Kleopatra

July 23, 2001
This retelling of the legendary Egyptian monarch's story opens when she is "three years old and she cannot speak even one sentence of passable Greek." All the familiar aspects of her life unfold—with an emphasis on palace intrigues, royal excesses and scheming courtiers—but Essex also highlights the young princess's prodigious talents for language, adventure and politics. In contrast to many authors who wish to humanize Kleopatra and focus only on her life as a woman, Essex chooses to explore her subject's absolute dedication to the political intrigues of her time, and her connection to Greek culture (hence the unusual spelling of her name). While the framework is familiar, her rendering of the ancient world's culture and political machinations make this fast-paced treatment of Kleopatra's adventures particularly engaging. Exhaustive research is evident throughout, in the form of intriguing minutiae such as a list of the exotic dishes at a banquet or meticulous descriptions of astounding displays during a pageant in honor of Dionysus. When Kleopatra's father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, is exiled to Rome, the young princess accompanies him, both literally and figuratively leaving behind her childhood in preparation for ruling Egypt. When she returns, she is named co-regent with her father, who dies shortly thereafter. She marries her half-brother and eventually raises an army with her cousin and lover, Archimedes. This volume ends with the young queen in exile, waiting for Julius Caesar; a sequel is in the works. Essex delivers a consistent and historically accurate reading of Kleopatra, and even those who think they know the queen will discover new facets of her life that will engage both the intellect and the senses. (Aug. 9)Forecast:Cleopatra junkies will snatch this up, but a captivating jacket and title should attract ancient-world neophytes, too.

July 1, 2001
Cleopatra, or Kleopatra as her name is spelled in Greek, inherited little from her father, Ptolemy XII, other than his Macedonian profile and the throne of Egypt. Where he was obese, indolent, and self-indulgent, the young queen was cunning, ambitious, and ruthless. Ptolemy, through gross mismanagement and a series of disastrous financial alliances with Rome, had alienated the Egyptian people to the point of rebellion. After his death, Kleopatra was exiled by her brother/husband and his cabinet. First novelist Essex focuses on Kleopatra's early years (the book ends when she is 22 years old and meeting Julius Caesar for the first time) and on her Greek origins. The Greek-speaking Ptolemy pharaohs neither knew nor cared about the customs of Egypt, but Kleopatra learned the Egyptian language, something no Ptolemy had done before. In return, the Egyptians gave her their support in her struggle to wrest the throne from her brother. Essex's Kleopatra is a more approachable woman than the Cleopatra of Colin Falconer's When We Were Gods (LJ 10/1/00), and her abundant youthful audacity and confidence are appealing compared with Falconer's powerful, controlled ruler. Yet the two novels together create a complete portrait of the child, the woman, and the queen. Recommended for most historical fiction collections. Jane Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., AK

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2001
Moving beyond the distorted legend of Kleopatra as a stereotypically devious female, Essex has penned an enthralling fictional account of her youthful ascension into politics and prominence. Evoking an ancient Egypt characterized by intrigue, treachery, and mystery, the author places a remarkably intelligent and reflective Kleopatra in the center of a deadly family controversy that pits her firmly against her brother. Forced into exile, she must raise an army in order to makeher bid for the throne of Egypt. Unable to mount a successful assault on her own, she ultimately joins forces with the crafty Julius Caesar. Backed by the military prowess of Rome and bolstered by her personal alliance with the mighty Caesar, Kleopatra secures her position and is poised to enter a new and challenging phase as the queen of the Egyptian kingdom. Fine historical fiction that will leave readers hungry for the second volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)