The teacher of Cheops Paperback – May 12, 2012

This review contains no spoilers) This novel is so well researched and yet it really is a novel. It is a page turner with love, philosophy. historical fact, and mystery all piled in. It is well edited and so good that I will read it again in the future. Very few books fall into that cataogry for me. Excellent book!! Don't pass it by. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Sedum was born nine months after his slave mother, Natia, was raped by another slave. Natia ends up nursing both her baby Sedum and the son of an Egyption nobleman, Jeti, who had bought her. Jeti's son, Jian, was born on the same night as Sedum. Jeti's wife died in childbirth.Jian is tutored to read and write and do math as he grows up. Inadvertently, Sedum learns literacy too since he sits nearby in the same room ready to serve Jian.Sedum promised Natia that he would free himself if he ever saw a way to do so. Sedum gets his opportunity after he survives a Nubian attack on the city of Aswan which results in a massacre of Jeti's entire family and all of the other servants. Ramosi, a senior Egyptian priest, comes too late with an army to rescue Jeti and his household, but he takes Sedum with him back to Men-Nefer, where the Pharouh Huni lives. Sedum lies to Ramosi, claiming he was Jeti's accountant, which he proves by demonstrating his literacy and the education he accidentally picked up by being Jian's slave.As the years pass, Sedum slowly gains prestige, wealth, a house and a wife, while adeptly surviving the different Pharouhs who comprise the Egyptian era known as the Fourth Dynasty (2613 to 2494 BC), a golden age of the Old Kingdom, and one of the dynasties described as the Age of the Pyramids.This historical novel about a slave who becomes an accountant is incredibly lifeless. Frankly, I cannot understand why this book won any kind of award. The writing is leaden. The action is dampened and lackluster, which is amazing considering all of the multiple scenes of murder, torture and palace intrigue which goes on in the plot. There are sex scenes here and there which are strikingly lively compared to the rest of the novel, quite perky, if I may say so myself. However, no, I did not like this book.

I am not a fan of historical fiction in general, but this kept my interest throughout. Except the sex scenes, which were a little cringey but not frequent enough to detract from the storytelling. It was an interesting tale.

Only picked it up because it was on Read the world list. Can't finish it. I don't know if it's the translation, but stylistically reads very juvenile. Don't waste your time. If you're doing the world reading list, skip this one.

Throughout you are treated to a game of move and counter move with sacrifices and then check mate. Thank you.

Una historia corta que te atrapa desde el principio. Una manera entretenida de entrar en la historia de egipto.

FIRST RATE BUT VERY COMPLICATED.A VAST WORK THAT NEEDS 100 per cent concentration.To edit it would loose its impact.Could well be made into two volumes.