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Summary: Ramses: The Battle of Kadesh (Vol 3)
Review: Book I and II are fascinating. Book III is merely a continuation. It's as if the first book never ended. Christian Jacq keeps the action rolling. Unfortunately, the phrase "History Repeats Itself" could not be illustrated more perfectly. As the story progressed I had an unnerving sense of déjà vu. On the other hand, it was easy to imagine I was there watching Ramses and his friends.
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Summary: The Showdown at Kadesh
Review: Four divisions of the Egyptian army encamped below the fortress of Kadesh when suddenly the thundering sound of enemy chariots were upon them. The Hittites surprised them and decimated two of the divisions. Then Ramses, possessed of the spirit of Amon, glowed like the sun, and stopped the advancing Hittites in their tracks. Fighter, the Nubian lion, sprang into action. Reinforcements were coming up the coast road. The tide of battle turned. Christian Jacq's Ramses: the Battle of Kadesh, marks the third in a five part series on Ramses the Great of ancient Egypt. Kadesh was one of the greatest battles of the ancient world. Egypt and Hatti were the two giant superpowers of their day; and both coveted the strategic littoral that we call the Middle East today. Hatti was a warrior nation that sought to extend its empire clear to Egypt. Egypt was a powerful land in the New Kingdom equally bent on extending its influence as far as possible. Kadesh marked the pivotal point in the superpowers' ambitions. The Hittites gathered information on Egypt's readiness for war with an elaborate spy network that touched the pharaoh's palace itself. With their powerful enemy to their north preparing for war treacherous family members sought to undermine Ramses' power to seize the throne for themselves. Even the life of the queen was threatened. Ramses would have to destroy the spy network and the Hittites or his entire country may be enslaved. Kadesh would not end the Hittite ambition. Ramses may have slowed them down but not stopped them. Traitors were still in his midst and Asha, the king's boyhood friend and Secretary of State, was in trouble. On to Volume Four.
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Summary: Very entertaining
Review: I found the previous book lacking in the energy of the first. However, The Battle of Kadesh returns with that energy. A quickly moving tale of Ramses' war against the Hittites also involves much more. Several subplots are resolved from previous volumes with the only major one remaining being the story of Moses. As I've stated before, it's not a deep read but it is a very enjoyable one. Jacq is certainly an undeservedly under noticed writer among fantasy authors.
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Summary: Ramses II was one the greatest pharaohs in ancient Egypt
Review: I have read this book first in French and then in English, and I absolutely love it. The translation is very good because it captures the senses of the original. The life of Ramses II is not what people usually expect, and it explains a lot about his relationship with Moses. This book can be read by all ages, and I strongly recommend it! You will love the other 4 volumes as well.
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Summary: A very well-written and entertaining book...a must read!
Review: I've read the other reviews, and some of them are a bit unfair. It's true that Christian Jacq holds a Ph.D. in Egyptology, and some of the respondents feel that this precludes him from writing a fictional work. I'm glad to see that someone with Dr. Jacq's credentials can weave such an entertaining story!!! I visited Egypt on vacation in April of this year, and was awe-struck by Ramses II's accomplishments. I have NO DOUBT that the people he ruled considered him to be a god on earth. This is expressed through the statues, temples, and writings that his civilization created. So I ask the other reviewers, what's wrong with presenting Ramses as a type of god in this ficticious work? It's true he's nearly perfect--but then aren't most protagonists thoughout literature? Anyway, this series is an absolute MUST READ for anyone interested in ancient Egypt. Read it for the pleasure--don't use it as a reference if you're working on your Ph.D. in Egyptology! I've found this book difficult to put down. I was up until 3:00 a.m. this morning reading The Battle of Kadesh. I'm ordering the fourth volume today!!! I'm expecting a few more late nights finishing it!!! ORDER THESE BOOKS!!!!
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Summary: truely fascinating
Review: In the 'Battle off Khadesh' Christian Jacq brings ancient Egypt alive as if it all happened yesterday. You can actually feel the cool breezes in pharoah's gardens, touch the beautiful linen dresses of the queen and be amazed by the power of Ramses. The book is almost impossible to put down once you start it and when it comes to an end you wish it wouldn't. So beautiful and intriguing is this ancient world laid out in front of the reader that you become part of it and share the destiny of all its main characters. A must read!
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Summary: A Perfect Historical Novel Of Suspense, Love, and Subterfuge
Review: �The Battle Of Kadesh�, the third instalment in the acclaimed �Ramses� series, is thus far the best and most compelling. It chronicles the next few years in Ramses� reign, during which the Great Pharaoh must confront the near invincibility of the Hittite forces who crave expansion at Egypt�s expense. Before he can concentrate on war, however, Ramses� reign is being undermined by a network of different alliances against him, most notably that of Ofir, the sorcerer, trying to use black magic to weaken the Pharaoh's defences; And an underground network of Hittite spies intent on bringing about Egypt�s downfall. Heading these operations is Shaanar, Ramses� jealous elder brother who is consumed with his desire to rule. When the Battle of Kadesh finally dawns, Ramses is left alone to confront the entire barbaric Hittite army, forcing him to call upon his late father�s divine assistance. Will his prayers be answered ? This book had me up reading until the early hours of the morning. With spectacular landscape descriptions, charismatic protagonists, and suspenseful plots it truly is impossible to put down.
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Summary: Battle of Kadesh Review
Review: The best book of the series. Previously the plots were quite predictable but the startling revelations in this book makes it a must for those who enjoyed the previous books.The characters ere further enrichened but the plot rolls on easily to what appears to be a fitting climax in the next two books.
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Summary: McHistorical Fiction
Review: The book concerns the political rivalry of the Egyptian and the Hittite empires culminating in the Battle of Kadesh, ca. 1280 B.C. If you're interested in ancient Egypt or historical fiction, give this one a miss. The story is simplistic -- about on the level of a Nancy Drew mystery -- with bits of exotic culture and supernatural conjuring thrown in to let you know that you've been transported back to the Land of the Pharaohs. The author is described on the book jacket as a "respected Egyptologist" but I found little "Egyptology" in this book that could not have been acquired by a college student through casual reading. Change the names and take out a few references to exotic gods and the Nile and this story could be placed in any era and any country of the world. Indeed, one is struck by how similar the ancient Egypt of this book is to modern governments. Ramses, Pharaoh of Egypt, is presented as a man of twenty-first century sensitivities. An accurate portrayal of ancient Egypt? I don't think so. The author fails to divorce himself from the present and conjure up a credible vision of ancient Egypt.
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Summary: Lots of education, a bit of sex with a twist of religion
Review: This is a really nice collection. I enjoyed it very much. It is so very well researched in both historical and religious terms. Jacq was largely very faithful to historical facts. He made one enormous assumption with no historical backing whatsoever, that Ramses II was King of Egypt during the time of Moses. His history of Moses and the events of his life resemble those told in the bible and Quran, but in a secular fashion. The story does go on, but then again the man did rule Egypt for a very long and eventful period. There are indeed several cardboard like people in the book, very one dimensional and therefore very predictable. If you like history, suspense, lots of action, this is a great collection, enjoy it. If you are planning a Nile Cruise, or have just been on one, you must buy this.
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