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(More customer reviews)This is a reprint of Jeremiah Curtin's 1902 translation of Boleslaw Prus's 1895 Polish-language historical novel "Pharaoh." The book was retitled in the 1902 English translation to "The Pharaoh and the Priest" apparently due to the author's wish to highlight the important role, in his novel, of "the priest" Pentuer, named after a historic figure who appears in some Egyptological sources as "Pentaur."
"Pharaoh" was Prus's sole historical novel, and it is one that amply repays reading for what it has to say about statecraft, Egyptian history and culture, and the human condition. Its continuing interest is attested by translations into 20 languages and by a 1966 Polish film adaptation. The most recent English translation appeared in 2001, a century after the Curtin translation.
The Curtin-translation reprint, reviewed here, does not adequately represent the novel. It is, to begin with, missing the stunning Epilog, which was restored half a century after the original publication of Curtin's translation. More importantly, Curtin showed an abysmal understanding of the Polish language, a poor grasp of English style, and a primitive knowledge of the book's subject matter.
Consequently it is difficult to recommend this English translation of Prus's "Pharaoh." The reader would be well advised, instead, to seek out a more recent translation.
Click Here to see more reviews about: The Pharaoh and the Priest, Volume 1: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt
Translated by Jeremiah Curtin
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