A WORLD BENEATH THE SANDS: THE GOLDEN AGE OF EGYPTOLOGY by Dr. Toby Wilkinson was published on October 20th, 2020 by W. W. Norton Company.
Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with Egypt. Over the years, I have watched countless documentaries and read books (both fiction and non-fiction) that detail life in Ancient Egypt as well as the uncovering of artifacts and temples in the past 200+ years. A WORLD BENEATH THE SANDS focuses on roughly a hundred-year period of Egyptology—beginning with Giovanni Battista Belzoni explorations in Egypt and the decipherment of hieroglyphs in the early 1800s up through the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922. Not only does Dr. Wilkinson detail the discoveries (and conflicts) of the British, German, French, and American explorers/archaeologists, he also provides a historical analysis of Egypt during the period in which all this exploration was taking place. A WORLD BENEATH THE SANDS is not just about Ancient Egypt or Egyptology. It is also about how these other countries used their influence in Egypt and shaped the country. It also exposes the dark history of how these countries “invaded” Egypt and stripped her of many historical artifacts and treasures.
If you are interested in reading about the history of Egyptology and learning more about the key players, I strongly suggest reading A WORLD BENEATH THE SANDS. I also recommend the book to any fans of Elizabeth Peters’ and her Amelia Peabody series. Many of the European archaeologists who make appearances in the series are real people, and it is fascinating to learn more about them.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.