Martha loves reading the stories of powerful women, and few have been as powerful -- and misunderstood -- as the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. "Cleopatra: A Life," by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff, sheds new light on the dramatic life and wide-ranging gifts of the historic leader.

The book dispels one of the most common misconceptions about Cleopatra: that her accomplishments stemmed from her beauty and seductive powers. Though her romantic relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony are well known, she was a brilliant leader on her own terms, ruling over an empire, speaking nine languages, and expanding women's rights to unprecedented levels.

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Get Martha's take on "Cleopatra" on The Martha Blog.