- Hardcover: 496 pages
- Publisher: St Martin's Press (25 July 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0765302284
- ISBN-13: 978-0765302281
- Product Dimensions: 21.7 x 14.8 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 654,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"Bradshaw is a classics scholar as well as an excellent writer . . . . History comes alive in her expert hands."--"The Philadelphia Inquirer "
"Bradshaw makes ancient history immediate and thrilling."--"The Orlando Sentinel"
"Bradshaw makes ancient history immediate and thrilling."--"The Orlando Sentinel"
Product Description
The might of Caesar. The beauty of Cleopatra. Together they could have forged an empire the likes of which had never been seen before. Tragically, it was not meant to be...but what of the son that came of their passion? Gillian Bradshaw gives us an answer in CLEOPATRA'S HEIR. The son of Julius Caesar and the fabled Cleopatra, Caesarion was seen by some as the hope of Rome and Egypt, by others the folly of a commander's lust for a wanton foreign schemer. For the new Roman ruler Octavius, Caesarion is the threat that could topple his dreams of a safe and peaceful Roman empire. But what if Caesarion had survived the inevitable assassination and went underground to hide his identity? What if he went from a life filled with every comfort and honour to near-slavery and humiliation? Only after he has lost it all does Caesarion come to know friendship, honesty and even love - and the essential truth that a man can be noble and true, even when bereft of land, titles and a name.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
His side hurt. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Gillian Bradshaw, high priestess of historical fiction about the Roman Empire is back after her detours into SciFi/Crime/Fantasy. And what a Revival:
History books state that Ceasarion, son of Cleopatra and Caesar died after the invasion of Roman troops into Egypt. But what if he hadn't died? Bradshaw let's him live on and become the main character in her newest story. So, he survives the battle wounded, and travels in disguise, flying from an encounter with roman troops to the next while badly suffering from the falling-disease, makes a friend of a caravan entrepreneur, falls in love with a beautiful commoner girl - only to eventually run straight into the new emperor himself... Caesarion has to learn, that he is more than just the queens son, the prince and heir to the realm - he is a man who can make his own life.
I found the historical setting very interesting. Caesarions character undergoes a big development within the story. The reader can "watch" him stripping of the spoiled princeling and becoming a man, not more not less. A well-set adventure story in the time of Egypt under Roman occupation.
Though while I personally still like some of Bradshaw’s other books better, I can recommend this one to anybody who either loves the Roman Empire, Egypt or simply like me liked all of Gillian Bradshaw’s other books.
History books state that Ceasarion, son of Cleopatra and Caesar died after the invasion of Roman troops into Egypt. But what if he hadn't died? Bradshaw let's him live on and become the main character in her newest story. So, he survives the battle wounded, and travels in disguise, flying from an encounter with roman troops to the next while badly suffering from the falling-disease, makes a friend of a caravan entrepreneur, falls in love with a beautiful commoner girl - only to eventually run straight into the new emperor himself... Caesarion has to learn, that he is more than just the queens son, the prince and heir to the realm - he is a man who can make his own life.
I found the historical setting very interesting. Caesarions character undergoes a big development within the story. The reader can "watch" him stripping of the spoiled princeling and becoming a man, not more not less. A well-set adventure story in the time of Egypt under Roman occupation.
Though while I personally still like some of Bradshaw’s other books better, I can recommend this one to anybody who either loves the Roman Empire, Egypt or simply like me liked all of Gillian Bradshaw’s other books.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've been waiting for years for a new historical novel by Gillian Bradshaw. "Cleopatra's Heir" was worth the wait. (I devoured this book in a couple of hours - and was rather tired when I had to go to work the next day...)
Once again Bradshaw created characters that held my interest from the beginning to the end. Caesarion's struggle with his disability and his destiny was very touching. The development of his personality during the course of the novel was fascinating and felt realistic to me.
The novel's ending is bitter-sweet with an optimistic outlook.
If you enjoyed Gillian Bradshaw's other novels, e.g. The Bearkeeper's Daughter, Island of Ghosts or The Beacon of Alexandria you will not be disappointed by her latest book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I stumbled across this in a library and despite fact it is approaching a decade in age thought I'd review it.
It is a rare novel that by midpoint you can pause and realise not much has actually happened but you've been thoroughly entertained. A case of exploration of the human condition taking precedence over plot. In an historical novel, it is even rarer, nevertheless Gillian Bradshaw has achieved this in a remarkable fashion. Admittedly it is the first of her novels I have read, but it will be by no means the last.
Cleopatra's Heir provides an alternative history to the fate of Julius Caesar's and Cleopatra' son, Caesarion who historical scholars confidently have us know that he was executed c.30B.C after the fall of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. In this version, we find the epileptic eighteen year old waking up on top of his own funeral pyre, rolling off with a stab wound to his side and lurching off into the distance whilst Rome celebrated his demise.
What follows is the gradual transition of a boy raised, as Bradshaw so eloquently puts it, to be a King of all, yet totally obedient to a man in control of what little destiny he retains. His emotional strength in the face of such social suffering means we have a story where one class of man is forced to experience another and, in doing so, becomes a rather better person for it. The story itself is simply told, found by an Egyptian trader named Ani, the newly named Arion is forced to accept the merchant's kindness as he is nursed back to health on Ani's journey to Berenike. Whilst there an attempt to depart to locate his ship leads to another of the frequent seizures and the forming of his identity to all as Arion, ex-Friend of Caesarion, gentleman and secretary to Ani.
All the time fuming at his newly perceived lowly station the two form an inseparable bond, further added to by Arion's gradual burgeoning love for Ani's sixteen year old daughter, Melanthe.
A journey to Alexandria, for the still unnamed once king-elect to see if his mother is still alive, for Ani's family to secure his new partnership with the Greek Kleon, brings trouble of an imperial and personal nature as Arion's seizures lead to his capture by Octavian and Ani's trading dispute with the bitter Lord Aristodemos (who's patronage with Kleon has been usurped) leads to the kidnap of Melanthe.
Amongst it all the kingly attitude of Arion takes shape and transforms from arrogance to kindly benefactor as he comes to terms with his fate, finds and forgives, Rhodon, his betrayer, and seeks clemency for all who have helped him when faced with his second cousin and Marcus Agrippa. The end is a safe one and one the reader must demand such is the development of our respect for Arion.
Gillian Bradshaw has written a powerfully emotive novel of a fall from grace but the saving of a person. Through it a message of kindly living and aid to other shines brightly and a sense of achievement is portrayed. A young man struggling to overcome both social and physical problems is epitomised in a fluid writing style and creates a real sense of belonging to the characterisation in a manner that many historical novels lack. Bradshaw is one author that not reading any novel she produces isn't given a second thought.
It is a rare novel that by midpoint you can pause and realise not much has actually happened but you've been thoroughly entertained. A case of exploration of the human condition taking precedence over plot. In an historical novel, it is even rarer, nevertheless Gillian Bradshaw has achieved this in a remarkable fashion. Admittedly it is the first of her novels I have read, but it will be by no means the last.
Cleopatra's Heir provides an alternative history to the fate of Julius Caesar's and Cleopatra' son, Caesarion who historical scholars confidently have us know that he was executed c.30B.C after the fall of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. In this version, we find the epileptic eighteen year old waking up on top of his own funeral pyre, rolling off with a stab wound to his side and lurching off into the distance whilst Rome celebrated his demise.
What follows is the gradual transition of a boy raised, as Bradshaw so eloquently puts it, to be a King of all, yet totally obedient to a man in control of what little destiny he retains. His emotional strength in the face of such social suffering means we have a story where one class of man is forced to experience another and, in doing so, becomes a rather better person for it. The story itself is simply told, found by an Egyptian trader named Ani, the newly named Arion is forced to accept the merchant's kindness as he is nursed back to health on Ani's journey to Berenike. Whilst there an attempt to depart to locate his ship leads to another of the frequent seizures and the forming of his identity to all as Arion, ex-Friend of Caesarion, gentleman and secretary to Ani.
All the time fuming at his newly perceived lowly station the two form an inseparable bond, further added to by Arion's gradual burgeoning love for Ani's sixteen year old daughter, Melanthe.
A journey to Alexandria, for the still unnamed once king-elect to see if his mother is still alive, for Ani's family to secure his new partnership with the Greek Kleon, brings trouble of an imperial and personal nature as Arion's seizures lead to his capture by Octavian and Ani's trading dispute with the bitter Lord Aristodemos (who's patronage with Kleon has been usurped) leads to the kidnap of Melanthe.
Amongst it all the kingly attitude of Arion takes shape and transforms from arrogance to kindly benefactor as he comes to terms with his fate, finds and forgives, Rhodon, his betrayer, and seeks clemency for all who have helped him when faced with his second cousin and Marcus Agrippa. The end is a safe one and one the reader must demand such is the development of our respect for Arion.
Gillian Bradshaw has written a powerfully emotive novel of a fall from grace but the saving of a person. Through it a message of kindly living and aid to other shines brightly and a sense of achievement is portrayed. A young man struggling to overcome both social and physical problems is epitomised in a fluid writing style and creates a real sense of belonging to the characterisation in a manner that many historical novels lack. Bradshaw is one author that not reading any novel she produces isn't given a second thought.
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