Oracle of the Reeds

Oracle of the Reeds is a first person account of the relationship between Hatshepsut, the female pharoah of Ancient Egypt and her favorite, Senmut. The story is told by Senmut on his return from exile to die in his homeland. Oracle of the Reeds tells of Senmut's rise from humble origins to become tutor to Hatshepsut's daughter, the elicit love between the tutor and the king's wife, and his subsequent rise to power. When her husband dies, Thutmose III becomes the child king with Hatshepsut as regent. With Senmut's help, Hatshepsut usurps the throne and Senmut becomes the most powerful man in Egypt. Palace intrigue and Senmut's lust for power proves his and his lover's undoing and the two fall from grace.

Scrolls of papyrus are found in a humble grave which prove to be the written account of Senmut's life story. Oracle of the Reeds traces the story of this son of a paper maker to his education in the Prince's School in the palace at Thebes to his life as a priest of Amun and finally to the palace of Thutmose II where he secures a position as teacher in the king's harem. Here he meets the princess Hatshepsut as a child. It begins a long friendship that turns into a tempestuous love affair. When her husband dies, Hatshepsut assumes the role of regent of the child king Thutmose III. As such, she continues to bestow honors and power to her lover, Senmut. In his new role, Senmut becomes the king maker and Hatshepsut assumes the role of king dressed in the traditional male royal attire. The ambitious Senmut has also honed his skills as an architect and achieves his crowning glory creating the most beautiful of all Egyptian temples, the temple to Amun and Hathor at Deir el Bahri. For his achievement, he receives the honor of Greatest of the Great. Throughout the narrative flows the ageless Nile, bringing life to the kingdom's people. The smells, the sights, the songs, the poems, and the ancient gods pervade the atmosphere of a magic time. Hatshepsut's reign is one of the most peaceful and prosperous in Egyptian history, but it is fraught with danger. Hapuseneb, the High Priest of Amun and soon to be vizier enters the palace and forms an alliance with the teenaged Thutmose. Already a boyhood enemy of Senmut's, his plots and intrigues prove to be the undoing of Senmut who is forced into exile and ultimately the death of the female king.

Thomas Bauer is a native Californian. Educated at Occidental College, he has been an educator, actor, and theater director. Oracle of the Reeds is his fourth novel. He has also written plays, short stories and poetry. He lives in Morro Bay on the Central Coast of California with his wife Joyce and his dachshund Strudel. He volunteers with The Marine Mammal Center which rescues sick and injured sea lions, elephant seals, otters, and other pinnipeds.