Shakespeare's Tales: Antony and Cleopatra

By Samantha Newman and Ceej Rowland

A romance between a Roman general and the Queen of Egypt was never going to be easy. Marc Antony has abandoned his duties since he has fallen in love with Cleopatra. But as war looms, their union shifts from difficult to doomed...

This tragic romance has been retold and adapted with new illustrations, making it perfect for younger readers. Adapted by Samantha Newman, it will enthral young readers of 7+.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Shakespeare's Tales brings the Bard's timeless stories to life for a younger generation, with wit and panache. Samantha Newman's cleverly reworked text retains many of Shakespeare's own inimitable turns of phrase, while simplifying and clarifying the language and plots to make stories accessible to children. Perfect for children aged 7+.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
• Release date: Jul 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398818118

Book preview

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Antony and Cleopatra

A William Shakespeare Tale

Retold by Sam Newman

Illustrated by Ceej Rowland

Note to Parents

Shakespeare’s plays sometimes contain difficult themes. We have handled these sensitively, but would recommend that younger children in particular read the stories aloud with a trusted adult, so that they can discuss anything that causes them concern.

Titles in This Series:

1. The Comedy of Errors

2. Love’s Labour’s Lost

3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

4. Romeo and Juliet

5. The Merchant of Venice

6. Much Ado About Nothing

7. As You Like It

8. Hamlet

9. Twelfth Night

10. Othello

11. All’s Well That Ends Well

12. King Lear

13. Macbeth

14. Antony and Cleopatra

15. The Winter’s Tale

16. The Tempest

Contents

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

Act One

Thousands of years ago, the Roman Empire was the largest in the world. In fact, it was one of the largest empires ever. It stretched all the way from the drizzly north of England to the sunny mountains and deserts of Syria. Millions and millions of people lived inside the empire. Ruling it was a huge task. At one point, it was so large that it was too much for one person to rule alone. So, it was ruled by three men together.

Lepidus was the quietest of the three men. He liked to focus on the day-to-day running of the empire, making sure there was enough food, counting money, and such. Mark Antony was a soldier. He had risen through the ranks and was known for his bravery and strength. He liked to oversee all the wars the empire waged.

The third man, Octavius Caesar, combined the strengths of both of the others. He was a great soldier and a great politician.

The three men had once been enemies, but once they had come