Coming Forth By Day

Coming Forth by Day tells the story of the first peasant revolt in human history, which took place 4,500 years ago. Led by Meneptah, the peasants of a small province in ancient Egypt seek autonomy from the Pharaoh, and establish their own rule. The Pharaoh invites Meneptah to the capital for a festival, and ultimately manages to arrest and behead him. Meneptah’s province is attacked by the royal army, but a few people, including Meneptah’s pregnant wife, escape—to start a new community elsewhere. The novel’s strength lies in its sweeping epic style and its carefully textured presentation of everyday life in ancient Egypt.