egypt

Nefertiti follows the titular character through the eyes of her sister, Mutnodjmet, from their early life through Nefertiti's swift ascent to the throne as one of history’s most powerful women. Headstrong, cunning, and limitlessly ambitious – Nefertiti defies tradition to become Egypt's first female co-regents during one of its most tumultuous and unique periods, with Mutnodjmet as her near-constant, often reluctant companion and advisor. All the while, Mutnodjmet—a  thoughtful, intelligent young woman with a passion for healing and nature—yearns to find her own destiny, away from the courts

Red Land Black Land is a historical exploration of ancient Egyptian civilizations that discusses religion, rulers, and artifacts, but also focuses on the daily lives and experiences of ancient Egyptians – peasants and pharaohs alike. Some of the topics I found most interesting centered on the smaller details of life, like how people viewed pets, how clothing was made, what foods were popular, and what people did in their spare time. 

Mertz uses a conversational tone for this title, making it feel far from a textbook and much more like an interesting story being told by a friend. It's easy to

Mistress of Nothing is based on the true travel adventures of Lady Duff Gordon and her faithful maid, Sally.  In the dry clime of the Egyptian desert, a leading London socialite, Lady Duff Gordon was seeking relief from her tuberculosis. Her six year adventures were commemorated in her personal letters and later remade into this book.  Both women approached their new surrounding with respect and admiration for the exotic culture, and love for adventure in 19th century Egypt. They took an immediate liking to wearing native Egyptian dress, learned Arabic fluently and plunged into romance. They

This non-fiction genre book is one of the two biographies of Cleopatra recently published (in 2011).  It tells the life of Cleopatra the 7th, an Egyptian Queen at 18, a ruler for 22 years, a sole female ruler of the ancient world , considered the richest person in the whole Mediterranean, she descended from the tenth generation of the Ptolemy’s - Macedonia Greeks, a dynasty of murderers, and faithfully upheld the family tradition.  Family tradition married her to her younger brother. To keep her empire she later married two men who held the faith of the whole Mediterranean in their hands. 

Next month, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is featuring 19th century photography of Egypt. If you're planning to take young friends along, consider supplying them with some books that will pique their interest and prepare them for the experience.

Tutankhamun: the mystery of the boy king by Zahi Hawass
You've likely seen the author of this book on television, explaining the mysteries of Egyptian archeology. He's the head of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, and in this book he explains the life (and death) of one of Egypt's most famous kings. The photographs help Tut's story come