TSS: Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

"Augustus saved my brother like a bull for the slaughter, so why shoulsdn't I be next? And who better to do the job than you?"

~Page 393

Title: Cleopatra's Daughter
Author: Michelle Moran
ISBN: 9780307409126
Publisher: Crown/2009
Pages: 448

When Octavian's army arrives into Egypt, first Marc Antony and then Cleopatra kill themselves, leaving their children in the hands of their enemy. The 10-year-old twins, Selene and Alexander, along with 4-year-old Ptolemy are taken to Rome. The younger child dies at the sea.

Octavian brings both the children to his sister Octavia's house. She had been abandoned by Marc Antony yet she loves those children as her own. Selene and Alexander stick to each other, both dreaming of getting back to Egypt someday. They are educated as befitting as their age and class. Selene is encouraged to take up drawing and painting. Octavian, for all his faults, does not trwat then badly and he is also concerned about Rome and his people. He builds the city so that they live in it with convenience and no hardships.

The various relationships are complicated and everything does seem confusing for the young Selene, but she too can see the contrast in the workings of her father Marc Antony and Octavian (Augustus). The slave rebellion, and to make a home for the orphans are only a few issues taken up.

Historically, the Roman Civilization was much developed than we can envisage, much progressive in its thinking and most important of all, women had the right to marry as many times as they wished to. Poets, rulers, politicians and even the masses seem to have had visions for the future. No wonder, the Roman Empire lasted a long time.

Selene tries to understand her world with the world she is living in. She sees much ups and downs and yet knows how to survive. She also learns that serving the people, and having a sense of justice can never go wrong.

Thanks to the author for the book.

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