Mischief of the Fates

Author: Naguib Mahfouz

This is the first novel in Mahfouz's historical trilogy, and also his first published novel overall. It revolves around King Khufu during the construction of the Great Pyramid. Khufu hears a prophecy from the magician Dedi that he will be the last king of his dynasty to rule Egypt, as a child born in a village to a priest will rule after him. Khufu then leads a campaign to eliminate the child, but the news reaches the priest, who smuggles his son and wife to a distant place. The pharaoh arrives at the priest's house and kills another child born on the same day. Thus, events unfold in various directions until the child grows up and poses a threat to King Khufu's throne later on.