Ancient Egypt

updated 7/03/2004

As the number of books reviewed and recommended increases, I found the need to separate out Ancient Egypt as one of several areas deserving a page unto itself. The organizational structure remains similar to the Ancient Days home page, and I would appreciate if you inform me of any broken links or errors that you might find.

--E. Alexander Gerster

 

Biography General History Historic Fiction Links of Interest

Biography

Hatchepsut, The Female Pharoah
by Joyce Tyldesley

It is amazing that Hatchepsut's gender is one of the few things people remember about this most formidable pharoah. Her lengthy rule, stable government, successful trade missions, and impressive architectural advances were achievements that have been overlooked for too long. Joyce Tyldesley has remedied the situation by this wonderful biography that brings the 18th Dynasty Theban royal family to life once again.

General History

No one does authoritative history better than Oxford University Press. Ian Shaw, an expert in Egyptian archaeology at the University of Liverpool, brings us a detailed look at the period from 700,000 B.C. to A.D. 311. Scholarly yet eminently readable, this is a volume destined for the bookshelf of any serious history buff.

Synopsis 
Blending vividly written essays and over a hundred attractive illustrations--including 32 color plates--The Oxford History Ancient Egypt is a stunningly designed and authoritative account of the once glorious civilization on the Nile. Ranging from 700,000 BC to 311 AD, this volume portrays the emergence and development of Egypt from its prehistoric roots to its conquest by the Roman Empire. The contributors--all leading scholars working at the cutting edge of Egyptology--incorporate the latest findings in archaeological research as they chart the principal political events of Egyptian history, from the rise of the Pharaohs and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great, to the ascension of the Ptolemies and the coming of Roman legions.

From the Publisher 
The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt is the only history to provide detailed historical coverage of Egypt from the early Stone Age to its incorporation into the Roman Empire. The essays and beautiful illustrations portray the emergence and development of the distinctive civilization of the ancient Egyptians covering the period from 700,000 B.C. to A.D. 311. The authors outline the principal sequence of political events, including detailed examinations of the three so-called Intermediate Periods previously regarded as 'dark ages'.

The Keys of Egypt: The Obsession to Decipher Egyptian Hieroglyphs
by Lesley and Roy Adkins

This fascinating new book tells the story of Jean François Champollion, the brilliant yet misunderstood son of an impoverished bookseller, who was obsessed with breaking the code of ancient Egyptian tests. At the age of 16, he dedicated his life to this task, and in 1822 he made the decisive breakthrough, beating scores of others who were studying hieroglyphs throughout Europe. A highly recommended book. (A Paperback version of this book has been released as of Novemeber 2001)

The authors website is quite interesting: http://www.adkinsarchaeology.com

Another site of interest is "Giants of Egyptology: Jean François Champollion" - a biographical sketch presented by KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt. 

Historic Fiction

Ancient Egypt has become a popular subject for historical fiction and mysteries, and there are quite a number of good authors in this area. A few of my favorites are presented here, and I welcome any comments from others who enjoy books of this nature.

The novels of Lauren Haney bring the people and places of 18th dynasty Egypt a gritty realism in her tales of Lietentant Bak of the Medjay police at the fortress of Buhen in Upper Egypt. The era of Queen Maatkare Hatshepsut is convincingly rendered, and each novel is a pleasure to read. In order, they are:

The Right Hand of Amon (Mass Market Paperback - November 1997) 
A Face Turned Backward (Mass Market Paperback - January 1999) 
A Vile Justice  (Mass Market Paperback - October 1999) 
A Curse of Silence  (Mass Market Paperback - October 2000) 
A Place of Darkness  (Mass Market Paperback - October 2001) 
Review 12/2001: Lauren Haney has created a real gem in Lieutenant Bak, her protagonist in four previous mysteries. This fifth novel finds Bak leaving behind his appointment as head of the Medjay police at the fortress of Buhen and instead finds him investigating the mysterious deaths occurring at the building site of the memorial temple for the divine Queen Maatkare Hatshepsut. Accompanied by his two youthful assistants Kasaya and Hori, bak tries to expose the "malign spirit" plaguing the site as a man with more human motivations-the theft of relics from plundered tombs.

One of the amazing things that Haney accomplishes in these novels is bringing the people and places of 18th dynasty Egypt a gritty realism, while conveying that this ancient culture already has a magnificently old history filled with culture and traditions which were already being lost in time. At times the prose gets as dry as the Egyptian desert, but overall it is a wonderful read that leaves you with a renewed appreciation for ancient Egypt. (EAG - for Amazon.com)

Lynda S. Robinson has created a fascinating series set during the reign of Tutankhamun, using Lord Meren, "The Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh," as the crime solving protagonist. The Lord Meren Series is consistently recommended as one of the best in the field, but I was not pleased when some of the earlier books left solutions hanging, and the last book is by far the best:

Slayer of Gods: A Lord Meren Mystery (Book 6, June 2001)

Against the backdrop of King Tut's Egypt, Lynda S. Robinson has set up a series of mysteries that truly bring the era to life. The struggle of re-building faith in the years following the devastating rule of heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten and his bride Nefertiti makes for fascinating and entertaining reading.

Lord Meren, the Pharaoh's chief protector and investigator, is recovering from injuries sustained while previously attempting to resolve the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the Queen. It is an 11-year old mystery that deeply distresses Tutankhamun and it's solving has expanded to involve Lord Meren's family members, trusted assistants and even Anath, the Eyes of Babylon. The field of suspects has narrowed, the circumstances of Nefertiti's last days are becoming clearer and the resolution is both exciting and satisfying.

Indeed, this is the best novel of the series as it provides clear means and motive for the mystery. There are red herrings aplenty and Robinson relies much less on supernatural trappings and solutions that appear in earlier books. I may not agree with her fictional interpretation of history, but I genuinely applaud her skill at weaving a highly entertaining and enlightening novel. Highly Recommended.

Christian Jacq became an international bestselling author with his publication of five books on Ramses from Warner Books, that were absolutely fascinating:

Volume I: The Son of Light (November 1997) 
Volume II: The Eternal Temple (March 1998) 
Volume III: The Battle of Kadesh (July 1998) 
Volume IV: The Lady of Abu Simbel (November 1998) 
Volume V: Under the Western Acaia (March 1999) 

His new series is unique in that the focus is on the "common" people of Egypt rather than so many of the books which focus on the royalty and halls of the Pharaohs. The builders and artists featured in this series of four books brings a whole new appreciation to the architecture and antiquities that have become symbols of the culture that created them.