More than four thousand years ago, an Egyptian scribe set down a story of a sailor cast upon a mysterious island — and in doing so helped invent the art of the tale. In this modern-English edition, the oldest surviving shipwreck narrative speaks again with its original power and strangeness: a wrecked crew, a blessed island, and a great serpent whose words hold both warning and promise. Framed as a tale within a tale, this compact classic asks what it means to return home changed, to face loss, and to receive an unexpected gift. Faithfully rendered into clear, present-day English, this edition keeps the cadence and wonder of the ancient Middle Egyptian text while remaining inviting to today's readers. An introduction, a glossary, and notes on reading make it a welcoming entry point into the world's earliest literature. Part of The World Scriptures Library.