This is a very dry scholarly account of Cleopatra using only primary sources. Since there are not a lot of primary sources from Egypt, it focuses mainly on Cleopatra seen through the lens of Rome. Of course, this means her relationships with Ceasar and Marc Antony are front and center. In fact, they are really the subjects of the work. So little is known about Cleopatra for certain that Bradford made a very specific choice to use only primary sources and present little if no speculation or later views.  Bradford does a good job of being an unbiased devil's advocate in a genre where too many biographers "fall in love" with their subjects and lose objectivity. However, this feels a lot like a male-focused Roman "winner's" history. There is a definite lack of Egyptian focus. At times there is a feel (given the sources no surprise) that Egypt was savage and Rome was cultured. Cleopatra was the subservient second fiddle to the men in her life. It's not a surprise given the lack of information and the authors of what does exist. It's a bit dry and given the lack of other sources, one sided.