Mika Waltari Forum

Mika Waltari

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I found a 1949 beat-up edition of The Egyptian on my boyfriend's bookshelf and read it.
I can't remember when I've read such a richly descriptive and compelling novel of historical fiction...WOW!
I want to buy another for my partner's 44th birthday.
He's an ex -Marine, raised from 2-17 years beyond the frontier of Brazil (like our wild west days) and he loved the Egyptian.
What do you recommend?

>>By sondy sloan (Sunday, 2 Feb 2003 20:07)

Sinuhe, The Egyptian...
I was in a metro two years ago, waiting for my train to arrive. I saw an old man sitting on a bench, reading a book, i saw that he found the book terribly interesting, as he let two trains pass by, not wishing to put the book away. Well, so did i , as i observed the man. He just left this "special" impression on me, so i just stood and watched him. In 20 minutes he had finished the book and his train arrived. And, could you imagine, he just gave the book to me while entering the train. It left me a strong feeling. So i thought it`d definitely mean something, so i read it through.
It is now my favourite book ever, and without it , i wouldnt be the man i am today.
---felt too much like a commercial to you ? Its not. Its a true story.

>>By Ithrazel Zarthax (Tuesday, 4 Feb 2003 01:06)

Sinuhe, the egyptian is a very good book but i think that waltari have writen better ones for example "mystery of kingdom" try that!!!

>>By athaga (Tuesday, 6 May 2003 17:55)

A cycle of life, the way they lived, we are, and the ones after us will. Such a great book! The best thing about the story of SINUHE is that it all happened before us and if you really analyse the book and details you'll see there are still people like the Pharoes, Kapta, Merit, and Sinuhe in our generation. Anyways I have never read the English version of this book (only in Persian), and somewhere in my mind I dought the English publishers would really publish the true translation of this book just like how Sinuhe wrote it a reader would never find the true writing of the original book(s), 'cause of the way us humans are!

>>By Allister A (Friday, 27 Jun 2003 01:45)

-> Allister A. just to make it clear Sinuhe is a character created by Mika Waltari's imagination so I strongly doubt he wrote a single line for the book. However the name Sinuhe have appeared at least in one ancient egyptian fairytale but even then he was just a character in a made up story. Anyways, Mika Waltari's Sinuhe, The Egyptian was written in finnish which (for once!) I'm happy to say is my native language :) I've read all his eight "major" historical novels and I just can't get enough of them, I mean I do like his other works too and I've read alot of them but these eight just are the elite of his art in my book! There's no way I could pick my favorite Waltari novel since everytime I've finished one I've been equally amazed (this goes especially to those above-mentioned eight)

>>By M.W. (Thursday, 3 Jul 2003 12:25)

.>M.W I understand where you get the idea of Sinuhe being a character. BUT as a matter of fact Mika Waltari has translated the ancient writings and has given the story (diary) a life which he used his imagination. And every little line in this book has a historycal fact which as he mentions goes back to almost 4000 years ago, and I would gladly discuss this with you 'cause I am only one and can have only my own openion, therefore I'd like to hear what other people really think of this. And by the way the original (Demotic) writings are in a museum in France ( I cant remember the name but I think it's in Paris).

>>By Allister A (Friday, 18 Jul 2003 02:20)

Many of my friends had for years recommended The egyptian for me but I somehow never had the time nor the interest to read it. Last june I just happened to notice that book on my parents book self and started reading it. Already from the first page I knew that this book is the kind of book I was looking for.. I couldn't understand why I hadn't read it before.
Now when my journey in the ancient egypt is over I have to say that (paradoxically) mere words cannot describe this book. It is simply the best book / among the best books I have ever read (..even though I haven't read all that many books..)

>>By Late (Saturday, 20 Sep 2003 14:42)

re: allister A
i suppose you mean 'le louvre' in paris, it has a huge collection of egyptian stuff, aswell as the mona lisa...

>>By trident (Saturday, 20 Sep 2003 16:10)

Waltari's historical novels are a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how human beings behave. Individual destinies are pitted against the flow of history. Fascinating adventures result.

>>By Noudjali (Thursday, 15 Apr 2004 17:21)

HI!
I'd like to ask you a rhetorical questions. Please stop after you have read my question as follows.... Where is Mika Waltari from? Is he alive? Now think....

I can answer both questions. First he is from Finland and he started writing in earlier part of the 20th century and is now dead. He wrote many historical and other kinds novels and short stories but also wrote many Finnish movie scripts. You can best enjoy his writing in the original Finnish if you can speak the language but if you can't you can enjoy the translations.

If you meet a Finn and ask him about Waltari he or she'll tell you that yes, I know him and then depending on his or her interest in the author will tell you something about him. Like he is highly appreciated here in Finland and his books and writings are considered "high" culture! So, a must to read at least some of them.....

Enjoy!

>>By Janice (Tuesday, 13 Sep 2005 03:43)

Hi!
Me again! I have just now finished the Sinuhe the Egyptian. Its language was very juicy! Anything the people in the book thought not worth hearing was as they put it: your words are like the buzzing of the flies in my ears...
The people were very much alive. I fell in love with the carachters!
Read it! You'll enjoy it!

>>By Janice (Monday, 10 Oct 2005 20:44)

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