This summer our family is going through a study of Europe. It includes studying the land and history of the countries, making special European meals, watching some European movies and reading a lot of literature. The latter I am mostly reading aloud to my three sisters. (Joshua is often present but he just likes the rhythm of my voice so far I think! :) The first book we read was “The Cat of Bubastes – A Tale of Ancient Egypt” by G. A. Henty.
George Alfred Henty was an Englishman who lived from December 8, 1832 – November 16, 1902. He was a married man with children. Mr. Henty was the author of at least 144 books, many of which, if not all, are written to impart real history to the reader. His works include “In Freedom’s Cause”, “Beric the Briton” and “True to the Old Flag”. For reasons best known to himself, Mr. Henty chose to use his first initials and his last name for a pen name thus becoming known as “G. A. Henty”.
Blackie and Son, London originally published “The Cat of Bubastes” in 1888. The book I read was published more recently by Preston/Speed Publications is Pennsylvania. The entire book is 20 chapters in length. “The Cat of Bubastes – A Tale of Ancient Egypt” first centers on a lad of about fifteen years of age, a noble of the Rebu people, named Amuba. Tragic circumstances bring him into slavery in the ancient land of Egypt. There he encounters Chebron, a lad of about the same age as himself and the two become close friends. Mystery and intrigue slowly begin to surround the lads and their friends, when the plot suddenly thickens: Chebron accidentally kills the sacred animal of the “goddess” Baste called the Cat of Bubastes, thereby incurring the death penalty to himself and Amuba. Will they run away from Egypt or will they be executed? If they do run away, will the “gods” of Egypt be forever angry and unforgiving or is it true as the Israelite told them that there is only one true God and the “Cat of Bubastes” may not be so sacred after all?
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written. My sisters enjoyed it as well. I found the historical content, relating to Egypt, to be very accurate and informative. “The Cat of Bubastes – A Tale of Ancient Egypt” is definitely on my list of “favorite books”.
I would very highly recommend this book.
To the KING be all the glory!
You have four sisters?
Other than that, I agree!
I read this one for school about 3 years ago, but I wasn’t a huge fan of it – I thought it moved really slowly! Interesting inclusion of Moses, though. :)