Lifelines: Cleopatra

“My name is Nefret, which means ‘pretty’. My mother says I’m lucky too.”

Written by Adèle Geras, this captivating illustrated diary mixes fiction with fact in the story of Nefret – a young handmaiden to Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. At just ten years old, Nefret goes to work in the sumptuous royal palace. Life there is never dull: her queen loves dressing up in fine clothes and hosting lavish banquets. But there are times of sadness, too. Cleopatra’s determination to rule Egypt well leads her to fall in love with two powerful men, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, which in turn leads to troubled times…

Told from the heart, Nefret’s diary brings to life a fascinating period of history. Beautifully illustrated with large-scale colour artwork, it includes an informative reference chapter on ancient Egyptian life.

“A lively approach to the story of Cleopatra.” Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times

“A sumptuous triumph!” Dina Rabinovitch, The Guardian

“No child could fail to be enchanted by Adèle Geras’s Cleopatra, brought so vividly, yet accessibly, to life.” Dinah Hall, The Sunday Telegraph