For all interested in Ancient Egypt

This is a first class book for anybody interested in the subject. A text book that reads like a novel. Highly recommended. 5* + for me personally. Have already bought another of her books.

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Story telling style ancient Egyptian culture

An excellent and most intertaining whilst well informed and accurate way of narrating Egyptian culture and tradition.

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Perfect Social History

This book is really a great find, especially if you enjoy learning about the life and lifestyles of average people throughout history.

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Very good indeed

A lovely book, beautifully read. I'm the sort of Brit who hears an American narrator and tends to think "Oh, that's a shame" but really the author's engaging writing and the narrator's warnth and excellence combined perfectly.

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interesting and funny

I really liked the impartial and sceptical views of the author, the reading of which was spot on shame it isn't longer

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Accessible and gentle glance through time

Not everyone is going to like the style of this book. It is written (and by the way brilliantly read) very much like a knowledgeable older relative who is holding a cup of tea and chatting amiably about different aspects of Ancient Egyptian life. If you like your history delivered in sober lecture-like style then this might seem rather too friendly and relaxed, but if you just have an average interest in what it was really like to live in ancient Egypt then this book is for you. There is plenty of humour, and you could sometimes believe the author is making it up as they go along, yet I dare say there has been plenty of scholarly research behind it.

The subjects cover all aspects of life, but I was surprised when I heard chapters on pyramid building and embalming, neither of which are really much to do with ordinary life for most Egyptians. If the author has sometimes strayed into more certain if exceptional territory, then it does not dominate the book, and most of the time we learn about food, housing, social conventions and that kind of thing.

It's all very gentle and relaxed, and the reader does a superb job of passing that style on, making you think you are listening to the author herself. What you won't hear is lists of pharaohs and their achievements, although a little knowledge of the history of the civilisation does help.

What I am calling accessible some might call patronising, but I guess that depends on how you like to hear your book. I've read plenty on ancient Egypt, and had no problem with the way this one was written. For those with an interest in ancient lives this book is definitely recommended, but those that prefer dry, scholarly works might like to give it a miss.

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5 people found this helpful

detailed & engaging introduction to ancient Egypt

detailed & engaging introduction to ancient Egypt.

narration is good, well paced and interesting.

the contents of the boom are well written, entertaining and detailed.

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A must for Amelia Peabody Fans!

With the voice of Peabody we hear an Egyptologists look at life and culture in ancient Egypt. This nonfiction book is entertaining, educational and humorous.

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Sarah Palin meets Amenhotep

I couldn't finish this. The combination of patronising, folksy content and condescending 'I'm talking to really stupid children' delivery drove me up the wall. Ancient Egypt deserves better than this. Listen to Herodotus instead.

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10 people found this helpful