In The Egyptian, the Finnish author Mika Waltari (1908-1979) brings to life the dust, sounds, and smells of ancient Egypt and the Middle East. This novel describes the life of Sinuhe, an Egyptian physician in 14 BC, and the accuracy of the medical and historical facts has been acknowledged by historians.

Sinuhe’s father is a physician for the poor, and Sinuhe assists him from a young age. While learning medicine, Sinuhe helps in trepanations, which are described in detail: “By means of bore, saw, and forceps he removed a piece of skull as large as the palm of one’s hand and then showed us how clotted blood …