How Djadja-Em-Ankh Saved the Day, by Lise Manniche

Book 22 for my 2026 goal of 36 books for the year! Now a little ahead with my reading schedule. With all the hubbub about The Odyssey in theaters the past few weeks, I decided to crack a joke on social media about rereading an even better historical epic from ancient Egypt — the story of Djadja-Em-Ankh! I took classes on ancient Near East history in college and learned of this classic tale from the Westcar Papyrus. The story is very, very silly, which would’ve been the joke on social media. However, while looking up Djadja-Em-Ankh (impossible to forget that name), I learned that an absolutely delightful edition of the story was published in 1977, translated and commented on by Lise Manniche! I immediately needed this book for my collection, and was able to secure a copy for only about $20 — lots of used books can be had cheaply simply due to lack of demand! The book is very thin — the story of Djadja-Em-Ankh is just the third chapter in a story in the aforementioned papyrus. He is…