# Event Details - **Event Name**: Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 06:30 pm – Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 09:00 pm - **Event Description**: Join us in celebrating author Saara El-Arifi & the U.S. launch of her new novel, CLEOPATRA. Presented by Narrative, at The Brattle Theatre.About this EventThis is a ticketed event. This event is presented by and will be hosted offsite at in Harvard Square. Please review all details below and your shopping cart prior to completing your purchase. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.Join us in celebration of author for the U.S. launch of her new novel, CLEOPATRA. El-Arifi will be joined in conversation by author .EVENT DETAILS:Venue: The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 021386:30PM: Check-in7:00PM: Event Start7-8PM: Author Conversation + Audience Q&A8-8:45PM: Book signing with both authors9PM: Event End*Works from both authors will be available for purchase on-site. $5 credit included with all registration purchases- redeemable during the event only, 1 credit redemption per purchase. This is an in-person event & will not be live-streamed. Recording/photography is not permitted during this event. Further details will be emailed to all registered guests prior to the event. Please reach out to info@narrativebookshop.com with any questions.CLEOPATRA:Everyone knows the name Cleopatra. To historians, she was the ruler of Egypt; to the Romans, a villainess; and to Hollywood, a glamorous and romantic superstar... but who was she, truly? In the stunning new novel, CLEOPATRA (Ballantine; on sale 2/24/26), bestselling author Saara El-Arifi brings the iconic Egyptian queen to life as we’ve never known her before: richly reimagined, deeply human, and speaking in Cleopatra’s own voice. This is not simply a retelling; it is a resurrection.The novel opens with 19-year-old Cleopatra being thrust upon the throne after her father’s death, unaware of what the next 20 years will bring. Though blessed by the Goddess Isis, even divine favor cannot shield her from what lies ahead: the upheaval of a Roman civil war, the wrath of the gods, and most of all the lure of love.El-Arifi, best known for her fantasy novels—including bestseller and BookTok favorite Faebound—also holds a master’s degree in African studies with a dissertation focused on Cleopatra, making her the perfect voice to bring to life the story of the last Egyptian pharaoh as both a historical figure and a mythological one. She infuses CLEOPATRA with historical depth from years of research, the feminist heart of Madeline Miller's Circe, and the magical spark of Jennifer Saint's Ariadne to explore the myths that made Cleopatra’s followers believe she was a living goddess. The result is a novel that is epic, transportive, enchanting, and completely fresh.EARLY PRAISE:*A Book Riot Most Anticipated Book of 2026**A BookBub Best Historical Fiction of Winter*“Few historical figures have been as maligned, romanticized or exoticized as Cleopatra. With this unflinching take on her life and legacy, El-Arifi raises Cleopatra from the sands of time, greets her with profound compassion, and liberates her from the judgement of men, granting her dignity and humanity. An extraordinary achievement.”—Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree“Cleopatra is a sensational work in historical writing: Cleopatra as she is meant to be told. Saara El-Arifi is true brilliance, and this book cements here even further as one of the most prolific and important writers of the moment.”—Hannah Kaner, bestselling author of Godkiller“Action-packed... Filled with carefully researched detail... A worthy addition to novels about powerful women.”—KirkusSAARA EL- ARIFI is an internationally bestselling and award-winning author of fantasy and historical fiction. El-Arifi knew she was a storyteller from the moment she told her first lie. Over the years, she has perfected her tall tales into epic ones. She has lived in many countries, had many jobs, and owned many more cats. After a decade of working in marketing and communications, she returned to academia to complete a master’s degree in African studies specializing in Cleopatra’s myth and her impact on Black women. She currently resides in London as a full-time procrastinator.R. F. KUANG is the #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy, Babel: An Arcane History, Yellowface, and Katabasis. Her work has won the Nebula, Locus, Crawford, and British Book Awards. She was named to the 2023 Time100 Next list and the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2024. A Marshall Scholar, she has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford. She is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale, where she researches Sinophone literature and Asian American literature. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/cambridge/book-launch-cleopatra-by-saara-el-arifi-in-conversation-with-r-f-kuang/100001980641472963 - **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, theatre, workshops, shopping, virtual - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 14.64, max: 41.32, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Cambridge - **state**: MA - **country**: United States - **location**: The Brattle Theatre - **lat**: 42.3735927 - **long**: -71.1213969 - **full address**: The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/251174916508e9f100c657c4eff464da9f66cd144c5467b9592d80f7b5215042-rimg-w1200-h1812-dc1a1d17-gmir.jpg?v=1768773654 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang being held? - **A:** Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang takes place on Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 06:30 pm to Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 09:00 pm at The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, United States. - **Q**: How much do tickets cost for Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang? - **A:** Ticket prices for Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang range from USD 15 to USD 41 depending on the ticket type. This is a high-demand event - early booking is strongly recommended. Here's a full breakdown of available ticket types:Ticket TypePriceAvailabilityTicket with Signed Hardcover Edition of CLEOPATRAUSD 41 + USD 4 feeAvailableEvent Ticket OnlyUSD 15 + USD 3 feeAvailable - **Q**: Who is organizing Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang? - **A:** Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. Kuang is organized by Narrative, LLC. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Book Launch: CLEOPATRA, by Saara El-Arifi, in conversation with R. F. 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