Hippopotamus Marsh: Lord of the Two Lands: Volume I (Lords of the Two Lands) [Paperback]

Pauline Gedge (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lords of the Two Lands | Publication Date: July 1, 2003

Seqenenra Tao, Prince of Weset, leads a revolt against the alien Hyksos pharaohs. His provincial aristocratic family is accustomed to a life of straitened gentility. But when the prince decides to rebel they must risk all, even life itself, to restore Egyptians and their gods to glory. The Hippopotamus Marsh begins a trilogy that brings to vivid life the passions and intrigues that ushered in the great Eighteenth Dynasty.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fast moving and thrilling . . . Perhaps the best piece that Pauline Gedge has written." -- Edmonton Journal

About the Author

Pauline Gedge is the author of eight novels, including Child of the Morning and Lady of the Reeds. She lives in Alberta, Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Soho Press (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569472203
• ISBN-13: 978-1569472200
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Depiction of an Ancient World and People, July 14, 2001

By 

Stuart W. Mirsky "swm" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Hippopotamus Marsh: Lord of the Two Lands: Volume I (Lords of the Two Lands) (Paperback)

Although rather slow and ponderous during its initial 40%, this book paints a full and realistic picture of the world of ancient Egypt and its noble houses. One gets a real feel for the time and place in which these people passed their lives and of the cultural attitudes and values which might have driven them. This is the tale of the gradual awakening of the ancient royal house of Egypt to a "need" to confront the ruling Hyksos who have held power over the land, as the story opens, for the preceding 200 years.

Sequenenra Tao, the scion of his ancient family, rules as governor in the provincial backwater territory of Weset in Upper Egypt. Although he is descended of a long line of ancient Egyptian kings, he is nevertheless subjected to numerous petty humiliations by his Hyksos overlord, the Pharaoh Apepa. When these grow to be too much for the proud Tao family, Sequenenra feels compelled to act. And yet there is treachery everywhere, and even within his own household, a treachery which will alter the course of events that the governor of Weset reluctantly sets in motion.

This is a fine tale, indeed, and the last 60% of the book is, if not entirely compelling, certainly a very interesting read and will hold the intelligent reader through to the end. The tale promises more in subsequent volumes, too (it's billed as a trilogy and I will be reading the next volume, given the quality of the first). The characters are also vividly drawn and an integral part of this tale which is more than one of mere battles and adventure. A good read and one I have no qualms in recommending . . . or in reading further myself!

SWMThe King of Vinland's Saga

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mainly a setup for the next book, May 19, 2002

By 

Charles G. Fry "cgfry" (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hippopotamus Marsh: Lord of the Two Lands: Volume I (Lords of the Two Lands) (Paperback)

In the Hippopotamus Marsh, Pauline Gedge develops an interesting perspective for the once-rulers of Egypt, the Taos. In this book, they are passing life away as a minor ruling family of the Weset province in mid-Egypt. Their forefathers succumbed to the Hyksos, invaders from the east that have become Egypt's present pharaohs. The Hippopotamus Marsh tells the story of how the Taos come out of their physically comfortable, but psychologically stressed servitude to the Hyksos.

The story is told exclusively from the point of the view of the Tao family members, and the family dynamics are interesting and complex. The Weset area and its surroundings are described in beautiful detail. Unfortunately, Gedge says nothing about how anyone else in Egypt at that time lived or thought. She never lets us enter the minds of the many servants that wait on the Taos, and we almost never meet any of the peasants that support their moderate wealth.

The presentation of the Tao family is surrealistically loving and kind, being completely at odds with common modern views of rulers of this time period in Egypt. Gedge is clearly trying to fix this new point of view, and there is real interest in her reorienting our perceptions and assumptions. Gedge's presentation is not supported by anything factual, however, and the lack of viewpoint from those supporting the family--the servants and peasants--makes her postulate tenuous. Even so, Gedge makes the Taos and middle Egypt into interesting historical fiction.

The main problem with this book is that it goes nowhere except as a setup for the next book. Still, it's a good read, and hopefully the next book will continue on a good start.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars River God Without the Blood, February 14, 2006

By 

Craig A. "Craig" (Mount Laurel, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hippopotamus Marsh : Lord of the Two Lands: Volume I (Lords of the Two Lands, Volume 1) (Paperback)

River God is certainly one of my all-time favorites. Action, exciting characters - everything you look for in an adventure book. I wanted to look into other authors who write fictional accounts of my favorite period in history - ancient Egypt. I have not been disappointed. I loved the Hippo Marsh! In my opinion it is a book that focuses more on family rather than the testosterone-fueled River God. One thing I noticed is that Gedge throws in some terms that the casual reader might not be familiar with. Even I didn't know what Ma'at, ka, or ba were. I might suggest getting an inexpensive bargain book on ancient Egyptian culture or taking a tour through www.EternalEgypt.org for some definitions.
Usually when these books are part of a series, I take a break after each one and read something else. I was left so enamored by the Tao family that I began reading the second one immediately! I highly recommend this book.