Physical description

Hard cover book,Queen of The Dawn
Author: H Rider Haggard
Publisher: Hutchinson & Co. London. W1.
Date: 1925
Green Cloth hard covered book with a reinforced spine with a handwritten title, front cover has black text and Egyptian motif. Inscriptions include stickers and a stamp.

Publication type

fiction

Inscriptions & markings

Label text: "PAT FIC HAG"
Stamp, red ink: "Warrnambool Public Library"
Sticker: "Corangamite Regional Library Service" Handwritten: "1298"
Hieroglyphics, two, with translations: "Beautiful ascendress of pyramids" and "Great mistress of the dawn"

Summary

Queen of the Dawn is a story of old Egypt, a historical fantasy/romance novel by H. Rider Haggard, set in Ancient Egypt during a period of war and political turmoil, as the invading Shepherd Kings challenge the Egyptian Pharaohs. The protagonist in the story is Nefra, Princess of Egypt, born amid this chaos with her fate tied to her royal lineage. Prophecies and blessings from Egyptian goddesses mark her birth, foreshadowing her significant role in events to come. After the death of King Kheperra, Queen Rima (Nefra's mother) must navigate a dangerous political landscape to protect herself and her child, aided by loyal allies like her nurse Kemmah. The story opens at a breakneck pace, with Pharaoh deposed and killed and his family in hiding, while a secret religious order raises the princess, who falls in love with the disguised son of the usurper. The climax delivers traditional adventure-fiction excitement with battles and torture. The novel leans heavily on themes of prophecy, destiny, and romance.