The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt

This biography traces the remarkable path of Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt as pharaoh in the 15th century BCE. Through careful examination of archaeological evidence and historical context, Kara Cooney reconstructs the life of a woman who transformed herself from queen consort to regent to king. The narrative follows Hatshepsut's navigation of Egypt's complex political and religious systems during the New Kingdom period. Cooney examines the roles of family dynamics, religious authority, and economic power in Hatshepsut's unprecedented rise to pharaonic authority. In chronicling this ancient ruler's life, Cooney balances scholarly analysis with accessible storytelling. The work situates Hatshepsut's reign within broader themes of gender, power, and legitimacy in the ancient world.

Readers appreciate Cooney's accessible writing style and her ability to reconstruct Hatshepsut's life despite limited historical records. Many note the book provides clear context about Ancient Egyptian politics, religion, and gender roles. Likes: - Detailed explanations of Egyptian customs and beliefs - Clear breakdown of complex family relationships - Balance between academic research and engaging narrative Dislikes: - Frequent speculation and use of phrases like "might have" or "could have" - Too much repetition of key points - Some readers found the writing style too informal for a historical work Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (580+ ratings) Common reader comment: "The author makes too many assumptions but provides fascinating insights into female leadership in ancient Egypt." Multiple reviewers mentioned the book works better as an introduction to Ancient Egypt rather than a definitive Hatshepsut biography.

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🔸 Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for more than two decades during a time of great prosperity, yet her successor Thutmose III attempted to erase her from history by destroying or defacing many of her monuments. 🔸 Author Kara Cooney is a professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA and has hosted multiple documentaries about ancient Egypt for the Discovery Channel and National Geographic. 🔸 The story of Hatshepsut's rise to power began when she served as queen regent for her young stepson, but instead of stepping down when he came of age, she declared herself pharaoh and ruled alongside him. 🔸 Hatshepsut was portrayed in statues and reliefs wearing traditional male pharaonic regalia, including a false beard, yet maintained feminine pronouns in many of her inscriptions. 🔸 The rediscovery of Hatshepsut's story only began in the mid-19th century when scholars finally decoded the hieroglyphics on her monuments and realized a woman had ruled as pharaoh.