Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Keith Goldsworthy (PDF)

Description

The acclaimed historian reveals the truth behind the myths of antiquity’s legendary lovers in “this thoughtful, deeply satisfying” dual biography (Publishers Weekly, starred review). In Antony and Cleopatra, preeminent historian Adrian Goldsworthy goes beyond the romantic narratives of Shakespeare and Hollywood to create a nuanced and historically acute portrayal of his subjects. Set against the political backdrop of their time, he presents two lives lived at the center of profound social change. It is a narrative that crosses cultures and boundaries from ancient Greece and ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire. Drawing on his prodigious knowledge of the ancient world, and especially the period’s military and political history, Goldsworthy creates a singular portrait of two iconic lovers who were, in his words, “first and foremost political animals.” With a close analysis of ancient sources and archaeological evidence, Goldsworthy explains why Cleopatra was often portrayed as an Egyptian, even though she was Greek, and argues that Antony had far less military experience than popular legend suggests. At the same time, Goldsworthy makes a persuasive case that Antony was a powerful Roman senator and political force in his own right. A story of love, politics, and ambition, Goldsworthy’s Antony and Cleopatra delivers a compelling reassessment of a major episode in ancient history.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Goldsworthy has again proved that he can make the history of Rome come alive like no other current popularizer. Here, building on the phenomenal bio he wrote about Caesar, he covers the love story between one of his followers, Marc Antony, and a client queen, Cleopatra. It is a long enquiry into who they really were, what they actually did, and why.Cleopatra was completely Greek, from a long line of foreign leaders who fashioned themselves as the sovereigns of Egypt. Known as the Ptolemies, their line was installed there in the wake of the death of Alexander the Great. Their court was notoriously treacherous and bloodthirsty, not only for outside rivals, but with eachother: though siblings routinely married each other to prevent civil war, they almost always ended up murdering brothers, sisters, even parents, in the bids for power over 200 years. Goldsworthy briefly covers their history and style, leading directly to Cleopatra VII of the title, who as a teenager was embroiled in a war with her bother (Ptolemy XIII) when Julius Caesar arrived in pursuit of Pompey.According to Goldsworthy, she was a traditional despot trying to survive in a changing world. As a client or Rome, she knew the cards she had been dealt and played within those limits, more or less as a queen courtesan. She seduces Caesar and gains the upper hand in her civil war, entrenching herself in power for the next 20 years. Once Caesar is assassinated in Rome, she turns to Antony, the governor of Asia, to expand her power, again by seducing him and bearing children as acts of diplomacy.For his part, Antony is a typical Roman aristocrat. Born to privilege and opportunity, he made the most of things: he expected his time in power, enjoyed all the luxuries, enriched himself by taking whatever he could with utter ruthlessness, and sought military glory as a way to advance his career. However, while courageous and able to inspire loyalty in his men, he lacked political instinct, was a poor general and probably an alcoholic. He learned little from experience, but may have loved Cleopatra (and she him). Their union was a political disaster from the beginning: in the eyes of his Roman supporters, Antony compounded his mistakes and was vulnerable to Octavian’s propaganda campaign to portray him as un-Roman, lacking virtus, and styling himself as an oriental despot under the thumb of a woman. Even worse, in what should have been the prime years of his career, Antony proved himself an incompetent general in one of the great catastrophes of Roman history in Parthia. That effectively may have broken his spirit, making him even more dependent on Cleopatra for emotional support as a source of strength. The couple then lost in a new civil war with Octavian and commited suicide.This is one of those books that I wish I had found as an undergraduate: it is concise yet compelling narrative, sticks to the point in a rigorous scholarly manner, and gives a clear idea of the wider context both in history and manners. It is a masterpiece that will not dissatisfy academics. Not for a single moment, in a week of delighted reading, did the book lose me with irrelevant detail, obscure arguments, or rigor for the sake of rigor.

⭐I found this disappointing. Most of the reason isn’t the author’s fault. There simply isn’t very much solid information about Cleopatra, and so much of her bio has to be speculation or shrugs. The author resorts to saying “we simply do not know” nearly a dozen times throughout. Antony is better known, but (at least according to this bio) he was not a very interesting person – an entitled, pompous, barely competent, self-satisfied aristocrat, with no particular talents and a much higher opinion of himself than he deserved. Is that fair? I don’t know, because all I know about him comes from this book, so either he’s not interesting or the author has failed. Cleopatra, on the other hand, should be a much more interesting character – managing to politic, fight, and wiggle herself to the top of her society and stay there in spite of the constant infighting and backstabbing. But the lack of data makes all her maneuvers at best speculative, and again, the author doesn’t seem to like or admire her very much. We’re left with a lot of information about a boring blowhard, and very little about a (probably) fascinating schemer.

⭐A well researched account of the two figures. No sensational portrayals just what facts known and unknown. His scholarship remains outstanding.

⭐This is a well written history. It is very helpful in understanding the background of Augustus and the New Testament.

⭐Based on primary sources w/o a lot of speculation, and addresses the romantic nonsense that’s turned the pair into legendary lovers instead of what they more certainly were, i.e., perhaps in love, but highly ambitious political and calculating operatives living and trying to survive during an extremely turbulent time of seemingly endless civil war in Rome and the incumbent economic and military stress exerted on all its provinces. The background to both their lives and histories leading up to them (the Ptolemy dynasty and Rome’s use of client states and their rulers) was particularly interesting. And we’re reminded that everything that’s been recorded about Antony and Cleopatra was filtered through the lens of Caesar Augustus’ (the victor’s) long reign as emperor, so it’s difficult for us to judge the actual circumstances. Well written and accessible to the layperson w/some knowledge of Roman history.

⭐This is not a Taylor and Burton “Cleopatra”.nor is it Shakespeare .For those who have no knowledge of this time frame ,Mr Goldsworthy takes the reader to the origin of the political and social tormentor which these two characters would have to perform in.Both were overly ambitious which caused them to realized that Rome did not revolve around them.Octavian was the master chess player. He had tortured under Caesar .He was ambitious but surround himself with capable men ,Aggriba for one.Cleopatra was more skill at this game than the self absorbed Antony.I found myself interested in Cleo. because of her skill of politics even to the end .First Cesar ,who recognized this in her and then Antony who was naive but whom she could and did manipulate into doing her biding.Antony’s fault was he failed to remember he was Roman and that Rome/Octavian would not endure being challenged by any one,Could Cleopatra have seduced Octavian? Would he have allow her to do so? My bets on Octavian, he was to young and not naive..ROME and a EMPIRE was his..Why take the risk?

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