The King and Her Children
By A. R. Duckworth
Published by Mirador Publishing
Available as Kindle and Hardback copies from Amazon
Books on the ancient Egyptian dynasties are rare these days. According to Google sources, the titles listed among the latest publications for this period of history, apart from the famous Egyptologist Harold Carter’s book (early editions currently fetch £175) on the discovery of Tuthankamun’s tomb in the 1930s, is a clutch of romantic and detective fiction, an Agatha Christie whodunnit, and a series of Wilbur Smith’s adventure stories.
The King and Her Children by A. R. Duckworth is certainly a remarkable addition to Ancient Egyptian literature. Neither completely factual nor wholly fictional, it is hard to place under the label of an ‘historical’ account. Yet it encompasses all three genres – history, fact and fiction – making it a combination of biography, history and adventure woven together.
The book is based on the lives of Hatchepsut and Senenmut, both characters known in Egyptian history. Hatchepsut, a Pharoah’s daughter and later to become a female Pharoah of Egypt, finds an abandoned baby boy. At the time, she is only 13 years old and with the help of her maid, she adopts the child initially to amuse herself. She names him Senenmut. As he grows, with Hatchepsut’s guidance, he is given the education and training of a Prince of Egypt. In fact, he appears to be more manly, courageous and suitable for the role of a future ruler of Egypt than the actual heir to the dynasty. Hatchepsut is tempted to anticipate such a fate for Senenmut by considering a marriage between him and one of her two daughters. But such a future has to be abandoned when Senenmut discovers his true identity. If you have not guessed the identity of Senenmut by the close of the book, it is revealed in the final chapter.
This is a well researched novel with explanatory notes and an Appendix which lists documented historical facts and the titles of books used in research. The author is currently completing the second of five volumes she is planning.
Katharine
