The Bottom Line
Unlike "The Red Tent," which was based on a tiny episode from the Bible, "The Shadow Women" provides a convincing context for the entire book of Exodus.
Pros
- No sensationalism.
- Gives clear form to shadowy Biblical women.
- Romantic, heroic, and noble story.
Cons
- Based pretty strictly on the Bible.
- Nonagenarians act like 30 somethings.
- Odd selection of "Pharaoh."
Description
- The story of the women in the life of Moses - sister, mothers, and wife.
- First half similar to Christian Jacq series; second to Diamant's "Red Tent."
- Really Biblical rather than historical fiction.
- A retelling of a great, timeless tale with almost no Christian preaching.
- Provides enough Jewish history to explain why Levi's descendants thought so highly of themselves.
Guide Review - Book Review - "The Shadow Women"
The first half of "The Shadow Women" tells the familiar story of Moses up to his flight from Egypt, but from the perspective of women in his life, particularly Pharaoh's daughter Merytamon. Hunt casts Pharaoh's daughter as one of his wives, secretly sterile and desperately needing an infant to prove her worth.
The second half tells the story of Moses' life with his pagan wife, and his return to Egypt to rescue his people. Here Hunt uses the perspective of Moses' wife Zipporah and sister Miryam. Conflict between a daughter of God's chosen people (Miryam) and Moses' agnostic, non-Levite wife is inevitable.
Hunt, who excels in realistic emotional responses, deftly embroiders the Exodus plot to explore interpersonal relationships.
