Ramses 1: The Son of the Light

I love Egyptology, and since I am no stuffy scholar hung up on his specialty, I was able to appreciate and enjoy the book very well, in spite of possible slight historical inaccuracies; after all, it is a novel. It plunges you right into the period, the ambiance, the light even, of the time. I recommend it greatly,even though I usually dislike historical novels. I actually do recommend the whole serie!!

I loved this book and have read the entire series. I enjoyed each book as much as the first. I am just getting aquainted with Egypt and find that although this book is fiction, it is truly a window into the life and times of Ancient Egypt. What they eat, wear, think, worship. There are descriptions about how they build and paint and run their political system. I found the information facinating and easy to understand due to the writing and context. I highly reccomend this sereies to anyone intersted in Ramses and Ancient Egypt. I'm reading His second series now The Stone of Light it is also wonderful.

I LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDD THIS BOOK!!!!!!!Okay, let's go. First things first. I read this book in Icelandic. Yes, yes, I KNOW what you're saying: 'Liar, you're kidding, etc.' But I did, so I DO HAVE AN EXCUSE if I get the names a LITTLE jumbled (I don't know what the original names of some characters are)I have always been interested in ancient Egypt. Face it, they are sooo neat. This book is interesting because you are seeing what it was like to be a young man from a royal family at this particular time period. Ramses is 14 at the beginning of the book, the younger of pharoh Seti's two sons. He wants nothing more than to be chosen to rule after his father's death, but his older brother Shaanar (It's Sénar in Icelandic) has already been picked as crown prince.One thing that Christian Jacq does is to "assume" that Moses was alive around this time (more precisely only a year or two older than Ramses). I've seen this done before, such as in the cartoon The Prince of Egypt, and it adds a nice depth to the plot, as we know he will one day rebel against Egypt and leave it out of religious objection to Egyptian beliefs.I've seen some people talk about "cartoonic" language and childishness, and I can tell you immediately that the translator must have messed it up. It's beautifully done in the Icelandic version.I only wish that I could either get a hold of books 4 and 5 in english here in Iceland or that this blasted translator could hurry up and finish translating them!Anybody interested in ancient Egypt, or just likes well written historical fiction should read it. I got it on a saturday morning, finished it sunday afternoon, lent it to a classmate last monday and got it back friday. Too bad they don't teach egyptology in the 8th grade.

I read all five of the Ramses book several years ago and was spellbound by them. Some of the negative reviewers on this site seem to be forgetting two things: (1) these books are indeed works of FICTION and are published as such and (2) Christian Jacq's credentials as an Egyptologist are excellent. If, by using poetic licence, he can draw into Ancient Egypt thousands of people who have never been interested in it before, then I say he has done the world a great service. There are plenty of dusty academic tomes for the pefect accuracy killjoys to feed on!

I must confess that I had a hard time while reading the last pages of the last book (# 5), I was like losing a close friend. I even thought of not reading the last pages, but curiosity overcame, so when I read the last sentences, I found myself trying to wipe away my tears. Although I must say that I am a bit confused, because I had a different understanding of the Egyptian Culture. I was always fascinated by the prosperity of Egypt, but did not know that it so fascinating. Also the writings in the holy books (Bible and Kur'an) tell a different version of the story, so there is a big question mark in my head, which I would love to discuss with Mr. Jacq, if only I had the opportunity to. But I guess, even if the romantism could be a bit exaggerated, there must be some truth in the story as Mr. Jacq is a egypologist as far as I know. Anyway I think people should read the books of "Ramses" whether they believe in the story or not. At least it can be read as a romantic novel, making one feel like an Egyptian, living everything together with Ramses when reading it...