A review of The Cat of Bubastes by G. A. Henty

ISBN # 1-887159-68-1

$ 6.00 from Resource Connections to History

Reading the first chapter of The Cat of Bubastes by G. A. Henty was a mistake. I had planned to take the book with me on vacation. About a week before vacation, I was organizing things to be packed. I came across The Cat of Bubastes and thought I would just skim the first chapter. The book was so intriguing and exciting that I finished the whole book in a matter of two days.

The book is the story of an unlikely friendship between the son of the high priest of Osiris and the captive prince of a conquered nation. Due to the open mindedness of the high priest, the boys are encouraged to be friends instead of master and slave. The high priest also voices his doubts of the polytheistic religion of Ancient Egypt.

The first part of the book gives a detailed picture of life among the upper class in Egypt under the reign of Pharaoh Thotmes. The religious duties, burial customs, animal worship and education customs are examined. The Hebrews are introduced in the character Ruth. The second half of the book deals with the fate of the boys when the sacred cat of Bubastes is accidentally killed. As the boys must flee Egypt, they meet many interesting people, including a young Prince Moses who has just begun to examine his "roots".

I would highly recommend the book for any family interested in ancient Egypt. I found nothing objectionable that I would need to skip over with my two children, both under nine years old. Boys will love the book because there is warfare and mummification. Girls will love the book because there is a kidnapped girl who must be rescued before she is forced to marry her family's enemy and because true love prevails in the end. Parents will love the book because it is a good read and the prose is wonderful. Now can anyone suggest a good book for vacation?

It is available from:

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