Alexandria: The Last Night of Cleopatra

When Peter Stothard found himself stranded in the Egyptiancity of Alexandria in the winter of 2010, he set out to explorea nation on the brink of revolution. Guided by two native Egyptians,Stothard reawakens his life long obsession with the life and myth ofCleopatra while exploring the city and country she once ruled.
Blending aspects of memoir, history, and travel narrative into anelegant and unique tapestry, Stothard uses the sights and sounds ofthe ancient city to reconnect with the experiences that shaped his life.Melancholy yet often humorous, Alexandriaprobingly deconstructs theenigma of modern Egypt—with its uneasy mix of classical touchstonesand increasingly volatile Middle Eastern politics—and offersa first–hand glimpse into the fracturing state just before the TahrirSquare uprising and the start of the Arab Spring.