Description
The Seventh Scroll – Wilbur Smith
The Seventh Scroll is a 1995 historical fiction novel by Wilbur Smith, set in ancient Egypt. It is the second book in the River God series, and follows the adventures of Taita, a eunuch slave who has risen to become one of the most powerful men in Egypt.
Taita is now the High Priest of Amun, and he is the most powerful man in Egypt after the Pharaoh. However, Taita’s power is threatened by the rise of a new religion, Atenism. Atenism is monotheistic religion that worships the sun god Aten.
The Pharaoh, Akhenaten, is a convert to Atenism, and he is promoting the new religion at the expense of the traditional Egyptian religion. Taita is determined to protect the old religion, and he is also determined to prevent Akhenaten from destroying Egypt.
Taita’s life is further complicated by the fact that he is in love with Nefertiti, the Pharaoh’s wife. Nefertiti is also a convert to Atenism, but she is still loyal to Taita.
Taita must use all of his skills and cunning to protect the old religion, to prevent Akhenaten from destroying Egypt, and to win the love of Nefertiti.
The Seventh Scroll is a thrilling adventure novel that is full of action, suspense, and romance. It is a story about love, betrayal, and the power of faith.
Themes
The novel explores a number of themes, including:
- Love
- Betrayal
- The power of faith
- The dangers of religious extremism
- The importance of tolerance
- The resilience of the human spirit
Characters
- Taita: The High Priest of Amun and the most powerful man in Egypt after the Pharaoh.
- Akhenaten: The Pharaoh of Egypt.
- Nefertiti: The Pharaoh’s wife and Taita’s love interest.
- Horemheb: A general in the Egyptian army and Taita’s friend.
- Moses: A Hebrew prophet who is leading his people out of Egypt.
Critical reception
The Seventh Scroll was a critical and commercial success upon its publication. It was praised for its fast-paced plot, its well-developed characters, and its vivid descriptions of ancient Egypt. The novel has been translated into over 20 languages and has sold over 2 million copies.
The Seventh Scroll is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and adventure novels. It is a thrilling and exciting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Tags
- historical fiction
- adventure
- ancient Egypt
- religion
- faith
- love
- betrayal
- tolerance
- resilience of the human spirit
- best-selling