In
Tutankhamen, famed Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley describes the life and times of the famed King Tut, offering a vivid portrait of the ?Boy King" and the world he ruled, as well as a compelling exploration of the tall tales that have embellished his biography.
King Tut ascended to the throne at the age of nine or ten and ruled until his death at the age of eighteen?and his youth and short reign have led some academics to dismiss him as an insignificant king. But Tyldesley shows that, although Tutankhamen's time as pharaoh was short and many of his policies were likely issued under the guidance of his advisors, his accomplishments were considerable. Tutankhamen presided over something of a renaissance in ancient Egyptian culture; his predecessor, Akhenaten, had made radical changes to state theology, and Tutankhamen's ten years as king were dedicated in a large part to reversing Akhenaten's theological program and returning to a more traditional form of religion, art, and writing. There are some missing links in the story of Tutankhamen's life?in particular the subject of his parentage, which scholars continue to debate?but Tyldesley uses clues from his tomb and analysis of ancient scripts to provide a fascinating account of Tutankhamen's reign and its significance.
Tutankhamen is unique among the ancient kings of Egypt, for he continues to live a long life after his untimely death. Tutankhamen's tomb?the only intact royal tomb to be preserved in the Valley of the Kings?was uncovered in 1922, and since then has occupied a nearly mystical place in the popular imagination. Drawing on contemporary accounts, newspaper reports, and the writings of Howard Carter, the archaeologist who first discovered the tomb, Tyldesley recounts the exciting archaeological detective work that led to the tomb's discovery, and describes the international excitement that followed. In 1923, as it was becoming clear that the tomb was the greatest archeological find in history, the project's financier, Lord Carnarvon, suddenly and mysteriously died. His death prompted the first of many curse myths surrounding Tutankhamen, and even the deaths of Carter's canary and Carnarvon's dog have been attributed to mysterious spells and spirits that protect his tomb. Since those first days of discovery, King Tut's tomb has supplied an astonishing wealth of artifacts; spurred a global fascination with ancient Egypt; and inspired folklore and legends that continue to evolve today. Tyldesley reveals the truths behind these myths, using the death rituals and beliefs of ancient Egyptians to solve many of King Tut's mysteries. But many remain, in particular the myth of Tutankhamen's Curse, and Tyldesley explores its iterations and it roots. The discovery of King Tut's tomb has initiated a pervasive fascination with the myth of the curse?a fascination that reaffirms the enduring appeal of ancient magic, and reveals the fundamental linkages between Tutankhamen's age and our own.
An astonishing account one of the greatest archeological finds of the last century and the young king it delivered to us, Tutankhamen explores the realities of King Tut's life, while exposing the fabrications that have helped to define his legacy.
Industry Reviews
Kirkus Reviews "[An] engaging reconstruction of [King Tutankhamen's] tomb discovery, family and life. Fluent in her subject, Tyldesley gives her own spin to the story in order to get beyond the sensational nonsense... Tyldesley does an admirable detective job of reconstructing the boy king's narrative." Publishers Weekly "An authoritative, well-documented addition to a much-trodden field of inquiry." Sunday Times (London) "[An] authoritative book... If Tyldesley finds the curse stories empty nourishment, the core of her book reveals Egyptian history to be full of more satisfying riches. Sifting through the findings from Tutankhamen's tomb, and the arguments of Egyptologists since, she aims to resurrect the man behind the mask. She succeeds: Tutankhamen emerges as a credible figure, a ruler presiding over a turning point in history, when his father Akhenaten's heresies were abandoned and the polytheistic traditions revived... That has always been Tutankhamen's power: ...to charm all who encounter him. As Tyldesley confesses, he kindled her schoolgirl fixation with ancient Egypt. She calls this 'my own personal version of Tutankhamen's curse', but if it inspires books like this, the rest of us may consider it a kind of blessing." Booklist "[An] absorbing overview of the sensational discovery of Tutankhamen in 1922... Writing with signal clarity, Tyldesley taps into the ever-popular fascination with ancient Egypt." The Guardian (London) "Solidly researched and accessibly written. The range of topics covered is impressive." Nature "Tyldesley's account of [Howard] Carter's momentous find and the clearance of the tomb is brought to life with contemporary quotes and colourful details... [Tyldesley is] a gifted storyteller... Her writing is crystal-clear and charmingly irreverent... She puts what little we know about Tutankhamun into context, giving a fascinating discussion of the discovery's social history." Library Journal "In this well-researched study for the general reader, Tyldesley acknowledges the fragile nature of her biographical reconstructions, presenting conflicting theories and drawing careful conclusions. Highly recommended for all Egyptophiles." The Star-Ledger "Tyldesley successfully evokes the intense excitement engendered by the discovery [of Tutankhamen's tomb], not only within the archaeological community but among the general public as well. Her descriptive powers allow the reader to be present as the tomb's subterranean entry is unearthed from rubble heaped by ancient and modern floods, its various chambers filled with grave goods entered and assessed, and King Tutankhamen's triple-layered coffin opened to reveal his mummified remains." Financial Times "Egyptology is in good hands, and so is the reader... The prolific writer Joyce Tyldesley...has turned her storytelling abilities to [Tutankhamen], and the result is entertaining and highly readable... Written with humour and enthusiasm." New York Times Book Review "In Tutankhamen: The Search for an Egyptian King, Tyldesley has written a crisp, well-researched account of emerging insights into both the life and times of the young king and the modern response, nonsense and all, to his resurrection, as it were, in the modern world."
