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From the author of Spartacus and Freedom Road, comes a novel of the Bible's greatest freedom fighter, the rebellious prince of Egypt, Moses! This definitive new edition of Howard Fast's riveting novel portrays the early years of the man who would lead his people out of slavery to freedom. In Moses, Howard Fast uses his widely acclaimed storytelling skills to paint a portrait of the most fascinating figure of the Bible. The child Moses grows to adulthood in the royal household of Ramses II, surrounded by the political factions, sending, but not fully understanding, the paradox of his singular position.
Through the strikingly contrasting events of Moses? epic life, Howard Fast traces the growth of his character as a biblical hero. an outsider in the court of Egypt, Moses sees the corruption and decadence of the royal family for what it is. Their autocracy acts as a forge for his moral character.
Fast takes us into the white house above the first cataract as Moses experiences his first love; watches as Moses endures the savage Egyptian campaigning against the black men of Kush; and recalls the young man's rebellion against the Egyptian priesthood.
Renouncing his royal trappings, Moses casts his lot with his own enslaved people, the Jews, and becomes, for all time, an inspiration to the world.
FIRST TRADE PAPERBACK EDITION WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR
You can share your thoughts about Howard Fast's Moses in the new ibooks virtual readers' group at www.ibooksinc.com.
Through the strikingly contrasting events of Moses? epic life, Howard Fast traces the growth of his character as a biblical hero. an outsider in the court of Egypt, Moses sees the corruption and decadence of the royal family for what it is. Their autocracy acts as a forge for his moral character.
Fast takes us into the white house above the first cataract as Moses experiences his first love; watches as Moses endures the savage Egyptian campaigning against the black men of Kush; and recalls the young man's rebellion against the Egyptian priesthood.
Renouncing his royal trappings, Moses casts his lot with his own enslaved people, the Jews, and becomes, for all time, an inspiration to the world.
FIRST TRADE PAPERBACK EDITION WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR
You can share your thoughts about Howard Fast's Moses in the new ibooks virtual readers' group at www.ibooksinc.com.
840 pages
First published January 1, 1958
84 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Howard Fast
303 books254 followersHoward Fast was one of the most prolific American writers of the twentieth century. He was a bestselling author of more than eighty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays. The son of immigrants, Fast grew up in New York City and published his first novel upon finishing high school in 1933. In 1950, his refusal to provide the United States Congress with a list of possible Communist associates earned him a three-month prison sentence. During his incarceration, Fast wrote one of his best-known novels, Spartacus (1951). Throughout his long career, Fast matched his commitment to championing social justice in his writing with a deft, lively storytelling style.
Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham
Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham
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August 27, 2019
این کتاب براساس پاپیروسهای بدست اومده از مصر و متون قدیمی و غیر مذهبی به دست هاوارد فاست نویسنده بزرگ امریکایی تالیف شده و خوندن هر دو جلد کتاب نکات جالب و آموزنده ایی داره که در کتب مذهبی هیچ اشارهایی به اونها نشده!
به عنوان مثال: در این کتاب موسی برادری به اسم هارون نداشت بلکه اون شخص که در کتب مذهبی برادر موسی خوانده میشه و هارون نام داره، غلامی از طایفه بنی اسرائیل بوده که در وقت اسارت و در میدان بردگان به شدت یاغی و سرکش بوده، موسی این جوان تنومند و میبینه و بخاطر جوانی، هیکل مناسب و سلامتی که داشت با قیمتی گراف خریداری میکنه بعداز باز کردن دستهای این غلام، به سوی موسی حملهور میشه و چون موسی هم از طایفه بنی اسرائیل بوده و جثهایی بزرگ داشته از پس این غلام جسور برمیاد و کتکش میزنه ولی بعداز تنبیه، براش لباس نو میخره و سیرس میکنه تا کینهایی در دل این غلام که « نون» نام داره باقی نمونه.
بعدها و بواسطه صمیمیت و فروتنی که موسی با غلامش داشته، و وقتی که متوجه میشه «نون» از طایفه بنی اسرائیل اون و به برادری خودش میخونه و سواد خواندن و نوشتن و به نون یاد میده و همین شخص که در کتب مذهبی به عنوان برادر موسی و هارون خونده میشه و همیشه و همه جا موسی رو همراهی میکرده، نون بوده که مفتخر به باجناق شدن با موسی هم میشه!
هاوارد فاست ابتدای کتاب و زمانی شروع میکنه که موسی ده سال سن داشته و در قصر بزرگ فرعون زندگی میکرده و چون شاهزاده بوده از این مزایا بهرهمند شده و هر روز در کلاسهای درس شرکت داشته و به مرور زمان و با بالا رفتن سن، تعلیمات شاهزادهها از درسهای تئوری به عملی کشیده میشه و اون ها مشق شمشیربازی، فن گرفتن کمان و تیراندازی و دیگر درس های مربوط به جنگ و جنگاوری رو زیر نظر یکی از بزرگترین فرماندهان لشگر فرعون به انجام می رسونن.
تنها حامی و دوستدار موسی در کاخ بزرگ فرعون «آنخس آمون» همسر فرعون و مادر ناتنی موسی بوده که علاقهی شدیدی به موسی داشته که در کتب مذهبی از این خانم به نام آسیه یاد شده.
نکته قابل توجه در این کتاب اینه که هم موسی و هم رامسس دوم نسبت به یکدیگر علاقهایی نداشتن و چه بسا اگر حمایتهای آنخس آمون از موسی نبود شاید فرعون دستور قتل موسی رو صادر می کرد ولی قبل از فوت آنخسآمون، این زن مهربان و مادر ناتنی موسی نزد فرزندش میاد و به موسی میگه که من مدتی مریض شدم و سردرد های شدیدی دارم و فرعون از من خواسته تا سرم و جراحی کنم تا بواسطه این جراحی بخارات اضافی از سرم خارج بشه و من به حالت طبیعیام برگردم.
موسی با اینکه در اون زمان پسری رشید با هیکلی تنومند بوده، با شنیدن این حرف به گریه میافته و از مادرش میخواد تا این کار و نکنه چرا که به چشمان خودش دیده بوده اکثر کسانی که تحت این عمل قرار گرفتن بعداز چند روز به دنیای مغرب( یعنی آخرت، مصریها دنیای بعداز مرگ و دنیای مغرب، نامگذاری کرده بودن) رفتن.
ولی با تمام خواهشهای موسی، آنخس آمون خودش و به دست تیغ جراحان میسپره و بعداز چند روز بستری شدن فوت میکنه.
ولی قبل از مرگش از فرعون که همسرش هم بوده عاجزانه درخواست میکنه که مستقیم و غیرمستقیم دستور به کشتن موسی نده، و اموال بجا مونده از خودش و از موسی نگیره...
تو این کتاب می خونیم که موسی در زمان رامسس دوم بدنیا میاد ولی پیغمبریش بعداز مرگ رامسس بوده و در طور سینا و برای اولین بار صدایی میشنوه که دچار حیرتش میکنه! این صدا به موسی میگه که من یهوه خدای شما هستم و ...
موسی ماجرای شنیدن این صدا رو برای همسرش شرح میکنه و میگه که این صدا بقدری دل انگیزه بود که منو وارد یک خلسه لذت بخش کرد وقتی همسر موسی از او میپرسه که صاحب صدا کی بود و چه درخواستی از تو داشت؟ موسی در جواب میگه که این صدا، نه صدای مرد بود نه صدای زن ، صوتی بود که من هیچگاه در تمام عمرم نشنیده بودم و ....
نکته قابل توجه دیگهایی که تو این کتاب وجود داره شرح ساخت و درست کردن پیکر بزرگ ابو سبمل که در دل کوه تراشیده شده و هنوز هم در دید عمومِ و مردم میتونن این معماری بزرگ و زیبا رو از نزدیک مشاهده کنن.
ساخت این پیکر بزرگ، کار معمار بزرگ اون زمان که «نف» نام داشته و از دوستان
صمیمی موسی بوده صورت گرفته که
بعدها فرعون دستور قتل نف رو به جرم پرستش خدای نادیده «آتون» صادر میکنه.
این کتاب بقدری نکات قابل توجه و خوندنی داره که خواننده از خوانشش لذت میبره و دچار بیحوصلگی نمیشه.
خوندن این کتاب برای من که علاقه مند به رمان های تاریخی مخصوصا با ترجمه و اقتباسهای زنده یاد ذبیح الله منصوری هستم جذاب بود
و از پنج ستاره چهار ستاره به این کتاب میدم.
به عنوان مثال: در این کتاب موسی برادری به اسم هارون نداشت بلکه اون شخص که در کتب مذهبی برادر موسی خوانده میشه و هارون نام داره، غلامی از طایفه بنی اسرائیل بوده که در وقت اسارت و در میدان بردگان به شدت یاغی و سرکش بوده، موسی این جوان تنومند و میبینه و بخاطر جوانی، هیکل مناسب و سلامتی که داشت با قیمتی گراف خریداری میکنه بعداز باز کردن دستهای این غلام، به سوی موسی حملهور میشه و چون موسی هم از طایفه بنی اسرائیل بوده و جثهایی بزرگ داشته از پس این غلام جسور برمیاد و کتکش میزنه ولی بعداز تنبیه، براش لباس نو میخره و سیرس میکنه تا کینهایی در دل این غلام که « نون» نام داره باقی نمونه.
بعدها و بواسطه صمیمیت و فروتنی که موسی با غلامش داشته، و وقتی که متوجه میشه «نون» از طایفه بنی اسرائیل اون و به برادری خودش میخونه و سواد خواندن و نوشتن و به نون یاد میده و همین شخص که در کتب مذهبی به عنوان برادر موسی و هارون خونده میشه و همیشه و همه جا موسی رو همراهی میکرده، نون بوده که مفتخر به باجناق شدن با موسی هم میشه!
هاوارد فاست ابتدای کتاب و زمانی شروع میکنه که موسی ده سال سن داشته و در قصر بزرگ فرعون زندگی میکرده و چون شاهزاده بوده از این مزایا بهرهمند شده و هر روز در کلاسهای درس شرکت داشته و به مرور زمان و با بالا رفتن سن، تعلیمات شاهزادهها از درسهای تئوری به عملی کشیده میشه و اون ها مشق شمشیربازی، فن گرفتن کمان و تیراندازی و دیگر درس های مربوط به جنگ و جنگاوری رو زیر نظر یکی از بزرگترین فرماندهان لشگر فرعون به انجام می رسونن.
تنها حامی و دوستدار موسی در کاخ بزرگ فرعون «آنخس آمون» همسر فرعون و مادر ناتنی موسی بوده که علاقهی شدیدی به موسی داشته که در کتب مذهبی از این خانم به نام آسیه یاد شده.
نکته قابل توجه در این کتاب اینه که هم موسی و هم رامسس دوم نسبت به یکدیگر علاقهایی نداشتن و چه بسا اگر حمایتهای آنخس آمون از موسی نبود شاید فرعون دستور قتل موسی رو صادر می کرد ولی قبل از فوت آنخسآمون، این زن مهربان و مادر ناتنی موسی نزد فرزندش میاد و به موسی میگه که من مدتی مریض شدم و سردرد های شدیدی دارم و فرعون از من خواسته تا سرم و جراحی کنم تا بواسطه این جراحی بخارات اضافی از سرم خارج بشه و من به حالت طبیعیام برگردم.
موسی با اینکه در اون زمان پسری رشید با هیکلی تنومند بوده، با شنیدن این حرف به گریه میافته و از مادرش میخواد تا این کار و نکنه چرا که به چشمان خودش دیده بوده اکثر کسانی که تحت این عمل قرار گرفتن بعداز چند روز به دنیای مغرب( یعنی آخرت، مصریها دنیای بعداز مرگ و دنیای مغرب، نامگذاری کرده بودن) رفتن.
ولی با تمام خواهشهای موسی، آنخس آمون خودش و به دست تیغ جراحان میسپره و بعداز چند روز بستری شدن فوت میکنه.
ولی قبل از مرگش از فرعون که همسرش هم بوده عاجزانه درخواست میکنه که مستقیم و غیرمستقیم دستور به کشتن موسی نده، و اموال بجا مونده از خودش و از موسی نگیره...
تو این کتاب می خونیم که موسی در زمان رامسس دوم بدنیا میاد ولی پیغمبریش بعداز مرگ رامسس بوده و در طور سینا و برای اولین بار صدایی میشنوه که دچار حیرتش میکنه! این صدا به موسی میگه که من یهوه خدای شما هستم و ...
موسی ماجرای شنیدن این صدا رو برای همسرش شرح میکنه و میگه که این صدا بقدری دل انگیزه بود که منو وارد یک خلسه لذت بخش کرد وقتی همسر موسی از او میپرسه که صاحب صدا کی بود و چه درخواستی از تو داشت؟ موسی در جواب میگه که این صدا، نه صدای مرد بود نه صدای زن ، صوتی بود که من هیچگاه در تمام عمرم نشنیده بودم و ....
نکته قابل توجه دیگهایی که تو این کتاب وجود داره شرح ساخت و درست کردن پیکر بزرگ ابو سبمل که در دل کوه تراشیده شده و هنوز هم در دید عمومِ و مردم میتونن این معماری بزرگ و زیبا رو از نزدیک مشاهده کنن.
ساخت این پیکر بزرگ، کار معمار بزرگ اون زمان که «نف» نام داشته و از دوستان
صمیمی موسی بوده صورت گرفته که
بعدها فرعون دستور قتل نف رو به جرم پرستش خدای نادیده «آتون» صادر میکنه.
این کتاب بقدری نکات قابل توجه و خوندنی داره که خواننده از خوانشش لذت میبره و دچار بیحوصلگی نمیشه.
خوندن این کتاب برای من که علاقه مند به رمان های تاریخی مخصوصا با ترجمه و اقتباسهای زنده یاد ذبیح الله منصوری هستم جذاب بود
و از پنج ستاره چهار ستاره به این کتاب میدم.
October 10, 2017
This book had the potential to be a better book than I found it to be. Although this is a novel based upon a biblical character, Moses, this work is not biblical --- not by a long shot. This is a book written by a secular author using a Bible story to tell a story that he wants to tell, and, similar to many Hollywood movies on the Bible, it's not content to keep with the Biblical narrative, but goes well outside that to the point of embellishment. The book buys into the 19th-century theory that the Hebrews got the concept of monotheism from the Heretic Pharaoh, Akhenaten, and plays on that theme throughout the book --- when the reverse may also have been true ---- that this Pharaoh may have gotten his monotheistic beliefs from the Habiru emigrants that came into his domain centuries earlier. Getting aside from that, the Moses of this book comes across as aloof, sullen, resentful, and conflicted ---- which, given Moses' background as a slave imposed into the grandeur and despotism of the Egyptian aristocracy, seems understandable. But what makes this book not as great as it could have been is that Moses never really seems to grow beyond that. At times, in this book, he made me want to shake him by the shoulders and say, "Snap out of it! Grow up!" But he never does, and this book seems to be a narrative of a lot of Moses moping his way through various settings. In conclusion, I cannot give this book a very good eval --- I have to say that, while entertaining at times in some points, it was, overall, a disappointment.
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December 27, 2008من كتابخواني را به صورت جدي با ترجمههاي مرحوم (ذبيحالله منصوري) آغاز كردم. پيرامون ترجمههاي معروف آن مرحوم نقل و حديثهاي فراواني وجود دارد كه كاري به هيچ كدام از آنها ندارم. واقعيت امر اين است كه آن مرحوم حق بزرگي بر گردن بازار نشر ايران در دههي شصت و اوائل دههي هفتاد دارد. آنهايي كه يادشان ميآيد حتماً به خاطر دارند كه كتابهاي ايشان هيچ وقت در قفسهي كتابفروشيها نميماند، چه برسد به اين كه خاك بخورد. به نوعي ميشود گفت بازار نشر ايران تا حد زيادي، از كارگر چاپخانه بگيريد تا حروفچين و ناشر و توزيع كننده و كتابفروش به ايشان مديوناند
من وامثال من نيز كه كتابخواني را با ترجمههاي ايشان آغاز كرديم و بعدها براي خود صاحب سليقه شديم و در كتابخواني خط پيدا كرديم نيز به ايشان مديونيم. براي آن مرحوم همواره احترام قائلم
من وامثال من نيز كه كتابخواني را با ترجمههاي ايشان آغاز كرديم و بعدها براي خود صاحب سليقه شديم و در كتابخواني خط پيدا كرديم نيز به ايشان مديونيم. براي آن مرحوم همواره احترام قائلم
October 2, 2014
این کتاب نوشته هوارد فاست در مورد زندگی حضرت موسی است که به نام فرزند نیل توسط ذبیح الله منصوری ترجمه شده است ..در این کتاب روایتی متفاوت از انچه در متون دینی از حضرت موسی شنیده اید خواهید خواند ..اما انگار روایت های این کتاب بیشتر بر اثار مستند در اثار باستانی تاریخ مصر نوشته شده وسندیت تاریخی ان بیشتر از سندیت مذهبی ان است ..
March 30, 2025
This is a very well-written though conventional novel that focuses on Moses’ years as a teenager and young man at the Egyptian court and at war in Kush, that is, the upper Nile valleys. I don’t know how accurate the history is (do we know that there really was a Moses even?), but why let history get in the way of a good story? Fast’s third-person omniscient narrator does an especially good job getting into Moses’ mind as it is torn by his situation at the court, by slavery, by religion (gods vs. God), and by his search for a father. A good pre-Passover read.
July 14, 2011
I kept reading this book with images of Charleton Heston and the 10 Commandments, but it didn't live up to any of it. Slow pace. Predictable in places.
August 3, 2020
Howard Fast was a fascinating man, authoring more than 200 books, and an avowed member of the American / communist party who spent time in federal prison for refusing to name contributors to a Spanish Civil War orphans' home during the red scare. It was while in prison that he began probably his most well-known book, "Spartacus," which I greatly enjoyed. This one, I'm sorry to say, not so much. Although it was absorbing, with often exceptional turns of phrase, I didn't find it as inspirational or well written as other reviewers.
Certainly Fast did an excellent job of capturing the decadence and decay of Egypt, at the time when the tale of Moses is told. We learn of the child of Pharaoh's sister, the rumors surrounding his birth, how he stands apart from the many other children in the royal household, and how he himself feels somehow different. We follow him as his mother has him tutored in secret by a one-time priest of Aton, the banned sun god. And we see how Moses invariably opts for the hard road, rather than the easy road, as he matures.
It's well written, with all the historical authenticity one might expect, but there's a spark missing for me in the story. We get hints of the man Moses will become, particularly in his attitudes towards slavery; but his attitudes towards a higher being - which are essential for the exodus story, are ambivalent, if not hostile. Moses clearly hardens through experience in his views towards tyranny, corruption, violence and bondage, but we ride waves of confusion and bitterness that never achieve resolution towards religion, even as he hears about the monotheistic culture of his own Levite people. It's a bit like a toothless Razor's Edge, as he grows in anger against his Egyptian home, but finds no ease.
If you're familiar with either the 1923 or the 1956 film "The Ten Commandments," although the subject matter is the same, neither is similar to Howard Fast's telling (which was written in 1958). I should also note that my Bantam paperback edition (174 pages) included Fast's "Note," but lacked the very helpful "introduction" with the relevant Biblical reference. I read this while retrieving all things Moses - in a massive "Ten Commandments" period - but it was definitely not my favorite, and probably suffered in comparison to other works.
Certainly Fast did an excellent job of capturing the decadence and decay of Egypt, at the time when the tale of Moses is told. We learn of the child of Pharaoh's sister, the rumors surrounding his birth, how he stands apart from the many other children in the royal household, and how he himself feels somehow different. We follow him as his mother has him tutored in secret by a one-time priest of Aton, the banned sun god. And we see how Moses invariably opts for the hard road, rather than the easy road, as he matures.
It's well written, with all the historical authenticity one might expect, but there's a spark missing for me in the story. We get hints of the man Moses will become, particularly in his attitudes towards slavery; but his attitudes towards a higher being - which are essential for the exodus story, are ambivalent, if not hostile. Moses clearly hardens through experience in his views towards tyranny, corruption, violence and bondage, but we ride waves of confusion and bitterness that never achieve resolution towards religion, even as he hears about the monotheistic culture of his own Levite people. It's a bit like a toothless Razor's Edge, as he grows in anger against his Egyptian home, but finds no ease.
If you're familiar with either the 1923 or the 1956 film "The Ten Commandments," although the subject matter is the same, neither is similar to Howard Fast's telling (which was written in 1958). I should also note that my Bantam paperback edition (174 pages) included Fast's "Note," but lacked the very helpful "introduction" with the relevant Biblical reference. I read this while retrieving all things Moses - in a massive "Ten Commandments" period - but it was definitely not my favorite, and probably suffered in comparison to other works.
January 2, 2020
Originally published in 1958.
Published in 2001 by ibooks.
Howard Fast (1914-2003) was a prolific author of all sorts of works - poetry, plays, screenplays, essays, short stories, science fiction, fiction, articles for various publication and historical fiction. He literally worked as a professional author for his entire life, publishing his first book at age 18 and his last book at age 85.
I've decided to make a commitment to reading a Howard Fast historical fiction book from time to time after I read his novel about the Battle of Lexington and Concord, April Morning, this past summer. It was easily one of the better books I read last year.
Moses is the story of the towering figure of the Old Testament. It was intended to be a two part story, but as Fast notes in a forward to this 2001 reprint, he literally ran out of time to write the second half of the story. This novel covers Moses life up until the time when he kills the Egyptian beating the Hebrew slave and then flees into the wilderness.
You probably won't recognize many features of this story if you are expecting a literal re-telling of the story of the Bible. This 400+ page novel is covered by just 15 verses of the book of Exodus (Chapter 2: 1-15). If you include the setting described in chapter 1, you get to include another 22 verses. That is not much material to write a book with. Even less when you take the supernatural elements out of the story - an interesting choice for a book about Moses. It would have been interesting to see what he had done with the second half of the story - with the plagues and the burning bush and the pillar of fire and so on.
As I read this novel, I did a little research. Fast pulled heavily from non-Biblical traditional stories about Moses and adapted them. I enjoyed the adaptation up until...
Read more at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2020...
Published in 2001 by ibooks.
Howard Fast (1914-2003) was a prolific author of all sorts of works - poetry, plays, screenplays, essays, short stories, science fiction, fiction, articles for various publication and historical fiction. He literally worked as a professional author for his entire life, publishing his first book at age 18 and his last book at age 85.
I've decided to make a commitment to reading a Howard Fast historical fiction book from time to time after I read his novel about the Battle of Lexington and Concord, April Morning, this past summer. It was easily one of the better books I read last year.
Moses is the story of the towering figure of the Old Testament. It was intended to be a two part story, but as Fast notes in a forward to this 2001 reprint, he literally ran out of time to write the second half of the story. This novel covers Moses life up until the time when he kills the Egyptian beating the Hebrew slave and then flees into the wilderness.
You probably won't recognize many features of this story if you are expecting a literal re-telling of the story of the Bible. This 400+ page novel is covered by just 15 verses of the book of Exodus (Chapter 2: 1-15). If you include the setting described in chapter 1, you get to include another 22 verses. That is not much material to write a book with. Even less when you take the supernatural elements out of the story - an interesting choice for a book about Moses. It would have been interesting to see what he had done with the second half of the story - with the plagues and the burning bush and the pillar of fire and so on.
As I read this novel, I did a little research. Fast pulled heavily from non-Biblical traditional stories about Moses and adapted them. I enjoyed the adaptation up until...
Read more at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2020...
April 30, 2022
One of those "chosen for its cover" books which turned out to be a surprisingly pleasurable and poignant read, exceeding my expectations.
The scenes on the front and back covers of my vintage 1961 paperback edition gave me the impression that DeMille's epic Charlton Heston-starring 'Ten Commandments' might have been partly inspired by Howard Fast's alternative retelling of the great Hebrew liberator's/law-giver's life. I eventually discovered that there was no connection between novel and movie (except for the Talmudic/Jewish tradition sources which both supposedly made use of). But I wasn't disappointed.
This is the Bildungsroman of an unbiblical Moses. In three parts (The Prince of Egypt/The Captain of Kush/The Wanderer) the sweeping, evocative narrative takes us from a palace-walled/reared childhood/adolescence through to a tragedy-hit, disillusioned, war-scarred, horizon-broadened early manhood, as we follow the "half-named" protagonist prince on his physical and spiritual journey, wrestling with his true identity, his religious beliefs and his rightful place in a decadent and hostile Egypt-centric, ancient world; meeting, befriending, accompanied and guided by wise, cynical and world-wearied father and brother figures; showcasing the Campbellian cycle of the hero. Before one can liberate others and lead them on a path of freedom, one must first liberate him/herself, experiencing and walking such an uncharted path in their own personal, inner life.
This re-imagining of the early, searching, apocryphal gap years of one of the Old Testament's major figures succeeds in fictionally portraying the hypothetical seeds of what would develop and grow into the momentous episode of the biblical Exodus.
The scenes on the front and back covers of my vintage 1961 paperback edition gave me the impression that DeMille's epic Charlton Heston-starring 'Ten Commandments' might have been partly inspired by Howard Fast's alternative retelling of the great Hebrew liberator's/law-giver's life. I eventually discovered that there was no connection between novel and movie (except for the Talmudic/Jewish tradition sources which both supposedly made use of). But I wasn't disappointed.
This is the Bildungsroman of an unbiblical Moses. In three parts (The Prince of Egypt/The Captain of Kush/The Wanderer) the sweeping, evocative narrative takes us from a palace-walled/reared childhood/adolescence through to a tragedy-hit, disillusioned, war-scarred, horizon-broadened early manhood, as we follow the "half-named" protagonist prince on his physical and spiritual journey, wrestling with his true identity, his religious beliefs and his rightful place in a decadent and hostile Egypt-centric, ancient world; meeting, befriending, accompanied and guided by wise, cynical and world-wearied father and brother figures; showcasing the Campbellian cycle of the hero. Before one can liberate others and lead them on a path of freedom, one must first liberate him/herself, experiencing and walking such an uncharted path in their own personal, inner life.
This re-imagining of the early, searching, apocryphal gap years of one of the Old Testament's major figures succeeds in fictionally portraying the hypothetical seeds of what would develop and grow into the momentous episode of the biblical Exodus.
February 8, 2022
Fun read. Good story with enough creativity to fill the gaps in Moses life. So why a three star. Moses youth and young manhood, is inhabited by a whiney 8 year old. A young man, 6 feet tall and ready to go to war...and he whines to all adults like a ninny. OK at 8, not ok as 16, 18 and 20.
His naivete Is frankly, beyond the pale. Yes he would have lived a life that was utterly different than those around him, but they were still around him.
Well worth a read. once he grows up he becomes bearable.
His naivete Is frankly, beyond the pale. Yes he would have lived a life that was utterly different than those around him, but they were still around him.
Well worth a read. once he grows up he becomes bearable.
August 22, 2022
I thought this was an exceptional story about Moses from birth into young adulthood. He was a rebel, strong-willed, kind to the ones he loved and was very intelligent. The story is pretty graphic, especially when he is banished from the temple of Ramses and is sent off to war. I expected a book based on religious teachings but this was not that at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and fully anticipate reading more books by Howard Fast.
November 6, 2021
This book is a brilliant one. The Egypt of Moses' time is brought to life through the vivid imagination of the author.
I would have given four stars except for the fact that there was a plot-related error. In front of Ramses, Moses swears that the secret of his birth isn't known to Neph. But, Moses did discuss his origins with Neph. So, was Moses lying?
I would have given four stars except for the fact that there was a plot-related error. In front of Ramses, Moses swears that the secret of his birth isn't known to Neph. But, Moses did discuss his origins with Neph. So, was Moses lying?
September 19, 2022
کسانی که اهل تاریخ و رمان هستند، از همچین رمانهای تاریخی لذت خواهند برد. مخصوصا با ترجمه ذبیح الله منصوری
درسته حرف و حدیث در مورد ترجمه ایشون زیاده، اما این مساله چیزی از زیبایی ترجمه ایشون و زیبایی کتاب کم نمیکنه.
این کتاب راجع به حضرت موسی است.
لینک طاقچه
https://taaghche.com/book/119681/%D9%...
درسته حرف و حدیث در مورد ترجمه ایشون زیاده، اما این مساله چیزی از زیبایی ترجمه ایشون و زیبایی کتاب کم نمیکنه.
این کتاب راجع به حضرت موسی است.
لینک طاقچه
https://taaghche.com/book/119681/%D9%...
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February 18, 2023Excellent read
This is the first book that I have read by this author, Howard Fast. It is an excellent and heartwarming story of Moses and his struggles within the palace of his youth. Here within these confines he learns of his true origins and who he really is and who his people really are. If no one yet has read this book, then I highly recommend it.
This is the first book that I have read by this author, Howard Fast. It is an excellent and heartwarming story of Moses and his struggles within the palace of his youth. Here within these confines he learns of his true origins and who he really is and who his people really are. If no one yet has read this book, then I highly recommend it.
April 8, 2022
Thought provoking
Gpod books are hard to find today but this one held my interest from beginning to the last word. Fills the gap in the Biblical story of The life of Moses from his birth to his leadership of the Jewih people's in a believable version.
Gpod books are hard to find today but this one held my interest from beginning to the last word. Fills the gap in the Biblical story of The life of Moses from his birth to his leadership of the Jewih people's in a believable version.
November 13, 2018
Not quite what I expected. I found it a bit disappointing
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December 27, 2008من كتابخواني را به صورت جدي با ترجمههاي مرحوم (ذبيحالله منصوري) آغاز كردم. پيرامون ترجمههاي معروف آن مرحوم نقل و حديثهاي فراواني وجود دارد كه كاري به هيچ كدام از آنها ندارم. واقعيت امر اين است كه آن مرحوم حق بزرگي بر گردن بازار نشر ايران در دههي شصت و اوائل دههي هفتاد دارد. آنهايي كه يادشان ميآيد حتماً به خاطر دارند كه كتابهاي ايشان هيچ وقت در قفسهي كتابفروشيها نميماند، چه برسد به اين كه خاك بخورد. به نوعي ميشود گفت بازار نشر ايران تا حد زيادي، از كارگر چاپخانه بگيريد تا حروفچين و ناشر و توزيع كننده و كتابفروش به ايشان مديوناند
من وامثال من نيز كه كتابخواني را با ترجمههاي ايشان آغاز كرديم و بعدها براي خود صاحب سليقه شديم و در كتابخواني خط پيدا كرديم نيز به ايشان مديونيم. براي آن مرحوم همواره احترام قائلم
من وامثال من نيز كه كتابخواني را با ترجمههاي ايشان آغاز كرديم و بعدها براي خود صاحب سليقه شديم و در كتابخواني خط پيدا كرديم نيز به ايشان مديونيم. براي آن مرحوم همواره احترام قائلم
December 19, 2015
$2.99
Like the author, I was raised with the biblical story of Moses but never thought what his life must've been like being raised in the palace as the son of the Princess and possibly heir to the throne. Ramses II both admired and feared Moses, and legends grew up around him. He was never without want but never quite satisfied either. There are a few things that I thought were different, but of course this is a work of fiction. It gave me a good idea of how things might have gone for Moses and what made him so qualified to lead the Jews out of Egyptian slavery when the time was right.
Like the author, I was raised with the biblical story of Moses but never thought what his life must've been like being raised in the palace as the son of the Princess and possibly heir to the throne. Ramses II both admired and feared Moses, and legends grew up around him. He was never without want but never quite satisfied either. There are a few things that I thought were different, but of course this is a work of fiction. It gave me a good idea of how things might have gone for Moses and what made him so qualified to lead the Jews out of Egyptian slavery when the time was right.
May 30, 2014
This is an historical novel, a fictional biography of Moses, representing him as having been raised in the Egyptian royal court, but deciding to champion the Hebrew population. While highly speculative and rooted very much in the biblical account, Fast writes well enough that one's quibbles with his hermenuetics are easily ignored while absorbed in the story.
February 13, 2014
This is a highly fictionalized account of Moses' life in the years after he was found in the basket but before he ran away from Egypt. I loved this book and could not put it down. It was interesting to get a glimpse of life in ancient Egypt. Also, to understand better the relationship between the Israelites and the Egyptians.
November 26, 2015
Interesting
First time to have read a Howard Fast book, and am glad I did. Not sure what took me so long. Book covers the youth and young adulthood of Moses until the time when he was banished from the kingdom. Story of Moses handled with gentleness and insight regarding his compassion for the weak. Wish he had been able to write book two about freeing the people from Egypt.
First time to have read a Howard Fast book, and am glad I did. Not sure what took me so long. Book covers the youth and young adulthood of Moses until the time when he was banished from the kingdom. Story of Moses handled with gentleness and insight regarding his compassion for the weak. Wish he had been able to write book two about freeing the people from Egypt.
October 13, 2018
ترجمه عالی بود
و نثر روانی داشت
و نثر روانی داشت
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