Mika Toimi Waltari was a Finnish historical novelist, best known for his magnum opus The Egyptian. Waltari was born in Helsinki and lost his father, a Lutheran pastor, at the age of five. As a boy, he witnessed the Finnish Civil War in Helsinki. Later he enrolled in the University of Helsinki as a theology student, according to his mother's wishes, but soon abandoned theology in favour of philosophy, aesthetics and literature, graduating in 1929. While studying, he contributed to various magazines and wrote poetry and stories, getting his first book published in 1925. In 1927 he went to Paris where he wrote his first major novel Suuri illusioni ('The Grand Illusion'), a story of bohemian life. In terms of style, the novel is considered to be the Finnish equivalent to the works of the American writers of the Lost Generation. (In Waltari's historical novel The Adventurer, taking place in the 16th century, the hero is a Finn who goes to Paris during his twenties and lives there a rather bohemian life). Waltari also was, for a while, a member of the liberal literary movement Tulenkantajat, though his political and social views later turned conservative. He was married in 1931 and had a daughter, Satu, who also became a writer.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Waltari worked hectically as a journalist and critic, writing for a number of newspapers and magazines and travelling widely in Europe. He directed the magazine Suomen Kuvalehti. At the same time, he kept writing books in many genres, moving easily from one literary field to another. He had a very busy schedule and strict work ethic. It has been claimed that he also suffered from insomnia and depression, sometimes to the extent of needing hospital treatment. He participated, and often succeeded, in literary competitions to prove the quality of his work to critics. One of these competitions gave rise to one of his most popular characters, Inspector Palmu, a gruff detective of the Helsinki police department, who starred in three mystery novels, all of which were filmed (a fourth one was made without Waltari involved). Waltari also scripted the popular cartoon Kieku ja Kaiku and wrote Aiotko kirjailijaksi, a guidebook for aspiring writers that influenced many younger writers such as Kalle P盲盲talo. During the Winter War (1939鈥�1940) and the Continuation War (1941鈥�1944), Waltari worked in the government information center, now also placing his literary skills at the service of political propaganda. 1945 saw the publication of Waltari's first and most successful historical novel, The Egyptian. Its theme of the corruption of humanist values in a materialist world seemed curiously topical in the aftermath of World War II, and the book became an international bestseller, serving as the basis of the 1954 Hollywood movie of the same name. Waltari wrote seven more historical novels, placed in various ancient cultures, among which The Dark Angel, set during the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 is probably the best. In these novels, he gave powerful expression to his fundamental pessimism and also, in two novels set in the Roman Empire, to his Christian conviction. After the war, he also wrote several novellas, showing particular mastery in this genre. He became a member of the Finnish Academy in 1957 and received an honorary doctorate at the University of Turku in 1970.
Waltari was one of the most prolific Finnish writers. He wrote at least 29 novels, 15 novellas, 6 collections of stories or fairy-tales, 6 collections of poetry and 26 plays, as well as screenplays, radioplays, non-fiction, translations, and hundreds of reviews and articles. He is also the internationally best-known Finnish writer, and his works have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Sinuhe Egyptil盲inen = The Egyptian (Sinuhe Egyptil盲inen, 1-2), Mika Waltari
The Egyptian is a historical novel by Mika Waltari. It was first published in Finnish in 1945, and in an abridged English translation by Naomi Walford in 1949, apparently from Swedish rather than Finnish. So far, it is the only Finnish novel to be adapted into a Hollywood film, which it was, in 1954.
The Egyptian is the first and the most successful, of Waltari's great historical novels. It is set in Ancient Egypt, mostly during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten of the 18th Dynasty, whom some have claimed to be the first monotheistic ruler in the world.
The Egyptian is the finest novel about ancient Egypt ever written in that most interesting civilization, which unfolds before our eyes. You feel the scorching heat, see the tranquil river, touch the magnificent temples, smell thick odors as the smoke climbs above the mud houses, taste the strange foods, and hear the loud noises in the streets...Set in the 14th century B.C. as a poor physician Sinuhe plows his trade in the unfashionable section of Thebes the capital of the nation. During the tumultuous reign of Pharaoh Akhnaton and lovely Queen Nefertiti, Sinuhe the son of a doctor, himself one, not a surprising development however. What is unusual though is he thinks too much which causes great troubles... his nature never ceases to ask why things are not better. But a healthy thought it isn't for the times, slaves treated badly, people starving, the sick not being treating without paying. Nevertheless his own slave Kaptah annoys him and he threatens with the whip, still is wiser than his master. Sinuhe a good man does evil things when infatuated by a beautiful woman Nefernefernefer but greedy , he betrays his loving old parents Senmut and Kipa who adopted him , giving all yet receiving nothing in return. Suffering as a consequence he tries to make restitution...can he? Later travels to exotic countries learning not enough. A childhood friend will become a power in both kingdoms on the Nile ...Horemheb the general. Follows him in wars to Syria, against the relentless Hittites, healing the wounded too many for comfort, viewing the butchering the numerous bloody tears on the flesh which becomes almost normal, not. If you want to inhale an ancient culture this will suffice. A writer almost forgotten today still this was a big bestseller way back in the 1940's , Mika Waltari talented though obscure, an abridged version yet always very entertaining , such an intelligent narrative , an invariably engrossing, terrific author has the most famous book from Finland ever and deserves it.
"Yo, Sinuh茅, hijo de Senmut y de su esposa Kipa, he escrito este libro. No para cantar las alabanzas de los dioses del pa铆s de Kemi, porque estoy cansado de los dioses. No para alabar a los faraones, porque estoy cansado de sus actos. Escribo para m铆 solo. No para halagar a los dioses, no para halagar a los reyes, ni por miedo del porvenir ni por esperanza. Porque durante mi vida he sufrido tantas pruebas y p茅rdidas que el vano temor no puede atormentarme y cansado estoy de la esperanza en la inmortalidad como lo estoy de los dioses y de los reyes. Es, pues, para m铆 solo para quien escribo, y sobre este punto creo diferenciarme de todos los escritores pasados o futuros"
En el ocaso de su vida, el protagonista confiesa: "porque yo, Sinuh茅, soy un hombre y, como tal, he vivido en todos los que han existido antes que yo y vivir茅 en todos los que existan despu茅s de m铆. Vivir茅 en las risas y en las l谩grimas de los hombres, en sus pesares y temores, en su bondad y en su maldad, en su debilidad y en su fuerza". Sinuh茅 el egipcio nos introduce en el fascinante y lejano mundo del Egipto de los faraones, los reinos sirios, la Babilonia decadente, la Creta anterior a la H茅lade, es decir, en todo el mundo conocido catorce siglos antes de Jesucristo.
Sobre este mapa, dibuja la l铆nea errante de sus viajes; y aunque la vida no sea generosa con 茅l, en su coraz贸n vive inextinguible la confianza en la bondad de los hombres. Una novela de las m谩s c茅lebres de nuestro siglo.
La sublime mirada a traves de Sinuh茅, la gente, los olores, las batallas y sus t茅cnicas, las armas, la arquitecturas de todas las ciudades, el poder mar铆timo, las pol铆ticas sobretodo comerciales y la vestimenta de la 茅poca se evocan a tu mente de una manera asombrosa en cada p谩gina.
Con absoluta precisi贸n se da vida al admirable arte de la medicina y la momificaci贸n, dando gran valor y especial peso al m谩s all谩. Soberbio.
No es ya documentaci贸n, es estar, ver, o铆r, oler y vivirlo t煤 mismo.
Sinuhe sin mencionaros nada de su pasado se termina convirtiendo en m茅dico real. Es testigo de la reforma religiosa del fara贸n Akenat贸n y la reina Nefertiti. Un per铆odo que ahora mismo estoy buscando algo que leer, si os interesa est谩 "El Fara贸n" de Pauline Gedge. Autora muy conocedora por sus libros sobre Egipto.
Los ideales de este fara贸n se oponen a muchas de las tradiciones religiosas y se rebelan contra 茅l pac铆ficamente. Un fara贸n y un momento que pas贸 a la historia. Aunque con el tiempo quiz谩s no tanto Akenat贸n, pero qui茅n no habr谩 o铆do el evocador y m谩gico nombre de Nefertiti.
Este libro es tan inmersivo como es refrescante a trav茅s de una pasi贸n por la naturaleza y la belleza. Shinuhe protagonizar谩 un viaje para obtener conocimientos y para conocerse a s铆 mismo. Es un pensador que busca respuestas sobre la naturaleza humana y vive una gran agitaci贸n interna. Principalmente debido a sus or铆genes. En este viaje pasar谩n y vivir谩 muchas cosas. Aprender谩 unas y sufrir谩 otras.
Una historia que atrapa y sumerje, con unos personajes profundamente dibujados, escritura expresiva y ratos emocionales. Bastante 谩gil y muy descriptivo, sin rozar lo excesivo. Una prosa perfecta para narrar su vida y sobretodo lo que la rodea.
Magistral en todos los aspectos a analizar del libro. Dar谩 rienda suelta a vuestra imaginaci贸n llenando vuestra mente de personajes hist贸ricos, lugares y momentos hist贸ricos, conocimientos y costumbres de la 茅poca. Sin duda alguna una de las grandes joyas que nos ha dado este excepcional g茅nero.
Debe leerse, si os gusta la historia, navegar por el Nilo, por Egipto y sus pir谩mides todo a traves de una trama que logra transmitir.
A Captivating Tale! If you enjoy reading about Egypt during the 14th century, you should find this a fascinating read. For the most part I found it quite captivating and was totally immersed in the story, especially the bond developing between the main character Sinuhe and his slave Kaptah. Their story alone is well worth the read. I did find some parts repetitive and lengthy which was to some extent disappointing. But overall it was extremely well written with several strong characters throughout the book.
"Porque mientras un hombre se glorifique a s铆 mismo y se considere mejor que los dem谩s, las cuerdas y los bastonazos, las lanzas y los cuervos continuar谩n persiguiendo a la humanidad".
Al fin he le铆do "Sinuh茅, el egipcio", un libro con estela de obra maestra; un hito inequ铆voco de la novela hist贸rica cl谩sica y un baluarte gran铆tico y atemporal del g茅nero. Uno de los de obligada lectura para el entusiasta de la tem谩tica, vaya. 驴Qu茅 nos cuenta? Ocaso de la XVIII dinast铆a, la vor谩gine religiosa y social anudada a la Revoluci贸n de Amarna, los numerosos enfrentamientos b茅licos que sacudieron Egipto en esta 茅poca y las intrigas palaciegas, traiciones y sucesiones en el trono que implicaron a personajes hist贸ricos tan famosos como Akenat贸n, Nefertiti o Tutankam贸n. Todo ello y m谩s se aglutina, se cita, en un libro infaltable.
No obstante, y siempre desde criterios puramente subjetivos, a m铆 el libro, francamente, se me ha quedado lejos de lo esperado. Las expectativas eran muy altas, demasiado. Ni m谩s ni menos que las de leer una obra magna. El estilo de "Mika Waltari", pese a sus innegables dotes literarias, me resulta fr铆o, distante, excesivamente descriptivo. El libro tiene tres partes claramente diferenciadas: la infancia, que sirve de introducci贸n; Sinuh茅 en el extranjero, sus viajes, su formaci贸n vital; y la vuelta, su regreso a Egipto. El inicio es muy bueno y el final tambi茅n, pero la parte intermedia, la viajera, se me hizo cuesta arriba.
En definitiva, un libro que catalogar铆a con 3,75 estrellas, con momentos sublimes, reflexiones humanistas, cr铆tico con la naturaleza humana y crudo en sus conclusiones, pero bastante irregular.
"No hay diferencia entre los hombres y todos nacemos desnudos. Y no se puede medir a los hombres por el color de su piel o el sonido de su lengua, ni por sus ropas o sus joyas, sino 煤nicamente por su coraz贸n. Por eso un hombre bueno es mejor que uno malo, y el derecho es mejor que la injusticia y esto es todo lo que s茅".
This must be my 5th go'round on this book, I re-read it every so often, because I really do consider it to be a classic. It was considered almost obscene in it's day, because of the subject matters that were delt with. But it is rather tame for today. I first read it and found it quite shocking many years ago, but I have a fascination with Egyptian history and I just could not put it down. I was made into a movie sometime in the 50's or 60's I belive and many things were glossed over but it still was pretty racey. The epic tale is filled with the grandure of ancient Egypt and the carnal life that was prevalent at the tome of the Pharoahs, so it really exposes some of the rawness of the worse of human nature, and obsession. But it also deals with intense love and forgiveness, in somecases undeserved. A very powerful look into the best and the ABSOLUTE worst behavior, and morals of a decaying society that once ruled the entire world!
Easily the most tiresome book I've read. The best book I didn't like, if that makes any sense at all. The story itself was thrilling at its best and I mean we love ancient Egypt as the setting. At times Waltari was really able to paint a picture with his words. Loved the theme of the characters falling in and out of fortune: that was the main thing that made me keep on reading. But MY GOD was it a task - I can't remember the last time I've had to put this much conscious effort into finishing a book. As in, I mean no disrespect to marathon runners but I think it's by far the bigger feat to make it to the end of this godforsaken novel.
At first I enjoyed Sinuhe's rambling and attentive narration, but by the second part it mostly just felt unnecessary and made me want to set the book on fire. All sentences were the same length and constructed in the same way so there was no rhythm to the text. Every now and then I actually had to resort to speed reading or skipping paragraphs but I'll defend myself by saying that had I not done it my brain might have rotted and I still need it for other things.
Also tedious was the racist language that was so frequent I was afraid my eyes would never return to their usual place from how much I was rolling them (yes it's a product of it's time yadda yadda but that's not an excuse to not judge it hard). There is not a single reason why ancient Egyptians would have used racist expressions of the modern era in 14th century BCE ?? With all the immense authority that being a history student gives me I just wanna say that that's anachronistic and literally so annoying.
And then. *deep inhale* I don't know when male authors learned that there are other ways to describe women than 'old and ugly' and 'young and hot', or alternatively by the look of their tits, but it was definitely after Waltari wrote Sinuhe. Apparently he couldn't write a convincing woman character if his life depended on it (let me summarise: 'Women are dangerous but like, so sexy ;)') If a woman character is introduced and you're worried that you won't know what their boobs look like, do not fret! You can be sure that a sentence like "her breasts are hanging like dry leather bags" or "her rosy breast was indeed very lush and well worth a look" soon follows. My personal fave was when a man is executed and his dying wish is that her wife expose her "blossoming breasts" one last time. So moving you could cry innit. I wish I had collected all the boob-related brain farts so that whenever I'm feeling down about not being eloquent enough in the great literary work that is my journal, I could look at them and realise I've got nothing to worry about. Again, product of it's time, but how the fuck am I supposed to take seriously a book that could be renamed '101 Creepy Ass Ways to Talk About Tits'?
I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't love it because in theory it looks right up my alley. Basically it was a contrary and just plain weird reading experience: the good parts were good enough to make me desperate to know what happens next but more often than not I just wanted every new page to be the last. Honestly, anyone who's made it to the end of this book is braver than the US marines and if it were any other book I wouldn't have bothered, but I'm a Finn and thus persevered and I guess I'm a better, more educated citizen with a more refined sense of our national achievements now that I've read one of our great classics. Idk man I'm just glad it's over.
Sinuh臈 egiptietis tai romanas, apimantis beveik visas gyvenimo sritis: papro膷ius, religij膮, dail臋, ekonomik膮, karo men膮 ir medicin膮. Didel臈s apimties, labai detaliai apra拧yta knyga. Bet vietomis ji man asmeni拧kai labai stipriai i拧t臋sta. Nes atrodo vietomis negali atsitraukti, o b奴na norisi tiesiog perversti lapus turb奴t tod臈l u啪trukau labai ilgai su 拧ia knyga. ;-) 3,5 猸�
Krokodils ir gudra zivs, vi艈拧 teiktu, ka 拧o gr膩matu noteikti ir v膿rts izlas墨t. Gr膩mata ir gan filozofiska, gan aizraujo拧a, gan smiekl墨ga, gan tra模iska - viss, kas piedien labai gr膩matai. No t膩m, ko glab膩 plaukt膩 un ceri p膩rlas墨t. Turkl膩t latvie拧u las墨t膩jiem ir paveicies, jo mums 鈥淪inuhe, 膿模iptietis鈥� ir tr膩p墨jies dubult膩 lielisks 鈥� lielisks ir gan rom膩ns, gan Maimas Gr墨nbergas 鈥� Preisas tulkojums. Tulkojuma d膿募 vien ir v膿rts 拧o st膩stu las墨t, 膩rk膩rt墨gi baud膩ma valoda.
A remarkable historical novel set in ancient Egypt mainly during the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaton, who tried to bring monotheistic worship of Aton to Egypt. His reign was marked by internal conflict and he and his descendants in the 18th dynasty were later denounced by Horemheb, and their names were erased in the Egyptian records. The worship of Aton is speculated to be a precursor of Judaism.
The book is in the form of autobiography of Sinuhe a physician who rises to become an advisor and friend of pharaohs and kings. His travels take him from Egypt to Syria, Babylon, Mitanni, Hattusa and Crete at the end of Minoan civilization. Albeit set in the 14th century Egypt, the travels of Sinuhe paint a timeless human story in all its foibles and follies. It reveals the brutal reality of human civilization where ultimately the strong oppress the weak and it is the poor who always suffer.
Akhenaton is portrayed as a utopian dreamer and visionary who is completely out of touch with the reality. All his best intentions lead to death and disaster. Sinuhe isn鈥檛 exactly a very likable character. He often comes off as cowardly, self-centred and arrogant, but also as one who tries to do good but only at the price of losing everything.
The novel is thoroughly researched and historically accurate for its time. There are some inaccuracies, like Tutankhamen was the son of Akhenaton and Rameses was not the son of Horemheb, but I鈥檓 guessing these weren鈥檛 known at the time the book was written.
This just misses five stars--because it took me a long time to warm up to the Sinuhe, the protagonist and narrator, and it's just a little bit too much of a downer. So no, I wouldn't call this a happy tale--but it is a rich epic and great historical fiction of Ancient Egypt under Akhenaton, its heretic pharaoh. Had I not known going in, I wouldn't have guessed this novel was written in 1945. Although that might explain some of its bleakness--I've read that when it was published, it resonated with people who had seen humanistic ideals collapse in the face of Stalin, Hitler, the Holocaust.
This is set in Ancient Egypt over 1,300 years before the birth of Christ. Akhenation is thought to be the first monotheist, so he holds some fascination for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Before this I had read Naguib Mahfouz's Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth. Mahfouz is a Muslim and I thought I could detect that coloring his novel. Waltari, for his part, was supposedly a believing Christian. His novel doesn't come across as Christian fiction though--at all. As I said, it doesn't come across as written in 1945. I didn't feel as if there was a overlay of a worldview alien to the time in which this was set--and for me that's the mark of great historical fiction, that you feel transported to another place and time, rather than reading modern people in historical costumes. In fact, I think Waltari did almost too well--as I said it took a long time for me to warm to Sinuhe. Especially in his youth he was arrogant, misogynist, and too-stupid-to-live. But there are positive, strong female characters in this novel--they're just not very apparent early on.
And Waltari set this not just in Egypt--this is like a grand tour of the Bronze Age world--Egypt, Canaan, Syria, Babylon, Hatti, Crete. There are allusions to both Biblical stories and Greek myth. Sinuhe was found as a baby floating in the river on a reed boat and Minea, one of the positive female characters, is a bull-leaper from Minoan Crete--and there is a minotaur and a labyrinth. According to what I gather from online, Waltari did extensive research for this book and garnered praise even from Egyptologists. So truly, this novel is a great ride I'd recommend to anyone looking for great historical fiction--even if I found it a rather melancholy read.
Novela hist贸rica narrada donde Sinuh茅, su protagonista, hace repaso de su vida y nos sumerge con una fascinante ambientaci贸n en la vida del Egipto antiguo.
Personajes cre铆bles y bien caracterizados en una historia de ritmo s贸lido y pausado, narrada con una prosa rica y descriptiva y un refinado sentido del humor.
by , translated by Naomi Walford, was an international best seller in the 1940s. The novel immerses the reader in the life and times of ancient Egypt during the reign of the rebel pharaoh Akhnaton. The story unfolds in the first-person narrative of Sinuhe, the personal physician to Akhnaton.
Born under mysterious circumstances, Sinuhe is adopted by a couple who shower him with love and support. His success as a student enables him to work his way up through the many layers of hierarchy until he becomes the personal physician to the pharaoh. As an intimate of the court and one who is privy to its secrets, he describes in vivid detail the palace intrigues, sexual liaisons, marriages, murders, and shifting political alliances.
At times, self-absorbed, arrogant, and cowardly; at times, heroic and generous, Sinuhe emerges as a conflicted soul, gravitating from one extreme to the other. He shows compassion by healing the poor and needy without demanding compensation. But when embroiled in palace politics, he commits murder and inflicts brutal revenge on his enemies. On the one hand, he sympathizes with and tries to propagate Akhnaton鈥檚 vision of the equality of all human beings under the one god; on the other hand, he is convinced of Akhnaton鈥檚 madness and responsibility for the breakdown of law and order in Egypt and its surrounding empire.
Waltari demonstrates his consummate skill as a writer by creating a compelling texture of ancient Egypt. His research is impressive. Egypt comes alive with its hustle and bustle, pungent odors, opulence, intense heat, noisy streets, graphic violence, wars, exploitation, territorial skirmishes, extremes in poverty and wealth, systemic brutality and oppression, rituals and mythology. Waltari鈥檚 re-creation of Crete with its bull dancers and of Babylon in all its ancient splendor are particularly memorable. Sinuhe鈥檚 diction sounds old world appropriate and sustains reader interest with its intricate, vivid details. There are many noteworthy phrases peppering the novel, one of which is the amusing reference to a birth in poverty as a birth 鈥渨ith dung between your toes.鈥�
The characters are well-developed and believable. Their behavior is self-serving; their morality questionable. Some forge friendships with Sinuhe. Perhaps the most delightful relationship is that of Sinuhe with his one-eyed, self-aggrandizing slave, Kaptah. Kaptah鈥檚 droll comments, antics, and down-to-earth perspective ingratiate their way into Sinuhe鈥檚 heart until Sinuhe grants him his freedom and trusts him to manage his worldly assets. Kaptah proves to be loyal to his former master as well as an astute business man. He freely confesses to stealing from Sinuhe only what amounts to a reasonable amount. Their relationship endures, blossoming into a charming friendship of opposites.
The novel is rich in historical details, presenting a panoramic but bleak view of ancient Egypt during the time of Pharaoh Akhnaton. It brings to life a turbulent time in Egypt鈥檚 history, a time plagued with political intrigue and internal conflicts because a pharaoh defied an institutionalized belief system with its powerful infrastructure by insisting on the monotheistic worship of Aton as the one god.
Highly recommended as a well-researched, immersive, and vibrant work of historical fiction.
鈥淢y name was once inscribed in Pharaoh鈥檚 golden book, and I dwelt at his right hand. My words outweighed those of the mighty in the land of Kem; nobles sent me gifts, and chains of gold were hung about my neck. I possessed all that a man can desire, but like a man I desired more鈥攖herefore, I am what I am. I was driven from Thebes in the sixth year of the reign of Pharaoh Horemheb, to be beaten to death like a cur if I returned鈥攖o be crushed like a frog between the stones if I took one step beyond the area prescribed for my dwelling place. This is by command of the King, of Pharaoh who was once my friend.鈥�
First published in Finland in 1945, this novel is a sweeping classic historical saga that tells the story of Sinuhe, an Egyptian physician. He is writing his life story from an older age while living in exile. He starts at the beginning of his life, as an orphan adopted by a doctor and his wife. He tells of his family, adventures, journeys, wars, friendships, and relationships. He ends with how he became exiled. His story features real Egyptian leaders, such as Amenhotep III, Nefertiti, Horemheb, Eie, and Tutankhamun.
In addition to following Sinhue鈥檚 journeys, it depicts the rise and fall of Pharoah Akhnaton (Amenhotep IV). Akhnaton changed the primary Egyptian religion from Amon and the traditional gods, to Aton, the sun god and only god. This change to monotheism created much disruption, upheaval, and violence. It is ironic since Aton was supposed to be a god of peace. It reflects the ways in which wars tend to surface despite peaceful intentions.
It is an engaging story with deeply drawn characters, expressive writing, and emotional ups and downs. The first half reminds me a bit of The Odyssey, where the main character travels by ship and surmounts many obstacles, though The Egyptian is fully set in the real world and does not employ actions by mythological creatures. A bit of humor is introduced through the antics of Sinuhe鈥檚 slave, Kaptah. Over the course of the story, they form a close friendship.
Through Sinuhe鈥檚 adventures, the reader feels immersed in the customs, culture, religious beliefs, medical practices, politics, and society of ancient Egypt and the surrounding regions. He encounters people from Syria, Mitanni, Hattusa, Babylon, and Crete. It would have been even more enjoyable if it were shorter (the war scenes become a bit much after a while) but is definitely worth reading and highly recommended. This book was made into a Hollywood film in 1954.