Books › Child of the morning
Child of the morning
700 pages
A passionate and richly detailed resurrection of a forgotten female ruler's majestic life and the political intrigue that sought to erase her.
What it feels like
Reading this novel feels like stepping into a vanished world of majestic power and passionate intrigue. The narrative unfolds with sure, steady pacing, immersing the reader in a sensuous and richly atmospheric ancient landscape. The prose is anchored in authentic detail and powerful imagery, elevating the story beyond standard historical fiction into a psychologically timeless experience. It traces the emotional weight of a woman commanding absolute power in a society outraged by her rule, capturing both her awe-inspiring reign and the bitter attempts to erase her from history. This is a book for readers who devour immersive, character-driven biographical fiction that resurrects the lives of formidable, forgotten women with artistry and deep emotional resonance.
- Mood
- richly atmospheric
- intrigue-laden
- majestic
- sensuous
- Tone
- passionate
- majestic
- sensuous
- earnest
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- women in power · historical erasure · political intrigue · ancient majesty
- The writing
- Rich in powerful imagery and authentic detail, crafting a sensuous and majestic portrait of a vanished world.
- The arc
- A passionate ascent to awe-inspiring power that ultimately confronts the bitter reality of political betrayal and historical erasure.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave immersive, psychologically timeless biographical fiction centered on formidable women defying patriarchal bounds.
Content notes
- misogyny
- political betrayal
About the book
Originally published in l977, this first novel by Pauline Gedge has become an and has been translated into 5 foreign languages. A chronicle of passionate intrigue and sensuous exoticism, Child of the Morning resurrects the life of the awesome Hatshepsut, the only woman pharaoh of ancient Egypt, whose name was erased from history by her enemies, outraged at having to bow to a woman's command.Authentic in all of its detail and rich in powerful imagery, Child of the Morning "combines ancient artifacts, timeless psychology, and sure pacing" (The Globe and Mail), to portray the majesty of its vanished world. Its artistry transcends the boundaries of historical fiction to create a novel of the first order.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Child of the morning
See why they match
Soldier of SidonGene WolfeA sun-drenched, disorienting journey down the Nile where gods walk among mortals and every sunrise erases the past.
I Am the Mummy Heb-NefertEve BuntingA quiet, atmospheric journey through time as an ancient soul remembers the vibrant life she once lived.
Cleopatra VII, daughter of the NileKristiana GregoryStep into the private, opulent, and dangerous world of a young princess learning to survive the deadly politics of her own family.
CleopatraStacy SchiffA razor-sharp, opulent dismantling of myth that resurrects a brilliant political strategist from the shadow of her own legend.
Mary Queen of Scotland & The IslesMargaret GeorgeA sweeping, tragic immersion into the glittering courts and treacherous politics of a doomed sixteenth-century monarch.
Pharaoh's daughterJulius LesterA sweeping, introspective journey through ancient sands that reimagines a familiar myth as an intimate crisis of faith and family.