Cheops: A Cupboard for the Sun [Hardcover]

Paul West (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003

Paul West creates a glorious, powerful Sun King of Egypt, bent on a death worthy of his great pyramid at Giza.

Known for wrapping readers in his historical web, Paul West, in his marvelous, new novel, turns his attention to the 4th Dynasty (approx. 2680 BC) of ancient Egypt. Here, we find the pharaoh Cheops, building the great pyramids at Giza, surrounded by workers and solar boats. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, "a hundred thousand men were made to toil constantly for him," and, as Herodotus claimed, Egypt was "plunged into all manner of wickedness." In Cheops, West delightfully has Herodotus transported back in time, to meet the great pharaoh, face to face. Nearing death, getting ready for his final "transportation to the stars," the blind Cheops is obsessed with preparing for his end. All the while, the intrigues of his daughters, sons, wives, and courtiers are revealed, uncovering murder, incest, and rebellion. Most intriguing is the overarching narration told by Osiris, god of the Nile, who comments on this swarm of events with hilarious and humane authority. Profound and entertaining, Cheops: A Cupboard for the Sun is perhaps Paul West's greatest novel yet.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

West (A Fifth of November) examines the legacy of the Egyptian leader who built the great pyramids in his latest historical novel, a vividly imagined but flawed book that begins with the once-powerful Cheops fighting a series of grave illnesses. Decadent palace intrigue ensues as various relatives and factions try to capitalize on his impending death. The proceedings are wryly narrated by Osiris, the god of the underworld, who provides observations and commentary on the imminent downfall of the great leader. West also offers some other perspectives on the action, including that of Cheops's mother-in-law, Merytyetes, and his poetically inclined daughter, Princess Heduanna. Cheops's troubles come to a head when his late wife's body is stolen from her tomb, and the abduction is followed by two murders. The first involves a key palace figure, while the second strikes down Cheops's son, Ka-Wab. The novel turns hallucinatory and downright bizarre in the final section, as West imagines a link between the music of 19th-century English composer Frederic Delius and the burial plans of Cheops. The historical detail is impeccable, and Osiris proves to be a capable guide through Cheops's final days, despite some ponderous prose and a few decidedly modern interpretations of the leader's dilemma. But while West deserves credit for his formidable imagination, the final section of the novel is so erratic that it overshadows and dilutes the power of the earlier material.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

The rest of us will despair of ever being able to write prose so immaculate as that of Paul West. -- Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: New Directions; 1St Edition edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811215199
• ISBN-13: 978-0811215190
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,487,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Is there a point?, June 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Cheops: A Cupboard for the Sun (Hardcover)

I have read Mr. West's qualifications and indeed, he is a very qualified and very literate author. However, this is a bizarrely awful book. Maybe something happens in it and maybe there's a plot somewhere, but I couldn't find it. It reminded me of one of those stream of consciousness books (a style I detest)crossed with some strange form of science fiction. It just didn't make any sense. I couldn't finish it-just read about 50 pages in the beginning & skimmed a few in the middle and at the end. This was a library copy, so I had no fiscal outlay and am very glad of that. I gave it two stars because of Mr West's knowledge of the period and obvious literacy (otherwise, a negative if there was one), but don't waste your time.