A look at the last great dynasty of Ancient Egypt, from the initial conquering by Alexander the Great, to the annexing of Egypt by Rome. Although the ruling house of Ptolemy starts off strong, there is a gradual decline throughout the generations leading to the last moments of its most infamous rulers - Cleopatra.

Judging by the other reviews I seem to be an outlier here, but I found the majority of this book quite dry to read. The story of Alexander & the first Ptolemy's takeover of Egypt was interesting as were the final chapters about Cleopatra, Caesar, & Mark Antony. These sandwiched the rest of the book which, although well-researched, didn't keep my attention in the same way. There was a lot about the different political factions & agriculture/farming, but I wanted to know about the people themselves. I did enjoy the bits about the religious cults of the Apis Bull & others & would have liked more. Overall, it was informative & well-researched, but I found it a little academically dry in tone. 3.5 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (UK & ANZ), for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Another excellent book from Toby Wilkinson. Interesting, informative, and written in an engaging way. A must read for anyone with interest in ancient history.

This is a really accessible way to learn more about Ancient Egypt and those who ruled it.

As someone who knows a lot about Ancient Egypt, I found The Last Dynasty to be in depth and thoroughly entertaining to read despite the sometimes dry topic. Well researched and really gets into why the most famous dynasty in history prospered and then crumbled.

Insights into Cleopatra were a highlight.

I think this book is perfect for anyone with even the smallest bit of interest in the Ancient Egyptians and it is a great place to develop your knowledge further

4.5 The Last Dynasty is an extensively-researched and well-written resource on the Ptolemaic Period.
It certainly helps that I have a particular interest in that period, yet if you pick this up for your general interest in history, archaeology and culture, you will certainly develop a new interest - the ancient Greek meeting the ancient Egyptian detailed via archaeological findings.
I liked this book plenty; it is one of the best and most up-to-date on this topic.

The Last Dynasty is a fascinating read recounting and documenting in depth a period of history that saw the end of Ptolemaic era.

Toby Wilkinson's research is incredible and the detail he provides to highlight the period of Ptolemaic power from the conquests of Alexander the Great through to Octavian's battles and the demise of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra VII is beguiling.

The family power struggles, greed, incest the impact on society, economies and daily lives is related in meticulous detail with reference to historical artefacts and archaeological discoveries.

This is 'real' history and yet it feels fantastical in relation to modern politics - however the desire by men to control and manipulate is still prevalent to this day - the Ptolemaic dynasty went to extraordinary lengths to outwit each other and gain control.

The Last Dynasty is a great read- it pulls you in to the web of this astounding family; wonderful descriptions of the period, lifestyles, rituals , pageants and religious customs and the numerous battles and invasions.

Empires and Dynastic families come and go but time certainly recognises this was one of the most incredibly intriguing families who have made an eternal mark on history

As someone who enjoys reading Michael Scott, Mary Beard and Bethany Hughes, Toby Wilkinson deserves to be joining this illustrious group - a brilliant and accessible read

( You'll need to keep your wits about you with the number of Ptolemys and Cleopatras)

Egypt, a cradle of civilization that has fascinated the world from the earliest of times. A civilisation and an Empire that brought wealth and architectural wonders to those who ruled it. One dynasty that brought more change than perhaps any other before it was the Ptolemy dynasty, a dynasty that started when a Satrap of Alexander the Great took a leap of faith and created an Empire that would last for centuries.

It is perhaps the greatest of tragedies that that dynasty has been reduced to its most famous member, Cleopatra VII, she who charmed Julius Caesar and Anthony, she who had plays and movies made about her. Whilst yes, she was a fascinating person in of herself, she built on the work done by her illustrious ancestors and without them would have been a mere footnote in history.

In The Last Dynasty, Toby Wilkinson seeks to explore exactly how the Ptolemies came to rule Egypt and how they shaped the kingdom they ruled and how it shaped them. As with any good book, he starts right at the beginning with the Alexandrian conquest. Here, Wilkinson highlights how Alexander the Great sought to differentiate himself from his Persian predecessors. He embraced the customs and the cults of his new subjects, he honoured their Gods and he declared himself the son of Amun. To really make a mark he had the famous city of Alexandria built near the coast, to benefit from the Mediterranean trade of his larger Empire.

However, as Wilkinson highlights, Alexander’s premature death in Babylon caused chaos throughout the Empire as his generals ignored the nominal authority of his successors and fought to carve out their own dominions. The most successful was arguably Ptolemy, a man who despite being almost a decade older than Alexander had learned from Aristotle at his side and had become a trusted companion. Through political skill and military force, Ptolemy emerged from the Wars of the Diadochi as one of the Hellenisitc world’s most powerful rulers. His empire encompassed Egypt and parts of what are now Libya.

He and his immediate successors, Ptolemy II and III brought in the early golden age of Ptolemaic rule. Wilkinson uses the source material brilliantly here, highlighting how these early Pharaohs skilfully combined Hellenistic and Egyptian traditions that cemented their legitimacy and power amongst their elite and native subjects.

But once they passed on, Wilkinson goes on to state that the dynasty faced challenges. Native revolts, wars with the Seleucids, the Macedonians and eventually Rome, chipped away at the dominance of the dynasty, leaving it on its knees more than once. It took several good Pharaohs and their Queens (many of whom were named Cleopatra) to keep the dynasty and the Kingdom they ruled alive and fighting. Wilkinson skillfully narrates the ups and downs of this period, taking the reader on an epic journey that deserves its own movie or HBO show.

Finally, we get onto the curtain call, Cleopatra, Anthony and Caesar. The drama in these moments is superb, the reader is left with their heart in their throat, for though the outcome is already known, Wilkinson skilfully navigates the complex web of intrigue and romance to show that it could have gone either way had certain things been done differently. One comes out of this period feeling sad for Cleopatra, caught as she was between two men who wanted something from her, but refused to give back.

Ultimately, for someone such as myself who did not know much about the Ptolemaic dynasty beyond a passing glance, this book is informative whilst making it easy to keep track of who is who. That is down to Wilkinson’s writing style, which takes the form of a narrative, something that makes it much easier to associate with the people he discusses. A solid book and one that anyone with an interest in Ancient Egypt should get.

The Last Dynasty is out on 24th October via Bloomsbury Publishing.

I really enjoy non-fiction when it’s a subject I love and this was so interesting. I’ve recently been to Egypt and there is just so much new information being uncovered all the time. I loved having an account of a very specific period to learn about.