The Last Dynasty

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Last Dynasty by Toby Wilkinson, read by Chris Courtenay.

'A truly splendid read, richly detailed and powered by an unfailing gift for storytelling’ JOHN GUY
'Superb and gripping' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE

A definitive and thrilling new account of the last great dynasty of ancient Egypt, from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra.

When Alexander the Great arrived in Egypt, he overthrew the hated Persian overlords and was welcomed as a saviour. He repaid them by showing due reverence to their long-held traditions. After his death, as the Greek empire broke up and his closest advisers squabbled over the spoils, a Macedonian general named Ptolemy seized the Egyptian throne, ushering in a new dynasty that would last for 300 years.

What followed was as dramatic and compelling as any period in Egyptian history. The unique blend of Greek and Egyptian cultures led to an unprecedented flowering of learning, as the new city of Alexandria became home to the Great Library, the largest in the ancient world, that attracted the brightest minds. Wars, incest, double-dealing, foreign empires and huge wealth all followed, but the rise of the Roman empire would eventually bring the Ptolemaic era crashing to a close.

Helped by the latest archaeological discoveries and using original papyrus documents, Toby Wilkinson uncovers a story that can only now be fully told. From courtly life to the role of women, from international trade to the tensions between native Egyptians and incoming Greeks, all aspects of life are here. Filled with surprising insights, vivid descriptions and larger-than-life characters, and written in the author’s compelling narrative style, The Last Dynasty will appeal to all lovers of history, archaeology, art and culture.

Critics Review

A scintillating new history of the dynasty ruling the most prosperous third of the ancient world for almost three centuries, extinguished only by the rise of Rome. Intensively researched in every possible source, the author’s fast-paced narrative covers everything from rival personalities, war and grand strategy to religion, the arts, science, agriculture and cultural diversity. A truly splendid read, richly detailed and powered by an unfailing gift for storytelling
John Guy, author of MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
Superb and gripping. Wilkinson combines authoritative scholarship with lucid narrative and colourful character studies to tell the bloodspattered, flamboyant and outrageous history of the Macedonian conquerors Alexander the Great, the Cleopatras and Ptolemies who ruled Egypt as the last great dynasty of the Ancient World in fascinating and compelling style
Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of THE WORLD: A FAMILY HISTORY OF HUMANITY
Toby Wilkinson uses the latest archaeological discoveries and the evidence of indigenous cultures to fill in the blanks, constructing a richer portrait of a period of “Ptolemaic brilliance”. Written in vivid and lucid prose, The Last Dynasty brings to life “A period that shaped not only Cleopatra’s life and reign, but the world of ideas we still inhabit
Irish Times
Toby Wilkinson … is known for his popular treatments of a range of Pharaonic subjects. Here he turns his attention to the last dynasty, proving especially adept at connecting the Ptolemies with Egypt’s ancient traditions
History Today
Fascinating... [Toby] has done an exemplary job of creating a compelling history, combining the political, military, social and cultural
TLS
A bold exploration of the Greek colonisation of Egypt… In this splendid, well-written and thoroughly engaging book, Wilkinson provides us with the key we need to interpret the pharaonic world through the eyes of the Ptolemaic kings and queens
BBC History
A compelling and accessible account of the enigmatic Ptolemaic dynasty ... Often sidelined by both classicists and Egyptologists, the Ptolemies emerge here in vivid detail. Wilkinson masterfully bridges the Greek-speaking Hellenistic world and traditional pharaonic Egypt, defly handling the diverse sources needed to interpret this cultural fusion. He highlights both the dynasty’s glories – Alexandria’s splendour, intellectual achievements, monumental temples – and its flaws, including xenophobia, military blunders and poor leadership ... This richly written book is a vital contribution to Hellenistic scholarship and a superb guide to understanding the Ptolemies on their own, uniquely Egyptian terms
History Extra

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