When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra

by Colin Falconer

Book Overview

"The most complete woman ever to have existed, the most womanly woman and the most queenly queen, a person to be wondered at . . . whom dreamers find always at the end of their dreams." -- Theophile Gautier, 1845 Arrestingly beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Cleopatra VII of Egypt was barely more than a teenager when she inherited the richest empire in the world--one that stretched from the scorching deserts of lower Egypt to the shining Mediterranean...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609605992
• ISBN13: 9780609605998
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Crown
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.4" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Historical Entertainment

What a glorious journey to ancient Egypt! This is a beautiful, racy, heartbreaking look into the past that is still completely accessible to modern readers. I loved Colin Falconer's Cleopatra--she was smart, real and had a great sense of humor, as well as being gorgeous. Everything a man could want or a woman should be! This was a terrific piece of historical fiction that entertains but doesn't insult a reader's intelligence. Highly recommended by this reader.

Smart, sexy and incredibly entertaining!

I've read several fictional works about Cleopatra so I wasn't sure I really wanted to read another. But the beautiful jacket pulled me in and the writing didn't disappoint either! Colin Falconer writes with a modern flair that doesn't detract from the rich historical setting (his detail, by the way, is well-researched and beautifully rendered). I actually found the characters to be marvellously believable and touching, which is not easy for a male writer writing about a female character. I read a lot of historical fiction and this is one of the best new retellings of the ancient Egypt and Rome saga to come along in many years. I will recommend it to my friends.

One of the greatest romances the world has ever known

Keeping in mind that "When We Were Gods" is a fictional account of the life of Cleopatra, I found Falconer's story utterly fascinating. He mixes in just the right amount of historical fact to keep the story line plausible, but also adds enough drama and action to keep it moving along as well. In another light, this book could be considered the tale of one of the greatest romances the world has ever known. If you enjoy reading about strong women, I highly recommend this book.

Couldn't put this down!

This book is a masterfully written, insightful chronicle of the life of Cleopatra, and contrary to what the reader below writes, nothing like Margaret George's Memoirs of Cleopatra. When We Were Gods provides a whole new perspective on who Cleopatra was -- an ambitious, powerful woman in a world that had no tolerance for such women. It's obvious that the author did a lot of research before writing the book -- the narrative has an authentic texture to it that transported me back to the golden days of Alexandria. I recommend this book highly and hope Mr. Falconer won't keep us waiting too long for his next one.

Fine Fiction

This was a great read -- Historical ficion at its finest. The characters are well developed., the story well paced and innovative-- what more could you ask for?