Die Herrin vom Nil. Roman einer Pharaonin. (1977 original; edició 1997)

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Im 15. vorchristlichen Jahrhundert wird im alten Ägypten Prinzessin Hatschepsut geboren. In einer Zeit, in der Frauen von der Ausübung der Regierungsmacht ausgeschlossen sind, entwickelt sie sich zu einer mächtigen Herrscherin und krönt sich letztlich selbst zum Pharao. Doch ihre Herrschaft wird von Traditionalisten und dem legitimen Thronfolger Thutmosis bedroht.

Pauline Gedge widmet ihren ersten großen Ägypten-Roman einer der schillerndsten Figuren des alten Ägypten, der legendenumrankten Herrscherin Hatschepsut. Mit viel künstlerischer Freiheit und Fantasie schildert sie deren Vita und erschafft so ein buntes Sittenbild des höfischen Lebens im alten Ägypten.

Gedges historischer Roman weist aber auch große Schwächen auf: Oftmals wirkt Gedges Erzählung wie eine Kleine-Mädchen-Fantasie vom Prinzessinnen-Dasein. Im Gros eindimensionale Figuren tapsen durch eine durchschaubare Story, die allzu oft den Pfad der historischen Wahrheit verlässt. Hinzu kommt die Verwendung anachronistischer Begriffe. Wenngleich das Werk sohin keine große Literatur ist, unterhält es dennoch gut und gelingt es der Autorin bei allen Mängeln, den Leser ins alte Ägypten zu versetzen. Positiv erwähnenswert sind auch einige Schlüsselszenen im Leben der Hatschepsut, welche die Autorin mit viel Gefühl einzufangen im Stande war. ( )

If you love ancient history, especially the wonderful Egyptians, then this book is just what you need. What it lacks in characterization it makes up for in sheer fun. A fast read, and though it can hardly be faithful to history, Hatshepsut is just as one might imagine her to be: lovely as the dawn yet cold as the night, drawing you into herself yet keeping everyone at a distance. I feel so much more could have been done with her character, as her relationship with Senmut left much wanting, but the book was already long enough since it covered her entire lifetime. The story did get maddening at times and required more than normal suspension of disbelief, but it was absolutely fun, the detail was exquisite, the battle scenes well drawn, and the characters were full of life. Gedge is a wonderful writer. This is my first book of hers, but I will definitely be reading more! ( )

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”. ( )

Meticulously researched and extraordinarily well written. I love all her books. ( )