When We Were Gods - A Novel Of Cleopatra [Paperback]

Colin Falconer (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1ST edition (2000)
• ASIN: B002BAWJ1U
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Born in north London, Colin worked for many years in TV and radio and freelanced for many of Australia's leading newspapers and magazines. He has been a novelist for the last twenty years, with his work published widely in the UK, US and Europe. His books have been translated into seventeen languages.

He travels regularly to research his novels and his quest for authenticity led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, pursue tornadoes across Oklahoma and black witches across Mexico, go cage shark diving in South Africa and get tear gassed in a riot in La Paz. He also completed a nine hundred kilometre walk of the camino in Spain.

He lived for many years near Margaret River in WA, helped raise two beautiful daughters with his late wife, Helen. While writing, he also worked for many years in the volunteer ambulance service. "I'd be at my desk typing, then thirty minutes later I'd be crawling into an overturned car."

He met Diana in an airport bookshop in Melbourne - he was in New Fiction. They didn't actually meet in person until three years later.

"My career had stalled when we met. She inspired me to start writing again. I'm a very lucky guy."

WHEN WE WERE GODS has now been re-released as an e-book, and his new novel SILK ROAD, is to be published in the UK and Australia in October by Corvus Atlantic. (less)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Yet another dimension, June 1, 2001

By 

rcusanelli (Naperville, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra (Hardcover)

Having read a multitude of books on Cleopatra (some fictional and others factual) this book left me with mixed emotions. While it was refreshing to read yet another perspective on this fascinating woman's character, I was ultimately disappointed. Falconer clearly depicts her political acuity and that aspect I found far more realistic than the self-serving seductress Rome portrayed her as, but his book did not show her as the multi-faceted woman she truly was. Nowhere did I find the wit, the charm or the graciousness this woman would have posessed. Her romances (if you could call them that) with Caesar and Anthony were without depth or passion. While I do not require sexually graphic writing to hold my interest, there was little to elude to the level of intimacy she must have enjoyed with these men. Cleopatra's and Caesarion's relationship was stilted, and treated almost as an after thought. The ending was abrupt, cold and unbelievable. Can anyone really believe that after all of his years of service and loyalty, Cleopatra's most trusted advisor would turn traitor simply because the winds of fortune had shifted? Hard to believe a woman so perceptive would have confided in such a person. The few things I did like about this book were the characters of Apollodorus, the scenery depictions, and the different spin on Octavian after he had control of Egypt. Most books depict him as wanting Cleopatra preserved at all costs for his Triumph in Rome, but here he actually wanted her to commit suicide. It was an interesting twist,and quite possibly, the most interesting part of the entire book. I recommend reading The Alexandrian by Martha Rolfhart, or even That Egyptian Woman by Noel Gerson, both of which give interesting theories on this marvelous woman.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest romances the world has ever known, March 23, 2001

By 

Sharon Galligar Chance (Wichita Falls, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra (Hardcover)

Keeping in mind that "When We Were Gods" is a fictional account of the life of Cleopatra, I found Falconer's story utterly fascinating. He mixes in just the right amount of historical fact to keep the story line plausible, but also adds enough drama and action to keep it moving along as well. In another light, this book could be considered the tale of one of the greatest romances the world has ever known. If you enjoy reading about strong women, I highly recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Page-Turner, February 5, 2001

By 

ENTJohns (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra (Hardcover)

I agree--this book is a page-turner. It did, as many historical novels should do, encourage me to brush up my history and so I returned to Suetonius (what a lively gossip) and Tacitus and Plutarch (don't be put off by the names, they too write entertaining history) -- and I found that there were some parts of the Antony/Cleopatra story which I felt were opportunities lost. On the other hand, I enjoyed the imaginative sections--eg Cleopatra's voyeuristic introduction to sex. All in all a great read, terrific descriptions (the library at Alexander is superb) but a trifle too dramatic for the purist. But for leisure reading--highly recommended. One final thing--I think the Australian (Random House) version has a better cover...Don't underestimate the attraction of the cover...