Ramesses the Great

Egypt's King of Kings

By: Toby Wilkinson

Narrated by: Robbie Stevens

The life, dramatic reign, and enduring legacy of the pharaoh Ramesses the Great, with lessons for the present, from internationally acclaimed Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson

Ramesses II ruled the Nile Valley and the wider Egyptian empire from 1279 to 1213 B.C., one of the longest reigns in pharaonic history. He was a cultural innovator, a relentless self-promoter, and an astute diplomat—the peace treaty signed after the Battle of Kadesh was the first in recorded history. He outbuilt every other Egyptian pharaoh, leaving behind the temples of Abu Simbel; the great hypostyle hall of Karnak; the tomb for his wife Nefertari; and his own memorial, the Ramesseum.

His reputation eclipsed that of all other pharaohs as well: he was decried in the Bible as a despot, famed in literature as Ozymandias, and lauded by early antiquarians as the Younger Memnon. His rule coincided with the peak of ancient Egypt’s power and prosperity, the New Kingdom (1539–1069 B.C.).

In this authoritative biography, Toby Wilkinson considers Ramesses’ preoccupations and preferences, uncovering the methods and motivations of a megalomaniac ruler, with lessons for our own time.

©2023 Toby Wilkinson (P)2023 Yale Press Audio (Yale University)

Ramesses II

Wow was there a lot of info. Every single sentence held important information. I think I should have started with a preview before I read Ramesses the Great. I’ll have to read it again. Very well written.

Great stuff. Minimal notes.

I wish they'd make a space to talk more about the politics preceding Ramses. Like, this is a great lesson in authoritarianism and what it looks like; but a separate audiobook talks about this politically motivated assassination of Tut, so I wish I saw how we went from The Cult of Amun's reaction to Atek's revision, & how that assassination benefited Tut's following Pharoahs into the 19th Dynasty... I feel like there's a cultural movement there I'm missing.

It left me wanting more.

The narrator was perfect. the book itself left me wanting to know more. I look forward to many more history works by this author.