Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi (Hardback)

An immersive and powerful new reimagining of one of history’s most iconic queens from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, exploring the woman behind the legend.

History has reduced Cleopatra to rumours, myths, and accusations. She has been remembered as a seductress, a manipulator, and a dangerous ruler whose story has too often been told through the voices of others. But beneath the stories crafted by historians, playwrights, and poets was a woman shaped by intelligence, strategy, devotion, and survival.

This novel retells Cleopatra’s life from her own perspective, reclaiming the narrative long controlled by those determined to diminish her power.

As queen, Cleopatra must navigate a world dominated by political unrest, shifting alliances, and constant threats against her rule and her family. Every decision carries weight, forcing her to balance ambition, protection, diplomacy, and personal sacrifice within a society unwilling to accept powerful women without suspicion or fear.

Rather than focusing on her death alone, this story explores the complexity of her life, her leadership, and the pressures surrounding a ruler fighting to protect both her throne and the people she loves. It examines how history is shaped, distorted, and weaponised against women whose influence challenges expectation.

Blending historical fiction with emotional depth and political tension, this reimagining presents Cleopatra not as a symbol or legend, but as a fully realised woman determined to define herself beyond the stories written about her.