Cleopatra was Born into a dangerous, scary and violent world where everyone believed the dead lived, gods walked amongst us and magic really worked. In this uncertain world, the main instruments of politics were exile or murder, conquest and war. She succeeded the Egyptian throne at the age of 18 and was forced into a world of intrigue, treachery, conspiracy and assassination. Life expectancy of a ruler of Egypt was short and highly likely to end in murder. Outside her kingdom, the Roman Empire had expanded more in the last decades than ever before. Their ruthless and invincible army had conquered the known world from Scotland to the foothills of the Himalayas. They now had their sights on Egypt – with its bounty of grain, exotic treasures, slaves and gold. How did a teenage girl manage to retain her throne, and her life, against invaders from without, and enemies within, far longer and with far greater success than anyone might have reasonably expected? And not only achieve this, but exert control and influence over two of the most powerful rulers of her generation, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony?

• Struan Rodger