The experience of ancient Egypt /

There is no end to the writing of popular books on Egypt. Most are, however, lavishly illustrated coffee-table books or superficial summaries of Egyptian history and culture. Few seriously attempt to introduce their readers to the discipline of Egyptology itself. David's book is a significant exception. David (Univ. of Manchester) is author of an excellent study of the royal workmen's village at Kahun, The Pyramid Builders of Ancient Egypt (1986). In 11 lucidly written fact-filled chapters the author surveys the history and achievement of Egyptology. The first five chapters summarize the results of current scholarship on ancient Egyptian history, religion, and daily life, and survey the sources used by Egyptologists. The next five chapters provide a concise chronicle of the development of Egyptology from the Renaissance to the present. The work concludes with an analysis of the contribution made by the scientific analysis of mummies to the study of the lives of the ancient Egyptians themselves. A useful addition to all college and university libraries. All levels. S. M. Burstein; California State University, Los Angeles