April 27, 2026
Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict
Lady Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon, was as fascinated by ancient Egypt as her father was. She accompanied him on a number of archaeological digs in Egypt, but while her father was searching for treasure, Eve was secretly looking for the tomb of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh, who was virtually erased from history.
Historical fiction about two almost unknown women, one from the pharaonic dynasty in the 15th century BCE, the other from an aristocratic English family in the 1920s. The two women have a lot in common, trying to carve out a non-traditional place for themselves in their male-dominated worlds. While there is no answer to the mystery of why Hatshepsut was practically erased from history, the author puts forward a unique solution. But the story isn't only about the roles of women. Benedict also delves into colonial politics, describing Egypt's drive for self-government in the 1920s, striving to get out from under the fist of British rule. She also ponders the question of who has the right to artifacts found in excavated tombs, the people who financed the excavations or the people of Egypt. Her archaeologists point out that if it wasn't for the Europeans excavating the tombs, the Egyptian government was content to let the tombs molder away and for tomb robbers to slowly steal all the treasure. Recommended for fans of historical fiction or ancient Egypt.
Hatshepsut's mummy was actually discovered by Howard Carter when he was searching for the tomb of Tutankhamum. When he found the mummy, Carter believed it to be unimportant and left it where it was found. The mummy was identified as Hatshepsut in 2007 by Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass when a tooth that had been stored in a royal treasure box and labeled as belonging to Hatshepsut was proven to match the mummy's skull. Hatshepsut was found with her royal wetnurse and lifelong servant Sitre-In.
Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, one of the largest temples in the Valley of the Kings
