is this because she wa...
Women of History by Various
An intriguing look at well known women in history from BC 500 to the mid 1800's. Each chapter is a brief overview of one woman's life.
Jane Austen and Her Times by Geraldine Mitton
This book starts saying it won't be a biography but instead will describe the times of Jane Austen, but then details the live of Jane Austen with a bi...
Napoleon: A Short Biography by Robert Matteson Johnston
This is a 'lightning biography' which serves as an introduction to the field of Napoleonic history. Its purpose is to enable the ordinary reader or wo...
Charles I by Jacob Abbott
There are certain names which are familiar, as names, to all mankind; and every person who seeks for any degree of mental cultivation, feels desirous...
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects Vol 9 by Giorgio Vasari
This takes readers on an immersive journey through the lives and works of the greatest artistic minds in history. In Volume 9, Vasari continues his co...
The Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola by Frances Alice Forbes
Dive into the riveting tale of spiritual awakening and resilience with "The Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola" by Frances Alice Forbes. In this meticulou...
The Ordeal of Mark Twain by Van Wyck Brooks
Brooks attributes Clemens' increasing sense of pessimism to the repression of his creative spirit due largely to his mother and his wife.
Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume 04 by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
Unravel the enigmatic legacy of an extraordinary emperor as "Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume 04" unveils the gripping conclusion of a remarkable...
Reviews for Cleopatra
No reviews posted or approved, yet...