Ramses - La dama de Abu Simbel(Ramsès #4)
by Christian Jacq
this series is interesting in many ways. they are not books i find very engrossing but they lead me to reflect on
various matters.
one is culinary. often when i read i find i start to cook and eat in ways mentioned in the book. i particularly liked
the honeyed spiced figs i made as my ramses tribute.
the author is described as a foremost egyptologist. he may well be- he is certainly a great lover of ancient egypt.
these novels seem to tell of an ideal society, where all people are valued, justice is sought, and truth and virtue are
rewarded. i am not sure this glamorised version is real.
one story thread i found very interesting was that of moses and the exodus of the hebrews. i know the old
testament story well and it is interesting to read a different perspective. and i am not entirely convinced. i can
accept the naturalistic explanation for the plagues. an understanding of egypt could well have assisted moses.
what lacks conviction within the context of the novel is ramses refusal to allow the hebrews to go. he speaks of
them as totally free to as they choose. but he suggests a concern about their safety should they leave egypt. his
concern is so strong he denies them their freedom.
another weak point, is the way the egytptians react to moses faith. they polytheists with an elaborated religious
life. i find it hard to believe in the cool rational manner they are said to show to moses. i have seen too much of
the clash of faiths to believe in jacq's presentation.
whay intersts me, is just what jacq's motives are for the style of the world he has created. does he really believe
ancient egypt was like this, or is he deliberately creating an idealised world. the books strike me as suited to
teenagers, who often enjoy reading about fantastic societies that help them develop their own ideas of what they
want for their world. it may be this is jacq's purpose.
ancient egypt was like this, or is he deliberately creating an idealised world. the books strike me as suited to
teenagers, who often enjoy reading about fantastic societies that help them develop their own ideas of what they
want for their world. it may be this is jacq's purpose.
in any event, these books are ones i would recommend for teenage readers. they are not very convincing as
history, but are fun as a story.|O autor praticamente usa esse livro para amarrar os eventos resultantes do conflito
entre egípsios e hititas, cujo clímax ocorrera no livro 3, A Batalha de Kadesh. O acerto de paz entre os países após
a guerra levaria décadas para se consolidar, através de várias ações diplomáticas e a lenta morte de um imperador
Hitita.
(view spoiler)[Boa parte do livro é gasta narrando tais desdobramentos e com Ramsés viajando e desfilando pelo
Egito construindo templos. A quebra de paradígma transformando o conhecido Moises bíblico num tipo de
lunático parece forçada. A incrível idealizaão da perfeição de Ramsés e Nefertari chega a soar repetitiva a esta
altura, a caracterização dos outros personagens também pouco evolui. Não há grandes mudanças- o velho mago
mal continua sendo mal, Iset a bela continua sendo bela, poucas relações evoluem para algum lugar. Até a morte
da Grande esposa real soa como um alívio ao leitor, pois a personagem tem poucos conflitos e pouco
desenvolvimento. O drama da doença do filho real, é explorado de um ponto de vista distante, o autor não
consegue transformar os divinos Ramsés e Nefertari em personagens humanos e reais. (hide spoiler)]
Na minha visão, ficaria mais interessante narrar os desdobramentos da batalha de Kadesh, no próprio livro que
trata sobre esse evento. O fato de escrever outro livro somente para fechar o anterior e contar com tramas
secundárias, sem força suficiente para carregar a história por contaprópria, acaba tornando a leitura enfadonha.
Há alguns momentos brilhantes, mas não o suficiente para me estimular a ler volume seguinte. 2,5 estrelas. |This is
getting boring....if it weren't for the fact that there were only one left in the series, I would thorw in the towel.
Ramses's story could have been told in one book. A longer book...but one. Nice to hear about the author's
interpretation, but how many times to we have to hear that Nefertari was the most beautiful woman in the world,
but not as pretty as Iset...and even though Iset was in love with Ramses she knew she could not be his royal
wife......etc. Blah blah.|This one gets a bonus star for the whole section on the plagues of Egypt. Way back when I
attended a C of E primary school. In the five years I was there, I think we covered most of the Bible (in a format
suitable for small children, of course). One of the most popular areas was the whole story of Moses and the
Egyptians, and the plagues. The Egyptians trembled in fear before the wrath of God as He sent one plague after
another. Jacq has gone something of a different route, and it was brilliant. I won't spoil it by laying it out here, but
it was a completely different take on a familiar story—sheer genius.
The rest of the book is taken up with the ongoing situation with the Hittites and the internal conspiracies and
attempts to remove Ramses from the throne. Ramses, meanwhile, is intent on building twin temples at Abu Simbel
for Nefertari, who is suffering as she tries to deflect the attacks against her family. A few of the plotlines reach a
conclusion, but there are still ongoing elements which (I presume) will continue into the next book.|A very
entertaining historical (thriller) novel. I hadn't read any other books from the series, but it was easy to get into the
spirit of Ancient Egypt.
Generally the novel is full of action, expect some short descriptions, which are never too boring. Maybe towards
the end it slowed a little, and the ending was quite rushed, to be honest (the "final battle" is dealt with in a couple
of pages).