A Finnish masterpiece written in three months captures the eternal, unchanging nature of humanity.
In short: Mika Waltari’s 1945 novel The Egyptian remains a singular achievement in Finnish literature. Written in a feverish, three-month burst of inspiration, this historical epic uses the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten to mirror the disillusionment of World War II, arguing that human nature has remained fundamentally the same for millennia.
The novel follows Sinuhe, a royal physician who recounts his life from exile. His journey spans the ancient world, from the Levant and Babylon to Minoan Crete and the Hittite Empire. Through Sinuhe’s eyes, Waltari explores the clash between idealism and realism, personified by the pacifist Pharaoh Akhenaten and the pragmatic warlord Horemheb. While Akhenaten seeks to establish a monotheistic, egalitarian society, his vision collapses into civil war, illustrating the dangers of well-intentioned blindness in a world driven by greed and power.
Waltari’s depiction of 14th-century BC Egypt is renowned for its historical depth, despite the author never visiting the country. He feared that seeing modern Egypt would shatter his internal vision of the ancient world. Instead, he relied on decades of research, sparked by the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Scholars note that the novel’s portrayal of institutions, bureaucracy, and social structures feels strikingly modern, creating a tension between the archaic setting and the familiar, timeless human failings depicted within.
The work is deeply influenced by the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes, echoing its refrain that there is nothing new under the sun. Waltari’s own experiences as a propagandist during the Winter and Continuation Wars infused the text with a profound sense of war-weariness. The geopolitical tensions in the novel, particularly the threat of the Hittites, serve as thinly veiled allegories for the conflicts of the 1940s. Ultimately, the book suggests that while individuals may be flawed and history may be cyclical, the hope for future change persists alongside the recognition of our unchanging instincts.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Egyptian
- Also: Art Institute of Chicago — The Egyptian · CC0 (data); description CC BY 4.0
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