Based closely on historical events, this sensuously beautiful, astonishingly evocative novel tells the story of one of history's most remarkable women—the first female Pharaoh of Egypt. Thirty-five centuries ago, Hatshepsut, the youngest daughter of the Pharaoh, was to marry her father's illegitimate son and heir to the throne, Thothmes, in order to cleanse the bloodline in accordance with Egypt's supreme law. Fearing his son's incompetence, Hatshepsut's father chose her as the heir—provided that the unprecedented ascension by a woman did not inspire the priests to commit treason or instill enough hatred in the envious heart of her half-brother and future consort to have her put to death. Rich in historical detail, this account recalls the rule of one of Egypt's greatest queens who, under her father's guidance, assumed the throne at the age of 15 and ruled brilliantly for more than two decades.