Pharaoh

A groundbreaking new translation of the only historical novel

by noted Polish writer Boleslaw Prus.

" . . . unique in world literature of the nineteenth century"--Czeslaw

Milosz



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.