Customer Reviews

The Battle of Kadesh (Ramses)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have read this book first in French and then in English, and I absolutely love it. The translation is very good because it captures the senses of the original. The life of Ramses II is not what people usually expect, and it explains a lot about his relationship with Moses. This book can be read by all ages, and I strongly recommend it! You will love the other 4 volumes as well.

The Battle Of Kadesh, the third instalment in the acclaimed Ramses series, is thus far the best and most compelling. It chronicles the next few years in Ramses reign, during which the Great Pharaoh must confront the near invincibility of the Hittite forces who crave expansion at Egypts expense. Before he can concentrate on war, however, Ramses reign is being undermined by a network of different alliances against him, most notably that of Ofir, the sorcerer, trying to use black magic to weaken the Pharaoh's defences; And an underground network of Hittite spies intent on bringing about Egypts downfall. Heading these operations is Shaanar, Ramses jealous elder brother who is consumed with his desire to rule. When the Battle of Kadesh finally dawns, Ramses is left alone to confront the entire barbaric Hittite army, forcing him to call upon his late fathers divine assistance. Will his prayers be answered ?

This book had me up reading until the early hours of the morning. With spectacular landscape descriptions, charismatic protagonists, and suspenseful plots it truly is impossible to put down.

In the 'Battle off Khadesh' Christian Jacq brings ancient Egypt alive as if it all happened yesterday. You can actually feel the cool breezes in pharoah's gardens, touch the beautiful linen dresses of the queen and be amazed by the power of Ramses. The book is almost impossible to put down once you start it and when it comes to an end you wish it wouldn't. So beautiful and intriguing is this ancient world laid out in front of the reader that you become part of it and share the destiny of all its main characters. A must read!

Four divisions of the Egyptian army encamped below the fortress of Kadesh when suddenly the thundering sound of enemy chariots were upon them. The Hittites surprised them and decimated two of the divisions. Then Ramses, possessed of the spirit of Amon, glowed like the sun, and stopped the advancing Hittites in their tracks. Fighter, the Nubian lion, sprang into action. Reinforcements were coming up the coast road. The tide of battle turned. Christian Jacq's Ramses: the Battle of Kadesh, marks the third in a five part series on Ramses the Great of ancient Egypt.

Kadesh was one of the greatest battles of the ancient world. Egypt and Hatti were the two giant superpowers of their day; and both coveted the strategic littoral that we call the Middle East today. Hatti was a warrior nation that sought to extend its empire clear to Egypt. Egypt was a powerful land in the New Kingdom equally bent on extending its influence as far as possible. Kadesh marked the pivotal point in the superpowers' ambitions.

The Hittites gathered information on Egypt's readiness for war with an elaborate spy network that touched the pharaoh's palace itself. With their powerful enemy to their north preparing for war treacherous family members sought to undermine Ramses' power to seize the throne for themselves. Even the life of the queen was threatened. Ramses would have to destroy the spy network and the Hittites or his entire country may be enslaved.

Kadesh would not end the Hittite ambition. Ramses may have slowed them down but not stopped them. Traitors were still in his midst and Asha, the king's boyhood friend and Secretary of State, was in trouble. On to Volume Four.

This was easier going than the second, or maybe I am getting into the author's rhythm. At any rate - this book takes us up and through the initial confrontation between Ramses and the Hittite empire. And then the second amazing battle which set Egypt as the dominant regional power for some time to come. An unusual stance for Egypt which typically avoided battle at all costs.

I am looking forward to volume 4 - especially as we appear to be climaxing toward Ramses confrontation with Moses and with the Hittites once and for all.

I thought it was the best one of them all... The writer showed briliance in his writeing style and I love the whole ralxed mood of the book. Ramses character was brought out in whole new ways and furthermore alot of the other characters showed sides that I didnt expect but over all I loved it...

While clearly not my favourite in the series ,Battle of Kadesh begins to tie together all the plots from the previous books....A brilliant novel in itsown right

I've read the other reviews, and some of them are a bit unfair. It's true that Christian Jacq holds a Ph.D. in Egyptology, and some of the respondents feel that this precludes him from writing a fictional work. I'm glad to see that someone with Dr. Jacq's credentials can weave such an entertaining story!!!

I visited Egypt on vacation in April of this year, and was awe-struck by Ramses II's accomplishments. I have NO DOUBT that the people he ruled considered him to be a god on earth. This is expressed through the statues, temples, and writings that his civilization created. So I ask the other reviewers, what's wrong with presenting Ramses as a type of god in this ficticious work? It's true he's nearly perfect--but then aren't most protagonists thoughout literature?

Anyway, this series is an absolute MUST READ for anyone interested in ancient Egypt. Read it for the pleasure--don't use it as a reference if you're working on your Ph.D. in Egyptology!

I've found this book difficult to put down. I was up until 3:00 a.m. this morning reading The Battle of Kadesh. I'm ordering the fourth volume today!!! I'm expecting a few more late nights finishing it!!!

ORDER THESE BOOKS!!!!

Christian Jacq has brought out a series of five novels detailing the life of Ramses II, one of his role models. The series largely fails as a historical novel series. Firstly, it is inaccurate historically. Yes, this can be OK in many cases, but here it is a deliberate mish-mash of historical figures and chronologies where Ramses II rubs shoulders with Moses, Menelaus, Homer etc etc. (although Moses is the most likely to be an actual contemporary, this still seems like hacking together people and events). As for entertainment value, it is interesting in the way that extremely light writing with implausible plotlines is a quick read as it doesn't require much concentration and doesn't wear you out. However, there is much better writing out there (both literary and "light") - here, I found the dialogue to be especially unreal.

Jacq does mythologise Egypt with the sacred mysteries and magic of the priests being real. He also does a lot to make the whole setting come alive, which is the biggest strength of the series. But this could all be done without the several ridiculous aspects of the books.

In this, the third book, Egypt is beset with diplomatic problems with the Hittites, who are portrayed as one-sidedly bloodthirsty and primitive as compared to the cosmopolitan Egyptians. Moses finally begins his burning bush sojourn and after much war and espionage, the story climaxes at the battle of Kadesh - a fortress in modern-day Syria.

A decent series if there's nothing better to read and it will increase your interest in Egypt, but there IS something better to read in terms of almost all the aspects of the series.

I love anything egyptian so I am enjoying this and can't wait to read the final 2 books in this series.