Christian Jacq, au Salon du Livre de Paris 2013 (8594182587)

Christian Jacq (; born 28 April 1947) is a French author and

Egyptologist Egyptology (from ''Egypt'' and Greek , '' -logia''; ar, علم المصريات) is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religiou ...

. He has written several novels about ancient Egypt, notably a five book series about

pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian: '' pr ꜥꜣ''; cop, , Pǝrro; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') is the vernacular term often used by modern authors for the kings of ancient Egypt who ruled as monarchs from the First Dynasty (c. 3150 BC) until the ...

Ramses II Ramesses II ( egy, rꜥ-ms-sw ''Rīʿa-məsī-sū'', , meaning "Ra is the one who bore him"; ), commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Along with Thutmose III he is often regarded as t ...

, a character whom Jacq admires greatly.

Biography

Born in Paris, Jacq's interest in Egyptology began when he was thirteen, when he read ''History of Ancient Egyptian Civilization'' by Jacques Pirenne. This inspired him to write his first novel. By the time he was eighteen, he had written eight books. His first commercially successful book was ''Champollion the Egyptian'', published in 1987. , he has written over fifty books, including several non-fiction books on the subject of Egyptology. Jacq has a doctorate in Egyptian Studies from the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

. He and his wife later founded the Ramses Institute, which is dedicated to creating a photographic description of Egypt for the preservation of endangered archaeological sites. Between 1995 and 1997, he published his best-selling five book suite ''Ramsès'', which is today published in over twenty-five countries. Each volume encompasses one aspect of Ramses's known historical life, woven into a fictional tapestry of the ancient world for an epic tale of love, life and deceit. Jacq's series describes a vision of the life of the pharaoh: he has two vile power-hungry siblings, Shanaar, his decadent older brother, and Dolora, his corrupted older sister who married his teacher. In his marital life, he first has

Isetnofret Isetnofret (or Isis-nofret or Isitnofret) ( Ancient Egyptian: "the beautiful Isis") was one of the Great Royal Wives of Pharaoh Ramesses II and was the mother of his successor, Merneptah. She was one of the most prominent of the royal wives ...

(Iset) as a mistress (second Great Wife), meets his true love Nefertari (first Great Wife) and after their deaths, marries Maetnefrure in his old age. Jacq gives Ramses only three biological children: Kha'emweset,

Meritamen Meritamen (also spelled ''Meritamun, Merytamen, Merytamun, Meryt-Amen''; ancient Egyptian: ''Beloved of Amun'') was a daughter and later Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses the Great. Family Meritamen was a daughter of Ramesses and one ...

(she being the only child of Nefertari, the two others being from Iset) and

Merneptah Merneptah or Merenptah (reigned July or August 1213 BC – May 2, 1203 BC) was the fourth pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. He ruled Egypt for almost ten years, from late July or early August 1213 BC until his death on May 2, ...

. The other "children" are only young officials trained for government and who are nicknamed "sons of the pharaoh".

Books

These books are typically classed as historical fiction; many of them delve into the supernatural powers given to the Pharaoh, however, and could be considered fantasy by loose definition.

The Ramses Series

The story of the greatest Pharaoh in history #''The Son of Light'' (1995) #''The Temple of a Million Years'' Formerly published as ''The Eternal Temple'' (1995) #''The Battle of Kadesh'' (1996) #''The Lady of Abu Simbel'' (1996) #''Under the Western Acacia'' (1997)

The Stone of Light Series

The craftsman's village at

Deir al-Madinah Deir el-Medina ( arz, دير المدينة), or Dayr al-Madīnah, is an ancient Egyptian workmen's village which was home to the artisans who worked on the tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the 18th to 20th Dynasties of the New Kingdom ...

is one of the few places in the ancient world where life has been vividly preserved. Jacq uses real names, characters and scandals to reconstruct life in this extraordinary place. #''Nefer the Silent'' #''The Wise Woman'' #''Paneb the Ardent'' #''The Place of Truth''

The Queen of Freedom Trilogy

The tale of Queen Ahhotep, Egypt's "Joan of Arc" and her crusade to liberate her nation from the

Hyksos Hyksos (; Egyptian '' ḥqꜣ(w)- ḫꜣswt'', Egyptological pronunciation: ''hekau khasut'', "ruler(s) of foreign lands") is a term which, in modern Egyptology, designates the kings of the Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt (fl. c. 1650–1550 BC). T ...

oppressors #''The Empire of Darkness'' #''War of the Crowns'' #''The Flaming Sword''

The Judge of Egypt Trilogy

In the Age of Ramses, Egypt's power is unchallenged. However, a dark conspiracy seeks to strike at the Pharaoh ... only an idealistic judge and a young doctor stand between Egypt and oblivion. #''Beneath the Pyramid'' #''Secrets of the Desert'' #''Shadow of the Sphinx''

The Mysteries of Osiris Series

#''The Tree of Life'' #''The Conspiracy of Evil'' #''The Way of Fire'' #''The Great Secret''

The Vengeance of the Gods Series

#''Manhunt'' #'' The Divine Worshipper''

The Mozart Series

#''The Great Magician'' #''The Son of Enlightenment'' #''The Brother of Fire'' #''The Beloved of Isis''

Other books

*''Egyptian Magic'' (non-fiction 1985) *''The Black Pharaoh'' *''The Tutankhamun Affair'' *''For the Love of Philae'' *''Champollion the Egyptian'' *''Master Hiram and King Solomon'' *''The Living Wisdom of Ancient Egypt'' (non-fiction) *''Fascinating Hieroglyphics'' (non-fiction 1997) *''Magic and Mystery in Ancient Egypt'' (non-fiction 1998) *''The Wisdom of Ptah Hotep'' (non-fiction 2006) *''Tutankhamun: The Last Secret'' (February 2009) *''The Judgement of the Mummy'' (2009) *''Egypt'' (non fiction 2009)

References

Annette Lévy-Willard, « Christian Jacq, le nouveau pharaon », ''Libération'', 09/05/1996.

* [http://www.lefigaro.fr/mon-figaro/2013/02/15/10001-20130215ARTFIG00534-christian-jacq-ou-le-bon-filon-de-bernard-fixot.php Thiébault Dromard, « Christian Jacq ou le bon filon de Bernard Fixot », ''Le Figaro économie'', 12/08/2004.]
Blaise de Chabalier, « Christian Jacq, dans la peau d'un scribe », ''Le Figaro'', 29/01/2009.

Christian Jacq, « L'Égypte pharaonique n'existe plus, mais ses valeurs persistent », ''Le Figaro magazine'', 01/05/2009.

* ttp://www.lefigaro.fr/livres/2010/11/06/03005-20101106ARTFIG00001-docteur-christian-et-le-mystere-jacq.php Laure Mentzel, « Docteur Christian et le mystère Jacq », ''Le Figaro'', 05/11/2010.
Isabelle Falconnier, « Christian Jacq : un Égyptien à Blonay », ''L'Hebdo'', 18/12/2014.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacq, Christian 1947 births Living people Writers from Paris French Egyptologists 20th-century French novelists 21st-century French novelists University of Paris alumni French historical novelists Writers of historical fiction set in antiquity French male novelists French children's writers Winners of the Prix Broquette-Gonin (literature) Prix Maison de la Presse winners 20th-century French male writers 21st-century French male writers French male non-fiction writers