The Seventh Scroll: Ancient Egypt, Book 2

I love this book 20 years ago when I read it the first time, and I still love it reading it as an older man. Just a great story written by a great author invoice that compels me even today.

In 1988, Wilbur Smith was invited by archaeologists working a dig on the West Bank of the Nile to view the remains of an unknown Queen buried with all of her treasures - possibly circa 1780 B.C. The most precious of this find were papyri scrolls authored by an individual living 4,000 years ago and translated by experts at the university of Cairo. What was obvious in the scrolls was that the ancient author had loved his Queen. Although he was a braggart, he also had appealing human qualities such as a loving spirit, compassion and an innovative mind. These scrolls inspired the author to create Taita. One cannot avoid becoming attached to this mythic character who is a physician, artist, poet, engineer; the perfect deus ex machina.In order to get the full effect of this second book of the series, RIVER GOD must be read first. Taita is peripheral to the present day action in THE SEVENTH SCROLL, but one is always aware of his spirit. The author has pleasured us with a contemporary version of Taita in the superhero, Sir Nicholas Quentin-Harper. He is able to coordinate all of his resources, financial and manpower as well as his considerable skills to help Royan Al Simma in her quest for the stolen seventh scroll which will lead to the tomb of Pharaoh Mamose. Both Nicholas and Royan have opposing goals in their endeavor; many of their adventures are life threatening, but neither one can deny that they have deep feelings for each other. The author comes to the rescue and provides us with an equitable resolution to this dilemma.Taita did his ultimate best so that the tomb of his friend and king would remain forever hidden, but even his genius could not fathom the technological advances of our century. He remains an awesome character for me along with his symbolic signature of a hawk with a broken wing.

WILBUR SMITH IS GREAT. ALL HIS BOOKS WORTH READING. I USE ON KINDLE AND I AM QUITE PLEASED.

As with any Wilbur Smith story, it begins with a bang that turns into a rollercoaster ride that doesn't let up. So much history and adventure in a single reader, it boggles the mind and becomes something you can't put down til the end and even then you're still under the influence.

If you like historical novels and mysteries you should enjoy this book. Needless to say I love ancient Egyptian culture and cleverness. The Seventh Scroll takes place in current day and delves into the River God story.

If you're interested in Egypt, Ethiopia, history, or Africa and adventure in general, I highly recommend this book. Ties in well with the history described in River God. Very worthwhile read

I’m like a little kid when I read the Egyptian Series. What a wonderful mind was Wilbur Smith’s. He will be missed by all of us, but we will always have his creations.

The first book in the series is "The River God," wherein Taita, the eunuch genius mathematician, architect, engineer, physician and tutor to Queen Lostris of ancient Egypt, tells the story of her life, loves and death; including the exile south to Cush (modern Sudan and Ethiopia) when the Hyksos invade Egypt.Modern archaeologists have found the queen's tomb and Taita's manuscripts. The Seventh Scroll is his story, and was translated and given to author Wilbur Smith to publish as the "fictional" "The River God".Baddies kill one of the architects and steal the scroll. The surviving archaeologist--wife of the dead one-- enlists a professional (black market) antiquities hunter-collector-broker (grave robber) to search for the tomb of the Pharaoh Mamose that Taita built in Cush and told about in the scroll.While the plot is straight-forward, there is lots of exciting action, well-developed characters and enough suspense to keep you looking forward to the next page.

I have found this book really boring, the whole action in the book drags for ages lots of unnecessary descriptions, scenery, equipment terrain etc description of a tiny detail which doesn't contribute to the story. Very predictable action... Russian bad...English Alway right and correct this 700 pages of hard work to get through this book very often I lost myself wandering off with my thoughts while reading...I couldn't finish this I would call it painful reading managed to get 70% then I have not been able to engage myself in the book it was like watching a movie and waiting for something exciting happen...it never came...

King Solomon's Mines with gratuitous sex and.violence.Macho good guys with attitudes towards women from somewhere in the last century; several evil bad guys who all come to very predictable sticky ends; plus a couple of compliant simpering females. Throw this lot into a well-worn search for buried treasure plot and you've pretty much summed up the whole thing.An over-abundance of research detail does nothing to disguise the shallowness of the yarn, but just adds an extra layer of lipstick on the pig.

I loved the River God, a sublime piece of story telling, but was a little disappointed that this book didn't match its quality. The characters were less robust and less convincing. It almost felt as if the author was rushing through to honour a contract rather than writing with any real passion.

If I could have given this book nil stars, I would. Absolute tosh from Wilbur Smith.I gave up on this book after a couple of wasted hours. The characters are stereotypes - from the English upper class male - handsome and rich of course to the Russian Tour Operator wh drinks a bottle of vodka every night before beating his wife.Not the Wilbur Smith that I know and love.

Extremely well written adventure story. It concerns a long lost Egyptian Pharaohs tomb which is discovered buried in Ethiopia. There is a race against time to find the tomb and rescue the treasure as it is buried in the rock face within the river Nile so requires damming the River.Recommended.