Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read.
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Expected publication: May 21, 2024 by Basic Books
The definitive story of the seven Cleopatras, the powerful goddess-queens of ancient Egypt
One of history’s most iconic figures, Cleopatra is rightly remembered as a clever and charismatic ruler. But few today realize that she was the last in a long line of Egyptian queens who bore that name.
In The Cleopatras, historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the dramatic story of these seven incomparable women, vividly recapturing the lost world of Hellenistic Egypt and tracing the kingdom’s final centuries before its fall to Rome. The Cleopatras were Greek-speaking descendants of Ptolemy, the general who conquered Egypt alongside Alexander the Great. They were closely related as mothers, daughters, sisters, half-sisters, and nieces. Each wielded absolute power, easily overshadowing their husbands or sons, and all proved to be shrewd and capable leaders. Styling themselves as goddess-queens, the Cleopatras ruled through the canny deployment of arcane rituals, opulent spectacles, and unparalleled wealth. They navigated political turmoil and court intrigues, led armies into battle and commanded fleets of ships, and ruthlessly dispatched their dynastic rivals.
The Cleopatras is a fascinating and richly textured biography of seven extraordinary women, restoring these queens to their deserved place among history’s greatest rulers.
I’ve never read a book by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones but I always see his books at the nonfiction section at the bookstore, although I never picked them up to buy. UNTIL NOW. I absolutely love the topic of this next book of his. It’s definitely going to be one of my most anticipated books of 2024. I don’t think many people know there were many Cleopatras across history and not just the one Cleopatra last ruler of Egypt and lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. I CANNOT WAIT.
Are you also looking forward to this book? What do you think of it?
Leave links to your Can’t-Wait Wednesday post so I can stop by!
I didn’t know about the seven Cleopatras so I’m intrigued! Plus it sounds perfect for you😁
Basically in that dynasty they named all the girls Cleopatra and all the boys Ptolemy (and a few were named Arsinoe) 😂
I absolutely did NOT know this and now I am super intrigued!
I am hoping to do a nonfiction/fiction pairing of a couple of books about Cleopatra I have on my TBR. And now there’s this one to consider too! I am adding this one to my wish list. I hope you enjoy it when you read it, Stephanie!
If you need more Cleopatra recs, hit me up 😛
I did not know there were many Cleopatras, not just the one. This sounds like a fascinating read indeed!