The Cat of Bubastes
G. A. Henty
MP3 CD
(IDB Productions, Jan. 1, 2016)
George Alfred Henty is known for his historical adventure series that used to be extremely popular in the 19th century. Aside from The Cat of Bubastes, he has also written many other historical fiction stories, some of the most well-known being With Clive in India, The Young Buglers and Out on the Pampas. The Cat of Bubastes is a curious story, set in Ancient Egypt, and depicting an interesting bit of historical fiction that sounds quite authentic, and is also highly entertaining, as well as easy to read. Written with younger readers in mind, the story features a young prince whose kingdom is overrun by the Egyptians. Like many of his people, he is enslaved, and eventually becomes a fugitive when his master foolishly kills a cat considered sacred according to the Egyptian tradition. Together with his companion, Chebron, the prince plots his escape from the land of Egypt. Will, however, his plans be successful? This exceptionally well-written story may fascinate you just as much as it will pleasantly surprise you through its genuine sounding historical depiction and impressive plot. Following the prince's exciting and, in some instances, scary adventures, you will feel like you are actually there with him, walking beside him as one of his companions, and being part of events. Henty manages to create an atmosphere that is dynamic and engaging, basically perfect for younger audiences. Even today, many teenagers reading the book claim that they have kept reading it over and over again, and simply haven't been able to get enough. While teaching young people about history, the story is also an educational analogy of the coming of age process. Torn from his own home, stripped of his freedom and then forced to fend for himself, the prince is not unlike a younger person in today's society attempting to come to terms with the harsh reality of life, after having been sheltered from them as a child.