William Shakespeare’s great Roman tragedy of adultery amid political conflict is now available in audiobook format. Antony and Cleopatra dramatizes a major event in world history: the founding of the Roman Empire. Mark Antony is part of the ruling triumvirate of Rome and at the outset of the play he is living in Egypt engaged in an affair with the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. When the word that his wife has died and that Pompey is raising an army to challenge the authority of the triumvirate, Mark Antony returns to Rome to help manage the situation. "Antony and Cleopatra" is one of Shakespeare's great historical dramas.
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"my favorite shakespeare play. this was the 10th time i have read it. i also have two dvd's. one with richard johnson and janet suzman with a bit part by a very young ben kingsley. also i have the version from bbc. although i'm not a big fan of charleton heston he did a version only available on vcr. it may be the best of the lot. shakespeare's plays are made to be seen but, i have never seen this play live."
— Max (5 out of 5 stars)
" Cleopatra, Cleopatra, Cleopatra, what are we going to do with you? "
— Dave, 2/12/2014" The problem with this was trying to negotiate Cleopatra's histrionics as a part of her intellectual scheming, as I think, just reading the play in a modern classroom, some of the effect is lost and she gets very easily dismissed as an over-dramatic flake. I read it after the class studied it, of course, and being prone to defence of such famous plays pretty much my only argument was, "Well T.S. Eliot liked it." Of course, me and "Old Possum" don't agree on everything by any means, and while this play was his favourite I wouldn't call it mine--it remains interesting but my chief curiosity is brought up by Cleopatra herself, namely how a boy-actor can try to play the role of such a mature and complicated female character from history. "
— Micha, 1/30/2014" although not his most critically acclaimed, by far my favorite shakespearean play. this is a story of ripe, adult love-- love that burns with the complex balance of commitment and sacrifice. antony & cleopatra put the juvenile romance of romeo and juliet to shame! "
— Annie, 1/30/2014" Has some really great moments . . . but also some dryness. "
— Lia, 1/23/2014" Really really great play!!! Read it!! "
— Jacklyn, 1/14/2014" Obviously, lots of history in this novel .. I definitely learned more about Cleopatra than I had ever known before! "
— Ellen, 12/30/2013" Asps do not make good brassieres. Just saying. "
— Anne, 12/12/2013" Applying a star-rating to Shakespeare is one of the silliest things I have done. This is one of Shakespeare's campiest plays, especially the death scene with the figs and the asp. "
— Bryan, 11/27/2013" It's Shakespeare...what can I say? He never fails me. "
— Alicia, 10/12/2013" Failed romance and suicide - not exactly a winning combination for me. The last Shakepeare play I read in high school. "
— Sharon, 10/8/2013" Why, when something goes wrong, do they always kill themselves? Life isn't *that* bad! "
— Rachel, 12/28/2012" Pure, powerhouse, at times contradictory spectacle. I enjoyed it very much but found it somehow more shallow than Shakespeare's other tragedies. Almost like it was a story self consciously aware of its owns surface level concerns. "
— Yair, 8/24/2012" Just re-read this after reading "Cleopatra" by Stacey Shiff. I was please that WS didn't sexualize Cleo as much as I thought he might have after reading Shiff's book. Last time I read this was in college. "
— Ann, 7/25/2012" love story,,,and madness,,ambition and passion,, hmhm,,, cleopatra what a women!!! "
— Helga, 6/8/2012" I loved the history in this book, and as far as I can tell (besides character's personalities) it is all spot on. "
— Brooke, 6/1/2012" Take basic tragedy of R&J. Add in some Roman history. Voila. Not much difference, in my opinion. I expected more from Shakespeare. The best part is when Cleo pulls a knife on the messenger. "
— Jackie, 5/18/2012" The version I was gifted was an audio presenation by BBC Radio Collection. The audio was decent. It sounded like I was listening to a play but couldn't see it being performed. The story itself was enjoyable but not one of my favorites by Shakespeare. "
— Samantha, 1/18/2012" Good starter edition of a great play. "
— Mike, 1/17/2012" I had to read and love that one, being a fan of Cleopatra's. "
— Beowulfwulf, 11/30/2011" One of his historical pieces. I like it but I prefer his tragedies and comedies. "
— Kelly, 7/5/2011" Listened to this as an audiobook first, then read the text. Going to see the play in a few weeks and had never read this one. Not difficult. Great love story with attraction, power (political and sexual)and wit. "
— Helen, 4/25/2011" Easily one of my top three plays. "
— Cyanea, 4/10/2011" Reading Stacy Schiff's biography of Cleopatra was immensely helpful to understand the back story and much of the action. "
— David, 4/7/2011" One of my favorite of Shakespeare's, along with Othello and Hamlet. This one condenses about 12 years of history into a few months, though apparently Cleopatra was not the same airheaded, love-struck woman as she is portrayed here. "
— Mpho3, 4/5/2011" Cleopatra was really such a manipulato oman,, but hhhh e all are :-) "
— Rasha, 4/4/2011" Am asked what I think of this play. Slightly feverish, eating oatmeal, I mutter: "I thought they were all stupid."<br/><br/>Obviously, will have to read some secondary sources to appreciate this one. "
— Jaime, 3/12/2011" *Read for school*<br/><br/>Fun read, rather long. "
— Megan, 3/12/2011" Two stars for enjoyment of reading, but four stars for fascination about the IRL Anthony And Cleo, so, three stars. "
— Amanda, 3/1/2011" My absolute favorite Shakespearean play! Go to my blog for more information. "
— Susan, 2/28/2011" I didn't love the story, but the audio production was great. I love this series of Shakespeare plays, and am glad I listened to this one.<br/><br/>Overall, though, the story didn't capture my imagination as others do. "
— Fritz, 2/24/2011" Paperback. Penguin.Complete series. Individual plays<br/>Hardbound. The Tragedies of William Shakespeare<br/><br/>Cleopatra<br/>her six friends<br/>and some ladies<br/>Octavia "
— Ann, 2/8/2011William Shakespeare (1564–1616), English poet and dramatist of the Elizabethan and early Jacobean period, is the most widely known author in all of English literature and often considered the greatest. He was an active member of a theater company for at least twenty years, during which time he wrote many great plays. Plays were not prized as literature at the time and Shakespeare was not widely read until the middle of the eighteenth century, when a great upsurge of interest in his works began that continues today.