KARA COONEY is an associate professor of Egyptian art and architecture at UCLA in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. In 2005, she was co-curator of Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Cooney produced a comparative archaeology series entitled Out of Egypt, which aired on the Discovery Channel and is streaming on Netflix.
"Engrossing and compulsively readable." -TIME
"The life of Hatshepsut, Egypt's second female pharaoh, was replete
with opulent living, complex royal bloodlines, and sexual energy;
in short, the kind of drama that fuels Ancient Egypt's enduring
appeal...From Hatshepsut's self-perception, political prowess, and
lifestyle emerge an image of the 'ultimate working mother' and a
compelling insight into ancient gender roles." -Publishers Weekly
"Cooney does a fantastic job of breathing new life into her subject
and showing the woman who dared to keep herself and her nephew
Thutmose III on the throne, as well as what led Hatshepsut's name
to be tarnished and nearly erased from history. The book will be of
great interest to those fascinated by ancient Egypt, history, and
women's history."-Library Journal "This biography could only be
based on conjecture and guesswork, but the addition of expertise
makes it well worth reading. The author's Egyptology background
provides the nitty-gritty of daily life and animates this king (at
the time, there was no word for 'queen')... Cooney's detective work
finally brings out the story of a great woman's reign."--Kirkus
Reviews "Egyptologist Cooney peels back the layers of the life of
Hatshepsut, Egypt's second female pharaoh, providing a
multidimensional portrait of a woman of strength, intelligence, and
substance."--Booklist
"Highly engrossing... [an] informed-by-expertise, compellingly
written conjecture that will draw curious readers in with its vivid
depiction of life in Ancient Egypt and a truly remarkable
woman."--BookPage
"The Woman Who Would Be King is a fascinating look at one of the
most formidable and successful women in all of ancient history.
Before Cleopatra there was Hatshepsut. Now, thanks to Kara Cooney,
the real Hatshepsut stands before us in all her glory. For the
first time we have a full-length biography of her that is not only
a great scholarly work but also a marvelous read." -Amanda Foreman,
author of Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire and A World on Fire:
Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War "The compelling
biography of a fascinating woman: the daughter, wife and stepmother
of kings, who defied tradition to rule the most powerful nation in
the Mediterranean world as pharaoh. Cooney tells her tale with
authority, sensitivity and imagination. It is a tale that deserves
to be told." -Joyce Tyldesley, author of Cleopatra: Last Queen of
Egypt and Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh
"What Stacy Schiff did for Cleopatra, Kara Cooney has done for
Hatshepsut. An absolutely fantastic read about one of the most
powerful Pharaoh-Queens in ancient Egypt. Completely
unputdownable!" -Michelle Moran, bestselling author of Nefertiti
"The story of Hatshepsut, the woman who ruled Egypt as Pharaoh, is
an amazing tale and Dr. Cooney tells it in a very personal way.
Readers are going to love this version!"--Bob Brier, author of The
Murder of Tutankhamen "This biography of Hatshepsut is an ideal
blend of historical analysis and an imaginative story. With her
unique ability to address both the general public and scholars
alike, Cooney's narrative flows as if it were a novel, but at the
same time illuminates the historical, economic, social, and
religious context of Hatshepsut's world, and that of the people
surrounding her. The reader is given a glimpse into a vibrant
ancient world--one that we oftentimes forget about in the midst of
all the granite and mudbrick that remains today. Writing a
biography of a woman about whom there is little archival
information is difficult, to say the least. Nevertheless, Cooney
presents a seamless picture of Hatshepsut's life and her rise to
power in ancient Egypt." --Professor Kathleen Sheppard, author of
The Life of Margaret Alice Murray: A Woman's Work in Archaeology
"Kara Cooney has written a lively, engaging, historically accurate
account of one of the most controversial of Egypt's female
pharaohs, Hatshepsut. Weaving together evidence from historical
texts, the queen's monuments, and archaeological finds, Cooney
presents an accessible story of Hatshepsut's rise to power until
her demise, bringing ancient Egypt, its people, and its rulers to
life. A fun and interesting read!" -Salima Ikram, Professor of
Egyptology, American University in Cairo
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