Historical Note: Amanda Matta and the Nuances of Cleopatra episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 5, 2026 · 55 MIN

Historical Note: Amanda Matta and the Nuances of Cleopatra

from The Ribbon Book Club · host Cate Reed and Jen Vos

Dear Diary,  Our esteemed royal commentator, Amanda Matta (aka Matta_of_Fact), is back for another fascinating conversation! This time, we're discussing Cleopatra and her portrayal as a young girl.  How does an author do justice to a historical figure who has often been reduced to a trope? Not to mention a trope that is not always kid-friendly. We chat about walking this literary tight-rope, as well as the very real historical drama that was the court of the Ptolemys. Tune in, and afterwards, check out the episode of Amanda's podcast, The Art of History, where she discusses a famous sculpture of the Egyptian queen.  Yours truly,  Cate and Jen    Want to hear more from Amanda? Check out her podcasts Off With Their Headlines and The Art of History, or read her Substack, The Fascinator.   Join our Discord! RibbonBookClubPod.com @RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram   Edited by Danny Heck   Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage  Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

Dear Diary,  Our esteemed royal commentator, Amanda Matta (aka Matta_of_Fact), is back for another fascinating conversation! This time, we're discussing Cleopatra and her portrayal as a young girl.  How does an author do justice to a historical figure who has often been reduced to a trope? Not to mention a trope that is not always kid-friendly. We chat about walking this literary tight-rope, as well as the very real historical drama that was the court of the Ptolemys. Tune in, and afterwards, check out the episode of Amanda's podcast, The Art of History, where she discusses a famous sculpture of the Egyptian queen.  Yours truly,  Cate and Jen    Want to hear more from Amanda? Check out her podcasts Off With Their Headlines and The Art of History, or read her Substack, The Fascinator.   Join our Discord! RibbonBookClubPod.com @RibbonBookPod on Facebook and Instagram   Edited by Danny Heck   Theme music by Ericka Page @theerickapage  Cover art by Chelsea Tanis @TheTrumpetClub Research help by Callie Cherry  @_likethefruit

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Historical Note: Amanda Matta and the Nuances of Cleopatra

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This episode was published on March 5, 2026.

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Dear Diary,  Our esteemed royal commentator, Amanda Matta (aka Matta_of_Fact), is back for another fascinating conversation! This time, we're discussing Cleopatra and her portrayal as a young girl.  How does an author do justice to a historical...

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