A Historian Reads: The Woman Who Would Be King

While on vacation I devoured Dr. Kara Cooney's most recent publication, The Woman Who Would Be King. Dr. Cooney, a practicing Egyptologist who teaches at UCLA, wrote this book as a biography based on her research in Egypt but also as an attempt to understand Hatshepsut's psychological development. In the preface, Dr. Cooney addresses that some of her conjectures may not be well received by the Egyptologist community but that it is necessary in places where there is no other evidence available. However, she defends her decision by explaining that her characterization of the Pharaoh is based on events, her actions, and Dr. Cooney's understanding of women in the ancient world.

The book begins by describing what life would have been like for the young princess living in the royal palace. Her family is new to the crown. Her father, Thutmose I, came to the throne after a power vacuum brought him into power. As a young child and royal family member, she would have been inducted into the religious practices and become witness to the political maneuvers required to run the kingdom. Her marriage to her half brother brought her the title of Wife of the King and Wife of the God. This marriage resulted in daughters but Thutmose II's concubine was able to produce the desired son. This son, Thutmose III, would play a large role in the life and career of Hatshepsut.

After the death of her husband/half brother, Hatshepsut began to position herself to take the throne. Her first action was to have herself declared co-regent. From here, she used national building projects, diplomacy, and political brilliance to cement herself (literally) as Pharaoh and supreme leader of Egypt. However, the young Thutmose III who she was able to keep under control would not stay young and impressionable forever. As he grew into a young man, he began to fight back and regaining his crown. After Hatshepsut's death, her successor would do everything within his power to remove her name, memory, and legacy from Egyptian record.

Dr. Cooney's writing is hypnotic. I found myself wanting the rest of the world to go away so I could devote myself to reading. Her ability to synthesize prose and history is envious and do not think for a second that Dr. Cooney is sacrificing education for entertainment. After finishing the book (that was a sad moment) I better understood what she meant in her preface. There is a lot of presumptions made but they are not unbelievable. Her characterizations of what Hatshepsut might have felt during ceremonies, childbirth, or in political debates makes logical sense and are part of what makes this book so enjoyable to read. Dr. Cooney humanizes the notorious Pharaoh and gives her flesh and blood emotions and desires. This is a book I will be reading over and over again!