Antony & Cleopatra

By: Adrian Goldsworthy

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

In this remarkable dual biography of the two great lovers of the ancient world, Adrian Goldsworthy goes beyond myth and romance to create a nuanced and historically acute portrayal of his subjects, set against the political backdrop of their time. A history of lives lived intensely at a time when the world was changing profoundly, this audiobook takes listeners on a journey 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 his keen sense of the period's military and political history, Goldsworthy creates a singular portrait of the iconic lovers. "Antony and Cleopatra were first and foremost political animals," explains Goldsworthy, who places politics and ideology at the heart of their storied romance.

Undertaking a close analysis of ancient sources and archaeological evidence, Goldsworthy bridges the gaps of current scholarship and dispels misconceptions that have entered the popular consciousness. He explains why Cleopatra was consistently portrayed by Hollywood as an Egyptian, even though she was really Greek, and argues that Antony had far less military experience than anyone would suspect from reading Shakespeare and other literature. In addition Goldsworthy makes an important case for understanding Antony as a powerful Roman senator and political force in his own right.

©2010 Adrian Goldsworthy (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Unlike many competing authors, Goldsworthy never disguises the scanty evidence for many historical events." ( Publishers Weekly)

A riveting dive into history

Adrian Goldsworthy’s Antony and Cleopatra is a masterfully written account that brilliantly intertwines historical detail with engaging storytelling. The depth of research is evident on every page.

Though the inevitable tragic end of Antony and Cleopatra looms large, I found myself wholly immersed in their story, rooting for them despite knowing their fate. Goldsworthy portrays their humanity and ambition with such nuance that their downfall feels all the more poignant.

Equally impressive is the portrayal of Octavian, whose calculated strategy ensured his survival and eventual supremacy. While his choices may not always inspire admiration, they make perfect sense in the context of the brutal power struggles of the era.

Well informed, accurate information! Another great Goldsworthy book!

Adrian manages to maintain his signature command over narrative and had me itching to get back to Audible in my free time to hear all the details of both Antony and Cleopatra’s final years. Highly recommended if you have even a cursory knowledge of the first/second Triumvirates!

Great narrative history.

Gave me a more balanced understanding of Antony and Cleopatra. It is well written, and the narrator is excellent. Well worth listening to, it helped me gain a much better understanding of the era.

Very good

While I throughly enjoyed Antony and Cleopatra, I was disappointed in how little is actually known and so a book entitled about these two lovers ends up being more about Roman history ( no fault of the author since the solid proven facts are just not there ) with some hours devoted to A and C, basically telling us that
" little is known " !! But, it still was a very interesting listening experience and I just love Steven Crossley reading anything!!!

Excellent Book!!

I very much enjoyed this book. It was well-written and well-presented. It laid out a thorough history of Roman politics and Ptolemian dynasty before combing over the lives of the two famous lovers and the major political players of their times. Fascinating story! I’m thrilled to have heard the real historical events rather than what media and stories have fluffed up over the years and centuries. Definitely would recommend this book!!