Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth

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Title Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth
cover to the paperback edition
Author Naguib Mahfouz
Translator Tagreid Abu-Hassabo
Cover artist Eric Fuentecilla
Country Egypt
Language Arabic
Genre(s) Historical, Novel
Publisher Columbia University Press (hb) & Bantam Doubleday Dell (pb) (both translations)
Released 1985 (translation 1998)
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 180 p. (hardback edition) & 168 p. (paperback edition)
ISBN ISBN 977-424-470-2 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-385-49909-4 (paperback edition)

Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth is a novel written and published by Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz in 1985. It was translated from Arabic into English in 1998 by Tagreid Abu-Hassabo.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

On the way from Sais in ancient Egypt with his father, the scribe Meriamun points out the ruins of Akhetaten, the city that the "heretic pharaoh" Akhenaten built for his One and Only God. Seeking a balanced perspective on the events of that time, which split Egypt politically and religiously, Meriamun gets a letter of introduction from his father to many members of Akhenaten's court, among them the High Priest of Amun, his chief of security Haremhab, and his queen Nefertiti. From the varied accounts given by those close to him, Meriamun – and the reader – are left to judge for themselves whether Akhenaten was a power politician or a true believer.

Pharaoh Akhenaten
Pharaoh Akhenaten
Spoilers end here.

[edit] Characters

- Akhenaten - Nefertiti - Ay - Tey - High Priest of Amun - Bento - Haremhab - Bek - Tadukhipa - Toto - Tey - Mutnedjmet - Meri-Ra - Mae - Maho - Nakht