A groundbreaking new translation of the only historical novel
by noted Polish writer Bolesaw Prus.
" . . . unique in world literature of the nineteenth century"--Czesaw
Miosz
Imbued with poetry, leavened with humor, and
graced with moments of transcendent beauty, Pharaoh offers a compelling
picture of life at every level of ancient Egyptian society. As the story unfolds, Egypt is experiencing
internal stresses and external threats that will culminate in the fall of its
Twentieth Dynasty and New Kingdom. The young Pharaoh Ramses learns that
challenging power leaves him vulnerable to seduction, defamation, intimidation
and even assassination. The ultimate lesson learned by Ramses is the power of
knowledge.
Prus is
a distinctive voice in world literature and was Joseph Conrad’s favorite Polish
writer. This new edition of Christopher Kasparek’s translation of Pharaoh vividly
brings this extraordinary novel to life. It includes a detailed foreword and annotations,
based on extensive research and textual refinements, that will enhance the
reader’s appreciation not only for ancient Egypt, but also for Prus’
composition process.
Pharaoh has been translated into
twenty-three languages and was adapted as a 1966 Polish feature film.