R. B. Parkinson’s translation of the Ancient Egyptian text The Tale of Sinuhe is told in forty stanzas of poetic verse. The story is narrated in the first-person voice by Sinuhe. The premise is that the tale is Sinuhe’s autobiography, which has been inscribed on the walls of his burial pyramid upon his death.
The fictional account of the royal courtier's life begins with Sinuhe recalling the day King Sehetepibre, ruler of Egypt, dies. Sinuhe is away from the palace in Egypt, having accompanied the prince, Senwosret, and the prince's children on an expedition to conquer areas in Libya. When Sinuhe overhears a messenger telling the royal children about the king's death, he is overcome with panic. He hides between two bushes until the messenger has gone away. Then Sinuhe sets out into the desert, abandoning his comfortable life in Egypt without apparent reason.
After traveling on foot for a couple of days, Sinuhe is dehydrated and believes the dryness in his throat is "the taste of death." However, he meets a Syrian sheik who recognizes him from Egypt. The man brings Sinuhe back to health and Sinuhe stays with his people for six months. Sinuhe then meets Amunenshi, a Palestinian prince who invites Sinuhe to live with him in Retjenu (the Ancient Egyptian name for Canaan and Syria). During a dialogue with Amunenshi, Sinuhe delivers a eulogy to the deceased king and offers glowing praise of the man's son, the new King Senwosret. Amunenshi, seemingly pleased by the display of loyalty, sets up Sinuhe with a comfortable life in Retjenu, marrying Sinuhe to his daughter and putting him in charge of an area called Iaa.
Over decades, Sinuhe establishes himself as a hero in Retjenu, where he lives a life of abundance and gains respect. Eventually, a fellow tribe leader challenges Sinuhe to a fight. Sinuhe easily dodges the man's many arrows and javelins and then shoots a single arrow into the man's neck. After Sinuhe finishes the man off with a blow from the man's own axe, the people watching rejoice. Sinuhe consolidates his power and cements his reputation as a great warrior.
Despite the good life Sinuhe has lucked into in Retjenu, he longs to live out his final days in Egypt, believing it only right that he die in the place he was born. He addresses his wishes to God, who seems to answer through a formal invitation from King Senwosret. Like Sinuhe, the king believes it is time Sinuhe returned to Egypt.
After giving over his possessions and power to his son, Sinuhe travels to Egypt. Before the king's throne, he is overcome with a dissociative feeling, not quite conscious of himself while in the king's godlike presence. The king harbors no animosity toward Sinuhe for fleeing so many years earlier, and promises to honor Sinuhe's reputation with a new house, new clothes, and a burial pyramid befitting a royal.
Sinuhe lives out his last days living close to the palace, watching men construct his tomb. The story ends with Sinuhe recognizing how lucky he is, as a lowly man, to receive such luxuries from the king.
