Viggen 95 Report post Posted March 1, 2011 Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy The author remarked about this book 'everyone knows of Antony and Cleopatra, but they see the story as they think it should have been'. We know that story. It's the one from the theatre of Shakespeare, or Elizabeth Taylor's career-defining role in film. It's where the dashing and impetuous Antony is seduced by the decadent beauty of Cleopatra and ends up throwing the world away for love. 'The triple pillar of the world transform'd into a strumpet's fool' as Shakespeare himself puts it (with more than a little help from Plutarch). In the end the star-crossed lovers die tragically but heroically, leaving their cold, scheming nemesis with his victory... ...read the full review of Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ursus 6 Report post Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) Excellent review. Thank you, Maty. Pat Southern was a lot more sympathetic in her treatmeant of the two lovers. I think I am more inclined to side with Goldworthy with Antony as a "drunken boor" and Cleopatra as a "homocidal geek." Yep, that sounds about right. I'll definitely be on the look out for this book when it comes to paperbook! And hurray for an Augustus bio! But please, no stories of Livia and poisoned figs. Edited March 1, 2011 by Ursus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaius Paulinus Maximus 2 Report post Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) Very nice review maty, thanks I'll look forward to reading about the factual lives of Antony and Cleopatra as opposed to the the more heavily romanticized story we are more used to hearing. Edited March 2, 2011 by Gaius Paulinus Maximus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DecimusCaesar 1 Report post Posted March 1, 2011 Great View; I have some of Goldsworthy's other books so I will probably get this in the near future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
