When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra FROM THE PUBLISHER
Arrestingly beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Cleopatra VII of Egypt was barely more than a teenager when she inherited the richest empire in the world—one that stretched from the scorching deserts of lower Egypt to the shining Mediterranean metropolis of Alexandria. Imperiled at every turn by court conspiracies and Roman treachery, Cleopatra brazenly sought a partnership with the only man who could secure Egypt’s safety: Julius Caesar, a wily politician and battle-hardened general with a weakness for women. The result was a passionate love affair that scandalized Rome and thrust Cleopatra into the glittering but deadly world of imperial intrigue and warfare—a world that she would mesmerize and manipulate even after Caesar was gone.
Colin Falconer takes the reader inside the walls of Alexandria’s great palaces and into Cleopatra’s very heart, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman who thrived and triumphed in a world ruled by men. This is the glorious story of a legendary woman, a story that blazes through thousands of years of history to capture the imagination of readers today
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Falconer's (Rough Justice) swift-moving historical novel adds new twists and modern dialogue to an oft-told tragic tale. Fifty-one years before the birth of Jesus Christ, in the fertile Nile valley, 18-year-old Cleopatra ascends to the throne of Egypt upon the death of her father, Ptolemy XII. Inheriting a palace that more closely resembles a snake pit than a home, crowded with family and advisers, Cleopatra must come to terms with the heavy burden of royalty and its inevitable loneliness. Her only trusted friend is Mardian, the giant eunuch who has been her tutor since childhood. From an Egypt desperately attempting to retain its hold on ancient religions and traditions in a rapidly changing world, to the hypocritical halls of the Roman Republic, the young queen weaves her web of seduction, ensnaring not only the cold, driven Julius Caesar but also a playful Marcus Antonius. Falconer's Cleopatra is vulnerable, intelligent and liberated, defined by her wit as much as by her beauty. This fresh take on one of history's leading ladies is smoothly written, slickly couching ancient history in the contemporary rhetoric of female empowerment. (Dec.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
"The most complete woman ever to have existed, the most womanly woman and the most queenly queen, a person to be wondered at, to whom the poets have been able to add nothing, and whom dreamers find always at the end of their dreams." This is how Theophile Gautier described Cleopatra in 1845, and this is how she is portrayed by historical novelist Falconer in 2000. Over the centuries, the name Cleopatra has become synonymous with decadence, sensuality, and seduction. While it is true that she could claim both Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius as lovers and fathers to her children, in this novel she is far more than a woman of mere physical passion. First and foremost, Cleopatra thought of herself as ruler of Egypt and worked tirelessly to preserve her nation in the never-ending battle against Roman imperialism. Although used ruthlessly by both Caesar and Marc Anthony in their pursuit of power, the brilliant Cleopatra was not to be pitied. In a prose style as provocative as the scent of Lebanese cedar and vivid as Eastern sun on white marble, Falconer interweaves the themes of power and politics, desire and love to form a web in which the rulers of the ancient civilized world walked a thin line between glory and utter destruction. Recommended.--Jane Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., AK Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
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