| Title | : | Child of the Morning |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1569763240 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781569763247 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 416 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1977 |
Child of the Morning Reviews
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I first read this book many years ago, and it was one of the first books I reviewed on Goodreads. I therefore felt it was time for a re-read and a new review. Child of the Morning is Pauline Gedge’s debut novel, written way back in 1977. If you’re more familiar with her later works, such as the Lords of the Two Lands trilogy, published in 1998, or the King’s Man trilogy, published in 2007, you will probably notice a difference here. There is a definite sense of lack of polish compared to the books she wrote after this one. And it isn’t that her signature creative flair and linguistic mastery is missing – it shines through here, strong as ever. If I had to put the lack of polish down to a root cause, it would be the magnitude of the book’s subject: Hatshepsut. Gedge has written truly excellent standalone novels in her time, but in this case Hatshepsut really does seem like too big of a subject to take on in one book, because the pacing is a little off here. We get too many significant time skips for my liking, leaping ahead by several years in certain places. Gedge covers it very well through her lavish descriptions which set the scene and bring us up to speed without feeling too rushed, but nevertheless I think the story probably could have been improved if Hatshepsut’s story had been extended over more books/pages.
One thing that is necessary in order to properly review this book, and yet something which does not affect its final score at all, is its historical accuracy. Regular readers may be puzzled, since I usually factor in historical accuracy. But the fact of the matter is, in the fifty years since Child of the Morning was published our knowledge about Hatshepsut has come on a great deal, and I can hardly penalise an author for historical inaccuracy when new discoveries are made after their book released. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting what Egyptologists have overturned, for the reader curious about how well Gedge’s book matches up. The biggest change is that we now know that Djehutymes III didn’t try to erase Hatshepsut from history until near the end of his 32-year solo reign, and that Hatshepsut probably died of natural causes, rather than being murdered. The implication is that aunt and nephew did not have a combative relationship as previously thought, but that Hatshepsut’s erasure was an impersonal decision, either related to the Egyptian concept of ma’at or an attempt to secure the throne of a line of kings repeatedly born from concubines over the past three generations. Another caveat is that Gedge relies on the overturned Heiress Theory to explain some of the character dynamics between Hatshepsut and her brother-husband Djehutymes II, and Hatshepsut’s daughters with Djehutymes III. This was the hypothesis that although ancient Egypt had male monarchs, the right to rule was carried in the female line and thus pharaohs had to marry their sister in order to take the throne. Donald Redford debunked this in the 1980s, although it clings like a miasma to the general public’s imagination.
What’s particularly interesting about this book is that even though it engages in some well-worn Hatshepsut story devices (partly due to outdated research, which can’t be helped), it rarely feels tropey. Child of the Morning has Hatshepsut and her nephew at odds, and Senmut as her lover, and goodness knows I’ve read plenty of Hatshepsut novels with those clichés that just came across as low effort and hammy. Why doesn’t this book? It’s because even though it uses the same base authorial choice, Gedge keeps it fresh by adding human depth or by twisting the trope on its head. Even as Hatshepsut and Djehutymes III are hostile to one another, it is an undercurrent beneath a frequently cordial relationship, one where mutual admiration exists: Hatshepsut is not the evil stepmother greedily stealing her nephew’s throne, but merely has the confidence to claim what is hers, while wistfully wishing that Djehutymes III had been born her son and heir, and refusing to let him topple her ahead of due time. I’ve criticised the romance between Hatshepsut and Senmut in Libbie Hawker’s Sovereign of Stars not so much because it is a cliché, but because it layers the clichés by having them fall in love at first sight as teenagers and makes Neferure the product of the affair. The romance between Hatshepsut and Senmut in Child of the Morning is more well-formed; it does not happen at first sight, and even when attraction kicks in later it isn’t consummated for many, many years, with both characters adhering to the sensibilities of their roles and other relationships, until they are older and freer. In other places, the book outright bucks the tropes: Neferu-bity doesn’t die because she is fragile, but because and arguably the same thing happens to Neferure. Hatshepsut and her brother-husband Djehutymes II have a genuine desire for one another, alongside their rivalry.
What truly stands out about Child of the Morning, however, is the quality of its writing and story-telling. I was struck by the ratio of description to dialogue, and noticed that other Hatshepsut books I’ve read spend much more time on dialogue and much less time on description. Often, I’ve struggled with ancient Egyptian novels failing to bring ancient Egypt to life; they don’t devote enough time (or possibly do enough research) to setting a scene that vividly renders the exotic and alien culture. Such novels seem to frequently misunderstand the attitudes and values of the time, and feel as if they are set in the modern day. Pauline Gedge not only lavishes page spaces on the environment, but uses incredibly creative metaphors to hold the attention and write descriptions that are unusual and fresh.“The night folded around them with a sweetness and poignancy heightened by the new pale stars that prickled silver fire in the water of the lily ponds, by the scented winds, and by the nearness of each other.”
“Her belt was silver, also, as were her sandals, and while in the afternoon brightness she had glittered and flashed like the Sun Himself, tonight she glowed dully, coldly, the moon at the full. Senmut, utterly out of his depth, was afraid.”
In contrast to many, Gedge seems to know her subject intimately, to understand the social attitudes of her characters and the environment through which they moved, shaping and being shaped by it in turn. She also has a keen ability to create vital characters who are not merely names on a page but possess human complexity and fascinating nuance and ambiguity. Not once does she rely on character stupidity to explain a plot twist, make a character do something out-of-character, or fail to provide clear and believable motivation to their actions.
Child of the Morning may lack a little polish, perhaps a little something to be desired in its pacing, but right from Gedge’s debut her genius as an author is evidence: her linguistic skill and inventiveness, her deft portrayal of human characters, and her cognizance of a distant time and place that is at once strange and familiar.
9 out of 10 -
2 and half stars.
I have a thing for bad-ass women of history. You know, the ones that totally didn't do what conventional women of their day and age did and proceeded to kicked some serious ass. So obviously, the first time I heard about Hatshepsut in history class, I fell in love. The second female pharaoh of Egypt, she had an amazing reign during which her country flourished in peace and prosperity, she built stunning monuments and some historians go as far as calling her the first great woman of history. So a novel about her life easily piqued my interest.
As second daughter of the Pharaoh, Hatshepsut grows up to be educated and privileged, but not burdened with responsibilities. But the course of her destiny changes abruptly after her sister's death, when her father understands that his son does not have the strength or intelligence to follow in his footsteps, and he must ensure that the next ruler of Egypt is not a spoiled and easily influenced child. Gedge also tells us the story of Senmut, the young peasant we'eb priest who dreams of building temples and monuments, and how he comes to cross Hatshepsut's path, and one day becomes her stewart.
We now know Pauline Gedge's book is not very historically accurate, but she was working from data available in the 70's: a lot of new discoveries have changes some of the things we thought we knew about Hatshepsut since (especially her relations with nephew Thothmese III), but she was doing the best she could with the information she had and I can't hold new science against her. She really put the emphasis on the simple idea that Hatshepsut could not understand why women were not allowed to do the same things men can, as she was convinced that they were just as capable in every way. Obviously, that must have ruffled a fair amount of feathers and hatched numerous plots and power-struggles, as well as attempts to discredit her.
This is a lot of interesting material to work with, but I found the book to be a little on the dull side. The writing is good, and she makes fully realized characters out of the historical figures she weaves into her tale, but I never got the feeling of really being transported, I didn't feel captivated by the world she created. It seemed to lack a certain vividness that would have really hooked me. I know it might seem silly to accuse historical fiction of being predictable - we kinda know how this ends, after all - but the intrigue and romantic entanglements felt a bit clichéd. And then endless conflicts between Hatshepsut and Thothmes III got repetitive and silly.
Not a bad book, but I was glad to turn the last page and move on to another one. -
A wonderful blend of history and fiction. Intrigue, glory, failure, love, loss, it's all here in a captivating, deliciously described setting.
Mrs. Gedge does a wonderful job of making Ancient Egypt and the characters within spring to life from the page. No one here is one dimensional or perfect. Simply put there aren't any real plot holes.
Without spoiling, the ending is not what actually happened, but Mrs. Gedge in the last few chapters does a wonderful job of building an impending sense of not being able to escape destiny and closes it out perfectly for the tale she wove. -
Un libro entretenido . Una trama novelada sobre la vida de Hatshepsut. Una mujer que en su época logró ser faraón.
Como todos los libros de Pauline Gedge mezcla muy acertadamente la historia real con la novelada.
Aunque no es el libro que más me ha gustado de esta autora es muy ameno. -
Este libro llegó a mis manos por estar dentro de una colección de novela histórica que publicó El Pais , yo no conocía a la autora y en un principio pensé que sería un libro mas en el que nos narrarían la vida de la celebre Cleopatra VII pero no era así. La autora da vida a Hatshepsut la primera mujer faraón y primera mujer en la historia que gobernó con pleno derecho. Me sorprende que este personaje histórico no sea mas conocido pero me imagino que al vivir 15 siglos antes que Cleopatra y haber llegado menos información de su vida hasta nuestros días provoca esta situación aunque yo por ejemplo conocía algunos de los edificios emblematicos que se construyeron en su reinado sin saber que eran obra de la primera mujer que gobernó en egipto. Lo mejor del libro para mi es que se nota que la autora siente devoción por el mundo del antiguo Egipto. Lo peor que en la construcción de personajes para mi la novela flojea, por ejemplo encuentro este defecto en el arquitecto Senmut donde su paso de humilde hijo de un labrador a ser el hombre mas importante de Egipto y mano derecha del faraón para mi no está bien desarrollado. Como me picó la curiosidad después de terminar el libro he estado buscando información sobre Hatshepsut y he descubierto que alguna de las cosas que cuenta Pauline en el libro no son como las ha reflejado la autora en la novela pero para ser honesto hay que decir que el libro se publicó en 1977 y posteriormente a esa fecha es cuando los historiadores y arqueólogos han podido hacer investigaciones que han dado luz a por ejemplo como fue la muerte de Hatshepsut que en la realidad fue menos épica que como la cuenta la autora en el libro. Con todo es un libro muy ameno y sencillo de leer y recomendable.
-
I have a thing about Hatshepsut. She was the first 'great woman' of known history, and that's a freaking big deal. Moreover, her reign was peaceful, prosperous, and well administered. Her greatest achievements include building of monuments, many of which still stand. Unfortunately, later pharaohs, possibly Thutmose III or Amenhotep I, have tried to detract from her achievements. And failed, as far as I am concerned. Being a pharaoh for a woman thousands of years ago is in itself a big achievement that still so many countries around the world are unable to achieve.
In light of my intense admiration for Hatshepsut, I found Gedge's depiction of her rather offensive. Gedge's Hatshepsut is rather dumb. Vain and arrogant, she may be. That's acceptable, and possibly even expected. But Hatshepsut makes stupid decisions, one after the other, from handing over her army to someone she 'knows' is going to bring her down to never taking any action against Thutmose III. If Hatshepsut 'knows' that he is going to arrange a coup, why would she do nothing to prevent it? Hatshepsut's constant war of words with Thutmose was tiresome and cringe-inducing. What kind of pharaoh listens to open threats and doesn't do anything? In view of her 'niceness' (or dumbness, if you prefer), Hatshepsut's constant repetitions about how she is Egypt and God and blah blah is rather sadly hilarious. Gedge could not have created a more sad-sounding pharaoh if she had tried. A criminal endeavour, if you ask me!
The other characters were mildly more interesting than Hatshepsut. I found Senmut's character arc the most intriguing, but he too lost his appeal by the middle of the book.
For some reason Gedge delights in making ancient Egypt depressing. I have read a few books now by this author and she invariably ends up bringing in depressive characters weeping and moaning about their fate about which they already 'know'. Gedge's habit of her characters knowing the future is tiresome, and takes away from any depth that the story might otherwise have. There is no historical evidence that Hatshepsut roamed about being depressed all over the place, so there was absolutely no need for the author to make this decision.
On the other hand, Gedge's research is pretty detailed and ancient Egypt really comes to life. The bringing of myrrh trees from Punt and the broken obelisk are wonderful examples of inserting interesting historical titbits into the narrative. I enjoyed these inputs and it was interesting to feel how Egyptians lived.
In the end, Hatshepsut probably definitely faced discrimination but having established herself as a successful ruler for a couple of decades, I don't really see her as someone who would simply give in and not take steps to protect herself. No woman ruler, then or now, can afford to be so complacent! -
I have read this book more times than I can remember starting when I was about sixteen and still in high school. Child of the Morning is probably one of the very first books that I can remember that actually moved me emotionally. It's powerful in it's imagery and emotions.
To qoute Penguin Canada's website: A chronicle of passionate intrigue and sensuous exoticism, Child of the Morning resurrects the life of the awesome Hatshepsut, the only woman pharaoh of ancient Egypt, whose name was erased from history by her enemies, outraged at having to bow to a woman's command.
It's now known today that Hatshepsut was not the only woman who would rule Egypt, nor was she the first. However unlike other women in ancient Egypt's past she is the only female Pharaoh who had such a lengthy rule (she has been assigned a reign of twenty-one years and nine months.)
The novel itself weaves fact and fiction to create a powerful tale about Hatshepsut and her reign. Gedge brings to life not only Hatshepsut but the three Thothmesids that would have a great affect on Hatshepsut's political career along with her nobles, including Senemut. Although more current historical evidence has come to light since Gedge's first novel was originally published, the tale that she was created is still worth reading. -
No soy mucho de novela histórica, pero reconozco que este libro me ha gustado mucho. Soy una apasionada del Antiguo Egipto en general, lo cual sin duda ha ayudado.
No es que tenga una trama o un argumento como tal. La Dama del Nilo cuenta la vida de la faraona Hatshepsut, desde su niñez hasta su muerte. Una mujer avanzada a su tiempo, trabajadora, leal, indomable y fiel a sus principios. La escritura te mete de lleno en su historia y en toda la gente que estuvo a su lado y que la apoyó hasta el final.
Muy recomendable si, como a mí, te encanta todo lo relacionado con el Antiguo Egipto. -
شهبانوی درهی نیل داستان معروفترین فرعون زن مصره. بانویی به نام هتشپسوته که طی ماجراهایی از جمله کمبود وارث، فرعون میشه ولی حالا باید علاوه بر مشکلات پادشاهی بر سرزمین وسیع مصر به مشکلاتی که یک زن ممکنه از طرف درباریان باهاش مواجه بشه هم غلبه کنه.
هتشپسوت مجبور میشه خودش رو در غالب مردان بریزه. ریش مصنوعی بذاره. صداش رو بم کنه، تایید مردها رو به دست بیاره، در سایهی نام مردانهی اونها فرمانروایی کنه و... تا بیشتر جدی گرفته بشه و با این همه، هنوز هم کلی مشکل سر راهشه. کلی مدعی برای سلطنت هست که صرفا به خاطر مرد بودن شایستهتر از هتشپسوت دونسته میشن.
«شهبانوی درهی نیل» یک رمان تاریخیه که در وجه تاریخیش تا حد بسیار خوبی به منابع و مستندات وفادار بوده. از طرفی هم با این که کتاب حجیمیه اما حوصلهسربر نیست. ماجراها تکراری نمیشن و مخاطب رو دلزده نمیکنند.
«شهبانوی درهی نیل» از اون کتابهاییه که حتی اگر تاریخ مصر رو ندونید یا اصلا علاقهای به تاریخ نداشته باشید هم جذبتون میکنه. ترجمهی روانی داره و شاید در پایان وادارتون کنه کمی بیشتر دربارهی نخستین فرعونبانوی مصر بخونید و بهتر بشناسیدش. هرچند که به نظرم کتاب به اندازهی کافی اطلاعات بهتون میده. -
2.5 stars.
Even after struggling to finish this book I still do not understand the changes that this author chose to make.
I know that when the book was written she did not have all the informations we have now of Hatshepsut but she changed so much with the informations that she did have and not in a good way.
Hatshepsut was always a mystery to me and I always wanted to learn more about her but this book did not do it for me.
She was stupid,stubborn,arrogant(this I can overlook) and she couldn't decide if she wanted to be a strong powerful leader or a depressed woman.
I had so many moments where I laughed at her idiotic actions that I lost count.
She was not really that smart as the book wants us to believe,sadly.
Her supposed romance with Senmut left me feeling disgusted sometimes and I did not for one moment believe in their so called love for one another,it would have been better if they remained friends in this version of her story.
Her beef with a child is still so hilarious to me cause she was correct to be wary of him but she still did nothing till the very end.
Why oh why did the author chose to portray her story like this and why she made so many bad changes I will never understand. -
Horizons and Cultural Tag! Child of the Morning chronicles the life of Hatshepsut, (female) Pharaoh and Queen, as she rises in Egyptian rule to power. There is lots of early Egypt culture and rites, as well as mysticism and folklore, and Hatshepsut is the eventual grandmother to Amunothep. Our heroine was certainly a badass, and a remarkable woman in historical fiction. No doubt ahead of her time!
When I first put Child of the Morning on my TBR, I mistakenly thought it was a novel about Potiphar's wife. I had seen a similar novel on that theme, and was excited about it. So I was surprised to discover this wasn't it - and even weirder, I can't seem to find a historical fiction novel featuring Potiphar's wife! Maybe I am meant to write one - lol!
Did I like it? In places. At points it held my attention. At other points I wavered. I was sort of happy to be done with it, and as I am always saying, I have become more discerning of my TBR, and am trying to read the existing books. So I was happy to finish it in more than one way. I do have two more Egypt books to enjoy this month, that I suspect I might even enjoy a bit more. -
As a fan of Michelle Moran and a devotee of historical fiction, I expected to love this book. Wholeheartedly. Unabashedly. But several pages in, I found myself struggling not only to like it, but to pick it up again once I had put it down. Uh-oh. With a book that spans more than 400 pages, that reluctance is a bad omen, indeed.
While Ms. Gedge provides a scenic background that very nearly transports one to ancient Egypt and colors her characters with a revealing, delicate, fine brush, I'm sorry to say that I just could not sympathize, empathize, or particularly care one whit about them. Siblings die, parents die, lovers are joined and parted; thrones are usurped, wars are fought -- this "Child" has plenty of drama and a plethora of plot lines, all of which elicited yawns from me ... because the heroine Hatshepsut was, in my opinion, completely unlikable. Vain, hot-tempered, power-hungry and afflicted with a wicked case of penis-envy. Sorry, but true. She stomps around in men's clothing, chucking spears and wearing a Pharaoh's fake beard one moment and would have us believe she's the most beautiful woman in the world the next. Really? She is in turns generous and abusive, sensual and androgynous, disgusted by her brother and then in bed with him. Sorry, again, but true.
But if you don't mind reading 400-plus pages of the antics of a bipolar, cross-dressing, incest-practicing Crown Prince Princess, then you'll enjoy this one. Unfortunately, it jumped too many barriers for me; and reading it was like slogging through the Nile with a 100-lb. backpack while wearing cement galoshes, in my never-to-be-humble opinion. (Apologies to Ms. Gedge, but I would like my reading time refunded, please.)
Blech. -
Al tratarse de una novela escrita en los años 70, una de las críticas más recurrentes que se hacen desde el punto de vista histórico es que no recoge muchos de los hallazgos sobre la vida de Hatshepsut que se han producido en las últimas décadas (sobre todo respecto a su muerte).
Sin embargo, mi principal queja con este libro es la falta de desarrollo de las subtramas y los personajes principales, fruto de una narración muy fragmentada y llena de elipsis, lo cual me alejaba constantemente de la historia, haciendo que perdiera el interés.
Cuando en un libro pasan muchas cosas pero te dan igual, es casi peor que cuando no pasa nada.
También me sorprendió que los diálogos fueran un tanto anacrónicos en cuanto al léxico o las expresiones. No sé si esto se debe a la traducción o al estilo relajado de la autora (que tardó solo 6 semanas en escribir el libro), pero a veces, para ser personajes de hace 1.500 años, sus conversaciones me parecían demasiado contemporáneas.
Lo que sí me gustó fue la ambientación de la novela, que consiguió trasladarme desde el principio a lo que sería la vida palaciega en el Antiguo Egipto y aprendí bastantes cosas sobre los derechos dinásticos y cómo la sangre real se legitimaba solo por herencia femenina.
Estoy seguro de que, sobre este personaje histórico tan apasionante, tiene que haber a la fuerza mejores novelas y autores más 'comprometidos'.
RESEÑA COMPLETA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrBrV... -
Forget the reissued Gaia Press cover, check out the original by artists Leo and Diane Dillon. That's the edition that I fell madly in love with and almost caused me to commit larceny of my public library, LOL. Needless to say, Gedge hit all my happy buttons big time!
Since this book was first published, Egyptology has learned a little more about Hatshepset, but it was interesting when re-reading this at how much of the story Ms. Gedge actually managed to deduce (and get right). There are several other retellings of her story, but most tend to characterize Hatshepset as some power-hungry aunt who "stole" the crown.
Child of the Morning depicts Hatshepset who was groomed from birth by her father to not just be a pretty figurehead, but to assert queenship in her own right. In a way, she was a precursor to Eleanor of Aquitaine. -
I've always been interested in Ancient Egypt, but unfortunately Child of the Morning by Pauline Gedge just didn't hold my attention quite as much as I was hoping for. I mean, it's not a bad read but I was expecting more of it.
-
La dama del Nilo (Pauline Gegde)
1977
Novela histórica sobre Hatshepsut y su lucha por el poder en el Antiguo Egipto. Importante tener claro que no se trata de una biografía y que muchos de los conocimientos que se tienen sobre el personaje principal se descubrieron en fecha posterior a la publicación de la novela.
Primera mitad de la novela muy ágil y adictiva, pero la segunda mitad un poco más pesada, la autora trata de crear un ambiente de intriga e incertidumbre que se vuelve repetitivo y deprimente. No obstante, recomendada para los amantes de la novela histórica.
Como punto a favor, me hizo recordar mi viaje a Egipto, los paseos entre las ruinas de los templos, la imagen impactante de las pirámides y el crucero por el Nilo. -
This is a historical fiction story about Hatshepsut, a pharaoh and one of the first known powerful woman leaders in the world.
I liked that the story didn't use huge info dumps, but instead just let the world building of ancient royal Egypt happen as the plot rolled out, filled with details as they came up organically in the story. -
Estoy completamente sin palabras.
1. Trama
– Cuando descargué este libro por primera vez, me sentía intrigada por el título y por la trama del mismo. Desde que tengo memoria, la historia del Antiguo Egipto fue algo a lo que siempre me sentí profunda y estrechamente cercana y atraída, pero el haber encontrado un libro de esta índole, además escrito por una mujer de la que, sin saber con exactitud por qué motivo, jamás había oído hablar y qué, aún así, tiene una narración exquisita, impecable y supo mejor que cualquier otra persona, como manejar y torcer la historia a su gusto, hizo de esta una experiencia increíble. Al comienzo de la historia nos encontramos con la pequeña Hatshepsut y su hermana mayor, Neferu, quiénes nos muestran abiertamente las diferencias en cuanto a personalidad, sueños y ambiciones entre sí; por un lado, nos encontramos con Neferu, quien al ser la hija mayor se vió obligada a llevar a cabo todos y cada uno de los deberes propios y correspondientes de la Hija Principal del Faraón, siendo esta quién, una vez llegado a la mayoría de edad Tutmés, heredero legítimo al trono del Alto y Bajo Egipto, contraria matrimonio con su hermano y se convertiría en Gran Consorte Real así como en Reina del país.
Sin embargo, Neferu no dudó en hablarle sobre sus más profundas preocupaciones a su hermana menor, Hatshepsut, quién si bien no comprendía con exactitud aquellas pesadillas que le sacaban el sueño a esta, le tenía un profundo amor y respeto a sus palabras; cuando Neferu muere, es cuando comienza la historia de Hatshepsut y el resto de esta, no es más que pasión, ambición, un juego de poder, amor y el tener que darle prioridad a insignificancias ante que a los verdaderos deseos del corazón.
2. Personajes
– Tutmés I: desde el primer instante en que leí a este personaje, quedé totalmente prendada de su desarrollo así como de su estrecha relación con Hatshepsut. Amaba a su hija y a su Reina, más que a cualquier otra cosa en el mundo y a pesar de que puede resultar chocante ver la clara preferencia de un padre hacía uno de sus vástagos por entre todos los demás, saber que hizo todo lo que estuvo en su poder para que ella no dejara de ser quién siempre fue y estaba destinada a ser, es simplemente digno de mención.
– Tutmés II: fue un personaje que llegó a desconcertarme en contadas ocasiones, sin embargo, algo que tiene que destacarse sobre él, es que siempre dejó en claro que nunca deseó convertirse en Faraón así como tampoco deseó dedicarse a algo más de lo que sabía que podía hacer, dar y querer. Fue desesperante, fue soberbio, fue desagradable, fue indescriptible, pero fue cariñoso hacía Hatshepsut a pesar de sus enormes diferencias, a pesar de que siempre se mostró receloso para con ella, la amó profundamente y a su manera.
– Hatshepsut: hacía muchísimo tiempo que no tenía el enorme gusto y privilegio de leer a un personaje femenino tan magnánimo, tan feroz, tan arrasador y avallasante como ella. Desde su más tierna edad nos mostró a una niña implacable, que sabía como, cuando y donde quería lo que quería, que era capaz de conseguir absolutamente todo si así se lo propusiera, una niña que sabía que estaba destinada a algo mucho más grande que ser solo Reina de Egipto, solo Gran Consorte Real, sabía que estaba destinada a ser Faraón, el Dios en Tierra. Hay muchas cosas más qué podría decir sobre ella, pero refiero que el futuro lector forme su propia opinión.
– Neferu: se nos mostró a una jovencita de quince años inconforme con la vida plagada de privilegios y lujos de la que había sido legítima dueña desde el momento en que nació. Taciturna, observadora, docil, tierna en personalidad y corazón, siempre quiso vivir una vida a su manera, dónde pudiera ser solo Neferu, no quién portaba una corona y una gran responsabilidad a sus espaldas. Neferu junto con Hatshepsut mostró una paralelidad increíble, una diferencia armónica que hizo que una se encariñara profundamente con ambas.
3. Opinión personal
– Este libro superó todas y cada una de mis expectativas, que cabe aclarar, de por si ya eran muy altas. Pauline Gedge es una escritora sin igual, atrevida, suelta, segura de si misma que deja entrever gran parte de su persona en todo aquello que escribe, misma razón por la cual debería dársele muchísimo más reconocimiento del que realmente recibe y tiene. Sublime. Atrapante. Intrigante. Empoderante y mantiene al lector con el corazón en la mano hasta el último momento. -
An interesting look at the culture and politics of ancient Egypt, a setting I'm none too familiar with. This is historical fiction, an imgagining of how the only female Pharaoh in history might have come to power, and how it may have ended with any markers of her passing obliterated by those who would rather not have remembered it.
Gedge's characters are compelling, multifaceted characters, and much as the reader might like a surprise that turns the tables, they are subject to the forces of tradition and the realities of their situation. Who knows what really happened, but what's here is powerful. I particularly liked the relationship between Hatshepsut and Senmut, especially without it becoming a romance novel. -
I will be honest. I cried at the end. Yes! I did! That's how much I loved this book. I loved how the main character was strong and did not back down from the challenge society set upon her, how she interacted in the politics . I really loved the interaction the main character had with others . Even though it is a bit lengthly, and I did feel as though I got bored in some parts but that was probably because I read it in like 3 sittings, it gives great detail of live back in the Egyptian days and is great for those like me who love historical fiction.
It should be noted, this is a historical fiction and not meant to follow the exact details of what did happen in history. (I did like how it mostly followed actual facts) -
2,5 ⭐️ le doy en esta relectura.
Lo leí hace muchos años y recuerdo que me gustó más. Creo que es un libro que no ha envejecido muy bien. Además de que hoy en día tenemos más datos y eso hace que algunas cosillas hayan quedado desfasadas.
Estamos ante una novela sobre la vida de Hatshepsut, la primera mujer faraón del Antiguo Egipto. Se centra principalmente en ella, en su personalidad fuerte para llevar el gobierno combinada con su feminidad en su amor con Senmut.
A medida que el libro avanzaba iba decayendo mi interés, hasta el punto de acabar de leerlo en diagonal y saltando algunos párrafos. Tampoco tiene una ambientación muy trabajada como otras novelas históricas sobre Egipto. Creo que si te interesa la figura histórica de Hat o simplemente el Antiguo Egipto hay opciones mejores.
Aprueba justito porque da visibilidad a una mujer importante de la historia y porque, al fin y al cabo, yo soy una enamorada de Egipto. -
Me ha encantado conocer y saber más de la vida de esta mujer que sabía que podía llevar a su país más lejos pero que por otras cuestiones no podía hacerlo, sí, precisamente, haber nacido mujer. Y veremos cómo soluciona ese detalle. Salvo porque se hacía lento en ciertas partes me ha gustado bastante.
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I had heard many good things about Pauline Gedge and I was looking forward to reading Child of the Morning, but unfortunately it was a huge let down for me.
The problem is, while I really like historical fictions, I don't like long or too frequent descriptive parts, and I think Child of the Morning had too much of those for my tastes. Sometimes I felt like the story wasn't really going anywhere, and I skipped some parts because I was just so bored. There were a lot of informations on traditions, rituals and places of the time, and I'm sure many readers would be fascinated by them. Unfortunately, they were a little too much for me.
The characters also didn't impress me much. I quite liked Hatshepsut and Senmut, and I also liked the relationship between them, but they weren't particularly memorable and I didn't root for them as I probably should have.
Personally, I much preferred
Stephanie Thornton's take, but I realize my problems with Gedge's were mostly due to personal preference. I plan on trying more books by her in the future, hopefully with better luck. -
Terminado. Una auténtica maravilla. Este libro va directo a mi top 10 de este año. La vida de Hatshepsut es fascinante. La historia lo tiene todo y la autora cada vez que me gusta más. Sin duda seguiré apuntando libros suyos porque escribe de forma muy amena y a la vez no falta nada. La mujer que llegó a ser faraón, se enamoró, luchó, gobernó, se vio metida en intrigas, amistad, lealtad y traiciones... Apasionante. Totalmente recomendado!
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I picked this book up when I was in Montreal and read it during my stay there. I enjoyed it so much that before I left, I went back and picked up everything else by her. A very good book.
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Loved this book. How did I miss this author? I'll be back tracking to read most of what she has to offer. Carefully researched historical fiction is hard to come by. I appreciate it greatly.
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Me gustó mucho como empezó, pero a partir de la mitad del libro comenzó a ser aburrido. De todas formas, la historia es bastante interesante, no la conocía y me sorprendió en varias ocasiones.
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Hatshepsut was one of the most powerful women in the history of ancient Egypt, who managed with her abilities to reach the highest office. The author undertakes to bring her to life in front of us, in her own special way that focuses on emotion. Of course, the practical part is not absent from this book, with her organizational skills and her leadership charisma that won the trust of the administrative elite of Egypt, but the main thing for the author is the way Hatshepsut emotionally experienced this course. In a society that restricted women to domestic duties, she wanted more, she wanted to dress as she wanted, wield a bow and arrow, learn about the world, to expect to have a role in ruling her beloved Egypt, but the male establishment did not want to hear about all this. She feels this pressure, gets frustrated and irritated but does not despair and does her best to beat the men at their own game and achieve her goal. Even when she succeeds, however, the dubt remains as there are many who ask her to return to her traditional role. Things are good up to that point but I feel that after a certain point the book loses its momentum, with the author describing in a somewhat simplistic way the political games and the struggle for power. What remains constant is this wonderful writing style, full of emotion and beauty, which flows effortlessly like the waters of the Nile River and offers us this delightful journey.
Η Χατσεψούτ ήταν μία από τις ισχυρότερες γυναίκες στην ιστορία της αρχαίας Αιγύπτου, η οποία κατάφερε με τις ικανότητες της να φτάσει μέχρι το ανώτατο αξίωμα. Η συγγραφέας αναλαμβάνει να την ζωντανέψει μπροστά μας, με το δικό της ξεχωριστό τρόπο που επικεντρώνεται στο συναίσθημα. Φυσικά δεν απουσιάζει από αυτό το βιβλίο το πρακτικό μέρος, με τις οργανωτικές της ικανότητες και το ηγετικό της χάρισμα που κέρδισαν την εμπιστοσύνη της διοικητικής ελιτ της Αιγύπτου, το βασικό όμως για τη συγγραφέα είναι ο τρόπος που βίωσε συναισθηματικά η Χατσεψούτ αυτήν την πορεία. Σε μία κοινωνία που περιόριζε τις γυναίκες στα οικιακά τους καθήκοντα, εκείνη ήθελε περισσότερα, ήθελε να ντύνεται όπως εκείνη ήθελε, να χειρίζεται το τόξο και το βέλος, να μαθαίνει πράγματα για τον κόσμο, να περιμένει ότι θα έχει ρόλο στη διακυβέρνηση της αγαπημένης της Αιγύπτου, το ανδρικό κατεστημένο όμως δεν ήθελε να ακούσει για όλα αυτά. Εκείνη νιώθει αυτή την πίεση, απογοητεύεται και εκνευρίζεται αλλά δεν απελπίζεται και βάζει τα δυνατά της για να νικήσει τους άντρες στο δικό τους παιχνίδι και να πετύχει το στόχο της. Ακόμα και όταν τα καταφέρει όμως η αμφισβήτηση παραμένει καθώς πολλοί είναι αυτοί που της ζητάνε να επιστρέψει στον παραδοσιακό ρόλο της. Τα πράγματα είναι καλά μέχρι εκεί αλλά νιώθω ότι μετά από κάποιο σημείο το βιβλίο χάνει τη δυναμική που, με τη συγγραφέα να περιγράφει με κάπως απλοϊκό τρόπο τα πολιτικά παιχνίδια και τη μάχη για την εξουσία. Αυτό που μένει σταθερό είναι αυτός ο υπέροχος τρόπος γραφής, ο γεμάτος συναίσθημα και ομορφιά, που κυλάει αβίαστα όπως τα νερά του ποταμού Νείλου και μας προσφέρει αυτό το ευχάριστο ταξίδι. -
3.25 stars
In ancient Egypt (I looked it up, and Hatshepsut lived around 1500 BC). Hatshupset ruled Egypt as a female Pharaoh (normally only a title/position for men). This is a fictionalized account of her life.
I seem to be in a minority for my opinion on this but… The first half was just not interesting to me. It was ok, but nothing more. It picked up somewhat in the second half, after her father died, with the power struggle between her and her half-brother. So, most of the second half, I would rate good, but there were still parts that lost my interest. It seemed, at times, like what happened was drawn out longer than it needed to be. I would have liked to know how much of the story was true, but there was no author’s note, unfortunately. All that being said, what an incredible woman, especially for the time. Decided on a rating between “ok” and “good”. -
What a strange, intensely religious and opulent society that Hatshepsut lived in 35 centuries ago.
Prepare to be immersed in her remarkable life.
This novel brings Ancient Egypt and its complex society to life.
