First published in the United States in 1949 and widely condemned as obscene, The Egyptian outsold every other novel published that year, and remains a classic; readers worldwide have testified to its life-changing power. It is a full-bodied re-creation of a largely forgotten era in the world’s history: the Egypt of the 14th century B.C.E., when pharaohs and gods contended with the near-collapse of history’s greatest empire. This epic tale encompasses the whole of the then-known world, from Babylon to Crete, from Thebes to Jerusalem, while centering around one unforgettable figure: Sinuhe, a man of mysterious origins who rises from the depths of degradation to become personal physician to Pharaoh Akhnaton.
”Waltari successfully combine[s] research, imagination, and the cunning of a good tale-teller in bringing the generation of Akhnaton to life.” – New York Herald Tribune
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Mika Waltari
When it comes to international repute, Mika Waltari's (1908–1979) sole competitor in Finnish literature is the national epic, Kalevala. In Finland too the extensive and variegated production of this master of narrative has maintained its reputation and reading audience nearly half a century after the end of the author's most powerful creative phase. Waltari's books continue to be read by young and old alike, sparking interest among ordinary readers and literary scholars.
Waltari's genius emerged early on. Even as a twenty-year-old he was a prominent figure in the Finnish literary movement known as Tulenkantajat (the Flame-bearers), which sought to throw open the windows of Finnish literature to Europe. His first
