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Loading... Child of the Morning (1977)by Pauline Gedge
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. 9788447346387 If you love ancient history, especially the wonderful Egyptians, then this book is just what you need. What it lacks in characterization it makes up for in sheer fun. A fast read, and though it can hardly be faithful to history, Hatshepsut is just as one might imagine her to be: lovely as the dawn yet cold as the night, drawing you into herself yet keeping everyone at a distance. I feel so much more could have been done with her character, as her relationship with Senmut left much wanting, but the book was already long enough since it covered her entire lifetime. The story did get maddening at times and required more than normal suspension of disbelief, but it was absolutely fun, the detail was exquisite, the battle scenes well drawn, and the characters were full of life. Gedge is a wonderful writer. This is my first book of hers, but I will definitely be reading more! 3.25 stars In ancient Egypt (I looked it up, and Hatshepsut lived around 1500 BC). Hatshupset ruled Egypt as a female Pharaoh (normally only a title/position for men). This is a fictionalized account of her life. I seem to be in a minority for my opinion on this but… The first half was just not interesting to me. It was ok, but nothing more. It picked up somewhat in the second half, after her father died, with the power struggle between her and her half-brother. So, most of the second half, I would rate good, but there were still parts that lost my interest. It seemed, at times, like what happened was drawn out longer than it needed to be. I would have liked to know how much of the story was true, but there was no author’s note, unfortunately. All that being said, what an incredible woman, especially for the time. Decided on a rating between “ok” and “good”. Another of Gedge's vivid and utterly believable recreations of the past. I knew nothing about Queen/Pharoah Hapshetsut; this book certainly provided a lot of information about her time and place. Interesting as she is as an historical figure, as drawn by Gedge she is a fascinating and potent woman--strong-willed, confident in her own divinity, full of the power that the god Amun's favor bestows. It's interesting that though she waged war alongside her troops, she did so only to defend Egypt and not for purposes of conquest. Absorbing and hard to put down. no reviews | add a review
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Based closely on historical events, this sensuously beautiful, astonishingly evocative novel tells the story of one of history's most remarkable women, the first female Pharaoh of Egypt. Thirty-five centuries ago, Hatshepsut, the youngest daughter of the Pharaoh, was to marry her father's illegitimate son and heir to the throne, Thothmes, in order to cleanse the bloodline in accordance with Egypt's supreme law. Fearing his son's incompetence, Hatshepsut's father chose her as the heir if the unprecedented ascension by a woman did not inspire the priests to commit treason or instill enough hatred in the envious heart of her half-brother and future consort to have her put to death. Rich in historical detail, this account recalls the rule of one of Egypt's greatest queens who, under her father's guidance, assumed the throne at the age of 15 and ruled brilliantly for more than two decades. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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