Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs (Barbara Mertz)

In Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs, Egyptologist (and acclaimed author) Barbara Mertz takes the reader through thousands of years of ancient Egyptian history.  She goes through the dynasties (nearly 30 of them are in the ancient period), rulers or important personalities (you'll recognize some names, like Nefertiti and King Tut), and culture (mummification, the pyramids, and more).  As the book's title implies, most of what we know about these ancient peoples are gleaned from their temples, tombs, and hieroglyphs, and so her focus is on history as revealed in these items.

I like this book.  The New York Times called this "a successful combination of popular readability and sound scholarship," and I couldn't have said it better.  Mertz is that rare person who knows her stuff cold and can write about it in a compelling way for the laymen.  She's a playful personality, and doesn't take her trade over seriously, giving the reader glimpses of relevant (but contentious) scholarly topics without taking sides or getting wrapped up in the drama.  She knows how to be informative and entertaining, and shows the complexity/uncertainty of ancient studies without boring the reader or getting emotional.  This is a great place to start for Egyptian studies.

Rating: A