Lady of the Reeds (The Hera Series) [Paperback]

Pauline Gedge (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Hera Series | Publication Date: July 1, 2003

An accomplished historical novelist tells the story, set in ancient Egypt, of an intelligent, ambitious woman named Thu, who leaves her native village aboard the boat of a prophet and eventually becomes a powerful concubine of Ramses III.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like her well-received Child of the Morning, Gedge's atmospheric new historical is a novel of ancient Egypt. Set in the court of Ramses III, it draws considerable narrative energy from the wanton ambitions and unpredictable fortunes of its narrating heroine, Thu. Eschewing the humble life of a peasant girl, Thu persuades her brother to teach her all he learns at the temple school. When Pharaoh's famed seer, the royal physician Hui, anchors in Thu's village of Aswat, the girl steals to his barge hoping to barter herself for a glimpse into the future. Impressed by her courage and innate ability, Hui makes Thu his apprentice physician. Before long, Thu, though not yet 15, is called upon to treat the ailments of Pharaoh himself. Charmed by the aggressively capable and fiercely complicated young physician, the god-king honors her with a place in his harem. But as she luxuriates in Pharaoh's favor, Thu must contend with the treacherous vortex of court intrigue-and with her love for Pharoah's son, and her desire to be his queen. Deft prose, charismatic characters and a vivid, wholly persuasive rendering of ancient days distinguish this multilayered historical, which may tax readers with its plot convolutions and complicated politics but will reward them in equal measure. British, trans., first serial, dramatic rights: Bella Pomer.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 520 pages
• Publisher: Soho Press (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569470723
• ISBN-13: 978-1569470725
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #905,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece..., July 6, 2000

By 

Standing In Motion - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady of the Reeds (The Hera Series) (Paperback)

Lady of the Reeds is the personal diary of Thu of Aswat, and it is a fascinating document. Written in the first person, each page chronicles her life from poor peasant girl in the rural Nile farming village of Aswat, to favored concubine in the Royal Harem of Ramses III at Pi-Ramesse. Omitting nothing, this blue-eyed daughter of an Egyptian midwife and Libu mercenary takes us on a journey that travels a path from childish innocence to vile debauchery. We are with her every step of the way. We walk with the young Thu as she leads the family bovine "Precious Sweet Eyes" to the banks of the Nile. We plunge into the Nile with Thu in the dead of night and board the barge of the Seer Hui, where she offers her virginity to the gods of ambition. We witness the education and humiliation she endures to achieve external beauty and power. We sympathize with her as she is cruely manipulated by those with a terrible agenda. Sadly we watch, as by her own choice she becomes a murderess to fulfill her impossible dreams. Lady of the Reeds is a self-serving diary, as Thu attempts to justify her actions to all who read it. Not only do we see through this transparancy, but in the end so does she. What is chilling about this story is our recognition... that we all have some Thu in us. The life story of Thu of Aswat continues sixteen years later in the sequel, House of Illusions.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peasant, girlThu, rises through the Ranks to Kings Concubine, June 25, 1999

By 

"duffyj" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady of the Reeds (The Hera Series) (Paperback)

This extremely well-written prose by Pauline Gedge was a pleasure and delight to read. The writer's technique of using the English language to describe ancient egypt and events in this book is astounding! The peasant, Thu, growing up with her poor egyptian family, has high dreams for herself & is not content to be a mere "woman" in egyptian society or a midwife as her mother before her. She attains her dreams after all, but not in the way she would hope. She rises up from a life of poverty on her parents farm in the Delta through the help and mystery of the Seer, Hui, a strange, magical, man with long white hair and red piercing eyes. She befriends him, eventually loves him like a father, & leaves her home to take on several exciting, interesting and intriguing phases of her life before finally, realizing she is all along being prepared for a special mission in life. Partially by design and partially by deception by the people she loves, she attains royal residence as a concubine of the Pharaoh. She finds this submissive, royal, life unaccepting for a beautiful young woman, just being one of many favored by Pharaoh. The book is intriguing until the end and I would recommend this book highly. This is my first Pauline Gedge novel and I will now read all of them!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gedge brings Ancient Egypt to Glorious Life Again, January 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady of the Reeds (The Hera Series) (Paperback)

Since I was 13, and read Child of the Morning, Pauline Gedge has been my favourite author. Now, nearly 20 years later, she continues to dazzle with Lady Of The Reeds (or House of Dreams in Canada). When I read her words, I can feel the heat of the sun and the breezes off the Nile; smell the sandlewood and jasmine; see the palaces, villages, and homes of the people she writes about. I loved this book and sequel with a fierce passion - for 4 days this summer I did not move off the deck, while I read them both. Thu may have been written as a character whose own character is less than lovable, but she charms you so completely that you really care about what happens to her, and hope that everything works out well. She is the perfect anti-heroine who proves that it's not just men who can be rather unlikeable and still have us cheering for them. It has never been acceptable for a woman to be seen in that light. Heroines have always had to be lily-white paragons of such virtues as kindness, gentleness, and are most certainly not allowed any ambition. Thu defies all those stereotypes, and makes us love her for it. I say Bravo! Ms. Gedge, and I only wish there could be more books about the fabulous Thu!