The Throne of Osiris

Egypt circa 1100 BCE - trouble comes to the highest spheres of government of this ancient empire. Pharaoh's rule has been rendered largely symbolic. The kingdom's nobility has fallen on hard times. Subjected to abuse and misery, the masses of common people are ripe for revolt.
Twenty-two-year-old Crown Prince Ramses is a man of action and of conflicting traits. Charismatic bold and stubborn, but also reasonable and possessing a deep sense of fair play, he sets into motion policies to avert a coming crisis. But he comes up against Egypt's entrenched High Council of Archpriests who act to thwart the prince's efforts. Conflict ensues. The nation and the army all side with the young ruler, as do government officials and even many of the younger priests. The council has only their wealth, about a thousand allies, barely a few military units, and an unusually smart organizing ability. As uneven as these odds are the outcome is far from certain, and especially when Egypt's gods choose sides. The consequent power struggle threatens the ancient world with the collapse of the social order.
The Throne of Osiris is a saga of intrigue and subterfuge, flush with details and complex characters-an epic account of crisis in government and the struggle for dominance. This classic tale offers a rich depiction of life in ancient Egypt, the structure of its society, its religious beliefs, its architecture, and traditions. It is a study in the raw mechanisms of power and explores the attempts of the young to govern and to right society's ills.