Antony And Cleopatra

You might think you know the original story, but the truth has been obscured by myths, poetic license, and Elizabeth Taylor’s shimmering costumes. It turns out that Cleopatra wasn’t Egyptian but Greek, and well-versed in Roman culture, while Mark Antony was an intelligent politician, not a bluff, lovesick soldier who fell at her feet. Maybe the truth seems less romantic than Shakespeare’s version, but in Adrian Goldsworthy’s hands it’s a fascinating, eye-opening read.