The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt was published by Blackie and Son in 1889. Amuba, a young prince of the Rebu (a people defeated by Egypt), and Chebron, the son of an Egyptian high priest, accidentally kill a sacred cat of the goddess Bastet. In a society where cats are divine, this is a capital crime. The two boys flee across the ancient Near East, pursued by religious authorities, through a world of temples, river traffic, desert caravans, and the intricate social hierarchies of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Henty’s Egyptian novel was one of his most carefully researched, drawing on the Egyptological discoveries of the mid-nineteenth century — including the work of Auguste Mariette and Gaston Maspero — to create a detailed picture of daily life in pharaonic Egypt.
Collecting The Cat of Bubastes
First edition (Blackie and Son, London, 1889): Pictorial cloth binding.
Market values:
- Fine condition: $200–$500
- Very good: $75–$200
- Good: $25–$75
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
Ancient Egypt
Set during the reign of Thutmose III (c. 1450 BC), The Cat of Bubastes follows a young Rebu prince taken captive to Egypt, where he becomes entangled in temple politics after the accidental killing of a sacred cat — a crime punishable by death in ancient Egyptian law. Henty’s Egypt is rendered with care, drawing on the Egyptological scholarship of his day, and the novel offers young readers a vivid introduction to one of history’s most fascinating civilizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books did Henty write? Over 120 novels, nearly all historical adventures for boys, published between 1868 and 1906. He also wrote non-fiction and edited the Union Jack magazine for boys. His output was staggering: in some years he published four or five novels, each set in a different historical period and geographical location.