Amazon.com Review
In 1856 Francis Frith set out for Egypt, intending to photograph the great archeological finds of his day. He traveled by boat, on horseback, and by camel, carrying his bulky photographic equipment with him, and in the course of his wanderings he captured the stark majesty of some of the Middle East's greatest monuments. Now, 77 of his best photographs from Egypt have been compiled in one book, Egypt and the Holy Land in Historic Photographs. Here you'll find stunning images of a bygone era: the Sphinx buried up to its neck in sand; the Temple of Karnak before its rubble-choked halls were cleared; Luxor while it was still being used to store grain. The black-and-white photographs depict the wonder and grandeur of both the monuments and Egypt herself, while the accompanying text comments on the subject as it was in Frith's day and as it appears now. There's also an extensive foreword detailing Francis Frith's fascinating life.
Shutterbugs will appreciate the difficulty of Frith's work and his precise eye; armchair travelers will enjoy daydreaming about an age when grand tours were made by boat and rail, and almost any trip qualified as adventure travel. While it can be enjoyed and appreciated by most anyone, Egypt and the Holy Land will appeal particularly to photographers, travelers, and Egyptologists.
