Jo Graham is working her way through the ancient world, retelling tales that we've all heard before in new and intriguing ways. Her first book, BLACK SHIPS, was the story of Aeneas and his people finding a new home after the sacking of Troy. Her latest book, HAND OF ISIS, tells the story of Cleopatra and the Romans Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.
It's a story that's been told many times, in literature and on film, but Graham manages to find the humanity in such a storied character, making her surprisingly sympathetic. Told in first-person point of view by her sister Charmian, we learn about Cleopatra's life from childhood to her death. What makes Graham's books so interesting are not necessarily the main, famous characters, but rather the supporting characters, and the detail about their lives. She brings ancient Alexandria to life for us, making it as much a character as the people who inhabit it. Seeing such famous characters, such as Julius Caesar, as human beings rather than the larger-than-life figures we are used to seeing, makes for fascinating reading as well.
Graham takes a few liberties with history, but as this is a work of fiction and not a reference book, good story is what matters, and this is a good story. What makes this different from most historical fiction is Graham's grasp of ancient religion, and the role of the gods in individuals' lives. This is really what makes it shine for me, and what I liked best about her previous book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in ancient Egyptian, Greek, or Roman religion, as well as ancient history buffs.
Her next book is about the aftermath of Alexander, and I look forward to reading it.
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