I really wanted to enjoy this history a lot more than I did. I found the narration provided by Julian. Elfner was too dry, and I had a very difficult time connecting to his reading and being able to keep my attention on the audiobook.

In combination with that Toby Wilkinson’s history is very in-depth and goes very quickly from one thing to the next, which makes it difficult for the non-Egyptologist to keep on top of.

This book has a lot of information and if you are already an expert or very knowledgable on the subject, I think you would like it. Otherwise, if you only have a surface knowledge, this one is too much and the narration will not be able to keep you in.

Another solid Egyptian history offering from the always excellent Toby Wilkinson.

This is much more a straight up history of late ancient Egypt than the Egyptology-driven content we typically get from Wilkinson, but the research and style remains excellent. I think this one is a bit more for casual Egypt enthusiasts than some of the author’s previous work, so likely more approachable if you’re newer to the topic but less satisfying if you have a bit more background knowledge.

I think I would have preferred a narrower focus or shorter piece of the timeline with greater detail, as all of the Ptolemaic Age is a LOT to cram into one book, but I also think this is useful as a primer in that regard. And of course, Wilkinson is so meticulous that even if you’re well versed in the Ptolmies, you’re going to learn a thing or two.

I was fortunate enough to receive an advance listener copy of this book, narrated by Julian Elfer, from HighBridge Audio. The narrator’s voice delivered Wilkinson’s well written text beautifully. It was easy to follow as it was written chronologically. Even as inter-familial conflicts arose between people bearing the same names (ex. Cleopatra III vs. Cleopatra IV), it was relatively easy to keep the subjects straight.

The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was Elfer’s tendency to lower his voice when narrating a side remark. I often felt like I missed something and would have to rewind the audio at a louder volume to catch what was said.

The Last Dynasty is a fascinating look at the Ptolemaic Era (from 305 BC to 30 BC) which is the name of the Greek dynasty that ruled Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC. Some of the most famous developments and people of the ancient world came from the Ptolemaic Era. The Greek rulers built the famous library and lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt. Our main math man, Euclid, was an Egyptian Greek as well as Cleopatra VII who was the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt.

Learning about how the majority, native Egyptians and minority Greek ruling class adapted to, negotiated with, and fought each other was one of the most interesting parts of the Last Dynasty. It mirrors the situation of every colonial system (both past and present) where a small, foreign elite rules over a large native population.

The use of primary sources in this book is excellent and adds the personal touch that makes all the difference in engaging the reader. We learn about numerous individuals (both Greek and Egyptian) through their own writings. And since the author explains what sources he is using, we get a glimpse into how our knowledge of history is actually constructed from government and personal documents as well as from archaeological finds.

Thanks to HighBridge Audio through NetGalley who allowed me to listen to the book. The narrator, Julian Elfer, did an excellent job, and the overall sound and production was good.

Great deep dive into the rule of the Ptolemys. I learned a lot that I had no idea about and some things that I thought I did have an idea about turned out to be wrong. I liked the way the story was laid out with a chronological view of the dynasty but also with some glimpses into the common day to day of regular people during this time.

Probably a little dry for people who aren't into this kind of thing, but I enjoyed it. It's easy to find books on Greece and Egypt and Rome as individual entities, there should be more books out there which show how they interacted and affected each other.