Cleopatra's Daughter

A Novel

De: Michelle Moran

Narrado por: Wanda McCaddon

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two---the 10-year-old twins Selene and Alexander---survive the journey.

Delivered to the household of Octavian's sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian's family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra's Daughter. Recounted in Selene's youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian's kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian's handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia's sardonic son and Marcellus's great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian's watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.

Selene's narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place---the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of those times.

©2009 Michelle Moran (P)2009 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Dramatic, engrossing, and beautifully written." ( Library Journal)

Not the Greatest...

I expected this book to be a lot more dramatic. Instead it's just the story of a girl who grows up in the palaces of Rome. I found the characters hard to follow and the plot really slow. It did get more interesting towards the end, but it's a lot to get through. It was interesting enough to finish, and the factual evidence in the end made the story worth reading.

The narrator ruins this

Moran writes such exciting stories that it’s a shame this narrator turns it into a public television bore fest.

longtime favorite

found this at a garage sale years ago and it became an instant favorite. i reread it once a year or so

LOVED the book, narrator is another story.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator was very difficult to understand until about 2 hours in when I got used to her voice and accent. My first impression was that I was listening to a cross between Margaret Thatcher and Mrs. Doubtfire and I was unsure that I would be able to get through the book. HAVING said that, I did get used to her voice but the narrator of Michelle Moran's other books Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen had an amazing airy delivery that I would have preferred for this book as well.

cleopatras daughter

interesting historical novel and would like to read more to see what is real and what is not. however the history and learning about the period and its rulers was enlightening. a nice way to learn about rome and egypt at the time.