In this volume, I have a collected many things, but I want to emphasize the subject matter contained in the title: Flashes of Freedom. For me it is important to discover creative moments from the past. However, it is also important to give the humans, who came up with such ideas and moments, credit for their contributions to the development of civilization. These steps forward are fascinating, but we are also faced with those who destroy creative moments. Their backward steps are tragic.

Four thousand years ago, Egyptian society struggled with the downfall of the Old Kingdom, which brought an end to material success and introduced anarchy and chaos. Out of this period of crisis came such literature as A Dialogue between a Man and His Ba, Instructions to Meri-ka-Re, as well as the story recounted in this volume, The Eloquent Peasant.

In this story, Khun-Anup, a poor peasant, was robbed, beaten, and scorned by Nemtinakht, who was well connected. Khun-Anup appealed to authorities for redress but had to make his appeals nine times. This compelling narrative recounts the peasants...