The Book

I read the book for the first time in 1962 while I was in high school and got an A+ book report on it in my history class. However it wasn't until the movie was first run on TV in 1963 that I received a full awareness of how great the Pharaoh Akhenaten was - and began a lifelong fascination with ancient Egypt, and with the monotheism faith of Aten, the One God worshipped by him and his beautiful queen-wife Nefertiti for roughly 20 years in the 14th Century B.C.
about 100 years before Moses received the Ten Commandments.
I love the movie, but it would take an expensive miniseries to fully cover the book in detail. The major flaw in the history in the movie is the complete absence of the reign of Tutankhamen and the puppet princes SmenkhkaRa and Ay.
This is the central theme of the book, that of man's metaphysical quest for truth, and it is brought out beautifully in the movie by Edmond Purdom, as Sinuhe, who goes through a spiritual metamorphosis. The movie is not popular with those who enjoy 'sword and sandal' epics with passion and sexual energy.
It is more like the metaphysical spiritual thought of today.
There are now many Atenists (those who worship and believe in Aten as the Supreme deity) who have revived this 3,300 year old religion.
Cheers,

Dejael

It's a compelling, powerful book. IMHO, the book is much more worth reading than the movie is worth seeing. And I'd advise people to at least consider reading the book before seeing the movie, since your first exposure to the plot should be the best one.

it's one of my faves.

I first read the novel when I was a teen in the Sixties, and I have revisited it a number of times. I still keep it set aside for a future reading since it could be lost among thousands of other books that fill many shelves.

I also love the film and have watched it innumerable times. In fact, I'm watching it again on FXM; when it is aired late at night, there are no commercial breaks. I really need to tape it. (Yes, I still depend on my beloved VCR.)

However, I've always thought that perhaps a miniseries could be made of the adventures we aren't shown. I especially recall the Minotaur's Labyrinth. It's really too much for even an epic-length film. So, perhaps multiple parts would work in its favor. And, it would not be taking away from the original if crafted correctly.



(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC