Synopsis
Cleopatra is one of history's most famous rulers. She was an intelligent, strong-willed leader who governed Egypt during a tumultuous period of history when most power was held by men, and is well-known for her affairs with two important Roman leaders, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Descended from a long line of kings, Cleopatra became queen in 51 B.C., when she was 18. She was ambitious and determined to keep Egypt independent at a time when the military leaders of Rome were rapidly conquering foreign lands. Cleopatra's involvement with Caesar and Antony gave her political influence over both men to the growing resentment of the Romans, who ultimately declared war on her. Defeat by the Romans drove Cleopatra to take her own life, ending the long reign of the Egyptian dynasty. Author Tom Streissguth tells the story of the enigmatic queen who continues to fascinate us more than 2000 years after her death.
VOYA
This review was written and published to address two books in the Lerner Biography series, one about Cleopatra and the other about Jesse Ventura. The good, the bad, and the in-between—no details appear to be spared in these readable biographies. No fictional conversations or events are recreated. Cleopatra's story—that of a scheming woman determined to rule and hold onto her empire no matter who was used, offended, or murdered along the way—is that of her lovers, Caesar and Mark Antony, as much as it is hers. Chapters in Cleopatra are divided by catchy titles such as "Sneaking In" and "Laying the Trap" in bold typeface. Jesse Ventura chronicles the life of one of today's most brash politicians. A former Navy SEAL best known as a professional wrestler, he is fearless in sharing his opinions. Although his defeat was predicted just two months before the election, Ventura swept to victory as governor of Minnesota, defeating favorite political son, Skip Humphrey, in one of the largest voter turnouts ever in that state. There are no subdivisions in the Ventura book, but it is peppered with quotes from Ventura, his family, and acquaintances. The length of these biographies makes them acceptable for those assignments with page minimums. Although written by different authors, the layout, writing style, and vocabulary are uniform. Short gold-bordered sections examine topics pertinent to the subjects, such as the Hellenistic World and Pro Wrestling Moves. Others profiled in this series include Maya Angelou, Princess Diana, Jesse Owens, and Bill Gates. The books in the Lerner Biography series provide fast reads that can be enjoyed even when not used for assignments. Index. Illus.Photos. Biblio. Source Notes. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 1999, Lerner, 112p, $25.26. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Pam Carlson
SOURCE: VOYA, October 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 4)