21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
some lovely writing, but maybe not the author's best work, May 29, 2007
This review is from: Three Novels of Ancient Egypt: Khufu's Wisdom, Rhadopis of Nubia, Thebes at War (Everyman's Library) (Hardcover)
Apparently these are the first three of the author's novels. This is a beautiful edition and it is also cheaper than buying the three paperback novels separately. There is an introduction, a chronology of the author's life, and then the three novels.
The introduction is a missed opportunity. I think that I might have appreciated these novels better with the help of some information about the culture in which they were written. However the introduction offers little more than plot summary. I recommend skipping it. The chronology is nice, but not tied in with the introduction.
The first novel, Khufu's Wisdom, seems to be about fate and moral choices. It tells the story of a king whose efforts to defy his fate only help to make that fate happen. It is set during the construction of one of the pyramids, but there is not much in the way of historical detail (and I think there are also some historical inaccuracies). It reads more like a biblical fable than a historical novel. It is beautifully written, but the story is somewhat simple by modern American standards.
The second novel, Rhadopis of Nubia, is much better than the first. It tells of a disastrous love affair between a king and a beautiful courtesan. It is also beautifully written, in a lavish, sometimes over the top style.
The third novel, Thebes at War, did not grab my interest and I didn't finish it. Maybe I'll try again later.
The three novels have three different translators, but all of the translations read well and have a similar flavor.
If you have not read any of the author's work before, you might also consider starting with the Cairo trilogy.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Three impressive early works by Nobelist Mahfouz, October 19, 2010
This review is from: Three Novels of Ancient Egypt: Khufu's Wisdom, Rhadopis of Nubia, Thebes at War (Everyman's Library) (Hardcover)
Beautifully packaged by Everyman's Library, these three novellas from Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz are folk tales from the pharonic periods of Egypt. Included are "Khufu's Wisdom", a story that speaks to the futility of challenging fate, even if you are the most powerful man in the world; "Rhadopis of Nubia", the story of an all-consuming love affair that brings down a young pharoh; and "Thebes at War", that has the feel in story and language of "The Iliad" or other classical epics.
Author Mahfouz has purposely given his stories an extrarealist, even surrealist, feel. His interest is less in providing a totally accurate historic context but more in presenting interesting characters living in historic times. It's no accident that he portrays the powerful as especially vulnerable to destiny, passion and sins of pride and arrogance. The loftiest characters in these stories lose the most in terms of privilege and power. These books were written at a time when Egypt's modern rulers were seen as ineffectual, corrupt and personally inmmoral.
As mentioned, "Three Novels of Ancient Egypt" is beautifully bound and printed (complete with silk place holder). There is an interesting forward by novelist Nadine Gordimer in which she includes a favorite quote from literary critic Georg Lukacs. "What matters i the historical novel is not the telling of great historical events, but the poet's awakening of people who figure in those events." Apt for these three novellas. Wonderful read. Recommended.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hypnotic prose, regardless of one's pagan beliefs.... ; ), February 24, 2011
This review is from: Three Novels of Ancient Egypt: Khufu's Wisdom, Rhadopis of Nubia, Thebes at War (Everyman's Library) (Hardcover)
Entertaining take on ancient Egypt. 'Khufu's Wisdom' cover the Old Kingdom and touches on themes of mortality; 'Rhadopis of Nubia' is probably the weakest book dwelling on a destructive love story. 'Thebes at War' details the reconquering of Egypt by Ahmose -- it is the most lively of the three books. The villainous Hyksos make for a great enemy, and the determination of the family of Ahmose to regain Egypt is affecting. Very diverting and engrossing trio from a great native Egyptian author.
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