Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict
Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict is a deeply researched and carefully crafted historical fiction novel that excavates the untold stories of two women who have been erased by history and the desert sands of Egypt.
Benedict introduces us to two real-life figures, Lady Evelyn Herbert and the mysterious Pharaoh Hatshepsut. In Daugher of Egypt, we explore their gripping stories, defying norms as they strive to preserve and make their mark on history.
The Lady Behind “Tut-mania”
The story first takes us to the early 1920s, following Lady Evelyn, the daughter of Lord Carnarvon, a renowned patron of Egyptian archaeology. Lady Evelyn is known in history for being the first woman — first person, really — to set foot in King Tut’s tomb in modern times. In Benedict’s telling, Lady Eve is deeply fascinated with Egyptian history and becomes an instrumental part of her father and Howard Carter’s archaeological team.
Respected as an intelligent, empathic and ambitious woman, Eve finds a way to pursue her passion while balancing the duties that come with being an aristocratic daughter. Eve plays a pivotal role in uncovering Tutankhamun’s tomb, but, in this telling, what she is looking for is not King Tut but rather a much more influential pharaoh. A woman whom history has all but forgotten, Hatshepsut.
A Pharaoh Rises to Power
The story ingeniously implements a dual perspective, taking us even further back in time to a beautifully imagined Ancient Egypt. There, we get the captivating story of Hatshepsut as she rises to power, going from princess to queen to regent and finally to her controversial role as one of the few female pharaohs in Egyptian history.
Throughout the story, Lady Eve is stuck on the question of why Hatshepsut’s prosperous reign has literally been etched out of history. With Hatshepsut’s point of view, we can imagine the layers of complexity to her reign in a way that history books cannot explain.
Colonialism and a Strenuous History
Benedict takes us back to two very different Egypts: one is a glamorously gilded ancient civilization far more advanced than others during its time, and the other is an Egypt overrun by the English as Egyptians desperately try to preserve a past and a future that belongs only to them.
Daughter of Egypt does not shy away from the complexity of this era in Egypt, looking at the political turmoil from both sides. Colonialism has a tough grip on Egypt. Benedict wants readers to be informed of all that’s at stake.
Women: The Sands That Shape History
Both Eve and Hatshepsut seem to share a common story of womanhood. Throughout the stories, Eve and Hatshepsut are both always conscious and intentional about how they choose to be represented. They know that how they act affects not only them but also every woman who has come before and after.
Daughter of Egypt connects women across time and cultures through the bravery it takes to defy norms. We also get glimpses of other women before their time, such as Madame Zaghloul, who was a pivotal member of Egypt’s fight for independence in 1922. These strong women must make sacrifices for a world that is not ready for them to find a place of equality with their male counterparts.
Daughter of Egypt is a story for anyone curious about what it is like to relive the past. Benedict sculpts beautifully descriptive worlds for the women that she breathes life into and provides a captivating narrative to a history that we may never truly know. You will learn, empathize and find a certain power in the characters and the tale. It is a book that I didn’t want to put down.
About Marie Benedict:
Marie Benedict is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Queens of Crime, The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie’s Maid, The Other Einstein and with Victoria Christopher Murray, the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. All have been translated into multiple languages, and many have been selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List and LibraryReads List. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
