Review by John Anthony West, independent egyptologist, best-selling author and Emmy Award winner for his NBC documentary The Mystery of the Sphinx, hosted by Charlton Heston:
An extraordinary biographical novel of Egypt's great (and much maligned and misunderstood) Queen Hatshepsut. It provides a unique, in-depth and thoroughly believable portrait of the great female Pharaoh: a woman who, while wielding absolute political power, was at the same time emotionally and philosophically developed and therefore capable of conceiving the enlightened architectural and artistic masterpieces that distinguished her long reign...all the while glorying in and never losing sight of her own intense femininity.
The second of six books in the epic historical novel covering the entire life of Hatshepsut, the ancient Egyptian queen who was crowned king and for more than 20 years ruled on the Horus Throne of the Living as the Female Falcon, Maatkare.
Before becoming Pharaoh, Hatshepsut served as God's Wife of Amun, an important economic and spiritual office created by her grandfather that holds the key to her mysterious and unprecedented power. Maatkare was not only a charismatic political leader, she was a mystic who inspired the wholehearted devotion of brilliant men. One of them was Senmut, a commoner she elevated to unparalleled heights of authority. But her most influential advocate was Hapuseneb, the High Priest of Amun and the Governor of the South. Hapuseneb served under three pharaohs and yet only Maatkare is represented in his tomb.
Hatshepsut's life is a passionate story of love-for her beliefs, her country and two of its most fascinating men.
Next in the Series: God's Wife - Book Three
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