Mara, Daughter of the Nile
First edition
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| Author | Eloise Jarvis McGraw |
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| Cover artist | Derek James |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Coward McCann |
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Publication date
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1953 |
| Pages | 279 |
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw is a historical fiction children's book. It follows Mara, a young Egyptian girl who takes up a dangerous job as a double spy between two different masters.
Mara: An Egyptian slave girl who yearns for adventure, and more importantly, freedom.
Teta: A servant that works with Mara and frequently scolds and complains about Mara's doing.
Zasha: Mara's master at the beginning at the book. He is a jewel trader and is quite wealthy. He is afraid of Mara's blue eyes, and he beats her and the other servants often.
Nahereh: Mara's second master, who buys her from Zasha. He is stone faced and mysterious. Later, Mara finds out his name, and who he is. He is the brother of Queen Hatshepsut's right-hand man.
Sheftu: A man who meets Mara on the boat to Thebes. He is working for the side opposite Nahereh. She overhears a private conversation about the revolution, and Sheftu, thinking she is a runaway slave, promises to kill her if she does not work for him. He is guarded and secretive, but can be charming.
Nekonkh: The captain of the boat on which they sail, he soon becomes a friend to Sheftu's cause.
Inanni: The babylonian princess whom Mara interprets for as a cover; they soon become friends and confidantes.
Hatshepsut: The woman Pharaoh. She is portrayed as a selfish, gold waster. She is overthrown by Thutmose (see below)
Thutmose: The contender for the throne, he is the rightful heir.
Sahure: A juggler who proves himself a traitor to Sheftu and the others. He has a twisted charm about him, but Mara has difficulty describing it in the book.
Djedet: priest of the semranic (mummification and burial)
Living in ancient Egypt, Mara is a slave under the rule of Queen Hatshepsut, living(or surviving) in Menfe. Mara is not like other slaves; she can read and write, as well as speak the language of Babylonian. She also, oddly enough, has bright blue eyes. Struggling daily to find a way out of her wretched life as a slave Mara takes secret visits to the marketplace, behind her cruel master's back. On one such trip, Mara is observed by two men, Nahereh and Sheftu, who both note her intelligence.
The first man, Nahereh, appears shortly afterwards to buy her from her master and offers Mara an escape from her life: if she will serve him and the Queen as a spy and accomplish her mission, he promises her riches and freedom, but death, if she is found out. Mara accepts the task and she spies for the queen.
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