Cleopatra is one of the most famous women in all of history. She ruled Egypt at a time when Rome was expanding its empire and the land of the pharaohs, with its wealth and strategic location was an attractive target for annexation. Although the Roman empire eventually took possession of Egypt, ending Cleopatra's rule and Egypt's status as an independent political entity, the strategies Cleopatra employed to maintain Egypt's independence and favored status as an ally of Rome stand as one of the great political achievements in western history.

Cleopatra: A Reference Guide to Her Life and Works is a comprehensive resource on Cleopatra's life and legacy. The volume includes a chronology, an introduction that gives a concise account of her life, and a dictionary section that contains entries on people, places, and events central to Cleopatra's role as the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, ally and lover of powerful Roman politicians Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and, finally, the enemy of Octavian, who would become the first emperor of Rome.