Encyclopedia of Mummies [Paperback]

Bob Brier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 2004

Everything you ever wanted to know about what mummies are, who they were, and how they came to be mummies.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-Brier pulls together a wide variety of facts and descriptions that provide cultural and popular perspectives about preserved human and animal life along with the scientific information. The alphabetical entries contain a definition, an explanation of how the entry fits into a historical context, and photographs for certain selected subjects. John Paul Jones, who was preserved in whiskey; Eva Peron, preserved by the infusion of wax; and the preservatives-treated body of Vladimir Lenin are among the examples of modern mummies. Accidental cases of mummification are included such as the Iceman found in the European Alps in 1991. Frozen mammoths of Siberia, as well as the preserved monkeys, ibises, and ducks found in the Valley of the Kings are also covered. The black-and-white photographs provide details and clearly depict the state of preservations of the various mummies, or provide visually interesting items, such as political cartoons featuring mummies. An extensive bibliography subdivides the sources into topics as diverse as "The Mummification Process" and "Comic Books." The easy-to-use index is extensively cross-referenced. Fascinating and informative reading.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The Encyclopedia of Mummies covers all aspects of this interesting and fascinating topic. By defining the term in its broadest sense to include both those mummies created by natural means and those formed by artificial means, author Brier has produced a volume to meet a growing interest.

Entries are arranged alphabetically and vary in length from one paragraph to several columns, though the average length is approximately 350 words. The encyclopedia includes information on mummies from around the world, from ancient and medieval times to the modern day. Readers may be surprised to learn that Lenin and Eva Peron are considered mummies, as is naval hero John Paul Jones. In addition to historical figures, Brier includes mummies from both film and literature. Abbott and Costello and the Three Stooges all have had mummy encounters, though Boris Karloff remains, perhaps, the most famous interpreter of the horror-movie mummy. There are definitions and descriptions of the artificial mummification process, as well as those conditions that cause the natural mummification of corpses. Ethical issues surrounding the display of mummies are discussed in the entry ethics and mummies.

Black-and-white illustrations enhance the text. Two appendixes, a list of mummy films, and a list of collections divided into Egyptian and non-Egyptian mummies follow the entries. The extensive bibliography of more than 1,000 items includes both English-and non-English-language books and articles, sorted geographically and, for some areas, by topic, such as mummification process and children's books. See references supplement the index and lead readers to other entries of related interest.

The Encyclopedia of Mummies is intended for both serious researchers and lay readers. It will certainly appeal to junior-high-school and high-school readers who are doing school projects on the topic. It is an excellent overview. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: The History Press (June 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750936509
• ISBN-13: 978-0750936507
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Your Time & Attention, June 7, 2001

By 

Ankhesenamun (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Mummies (Hardcover)

Dr. Brier's book Encyclopedia of mummies is, (despite bad reader reviews) a very thought provoking & fascinating book. His book tells us about everything on mummies, from Egyptian to Peruvian, to bog mummies, to Evita & Popes! Yes, it's true, the information is scarce, but there are hundreds of entries in here! I think Brier wanted this to be used similiar as to how you would use a dictionary. Just look up a word, & there it is. I think the fact that he wrote about "fluff & stuff" the candy, movies, books..may be to show us how silly we have been in our knowledge & consideratiion of mummies, they were once people after all. It comes to show that though we've changed our mummy image in popular culture, they basically recieve the same treatment they always have. Brier's entries prove this. The entries are, brief, but he presents the facts vividly enough with his usual flair, that you get a good idea of the subject. I would say that this is a book anyone interested in mummies should have. At the very least for quick reference purposes. An excellent companion to this book, was Discovery Channel's Unwrapped: The Mysterious World of Mummies. You can still see what it was about at discovery.com. I think Brier did an excellent job for the way he choose to present the information & I guarantee his writing methods aren't as 'stiff' as the other guys & you'll learn things you never imagined possible.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IT's only an encyclopedia you guys!, May 9, 2001

By 

Seti "setithegreat" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Mummies (Paperback)

Wow, this book is really getting some bad reviews! Well, it seems like people expect it to be some in-depth resource - when in fact it is written in a form of an encyclopedia, as can be deduced from the title. Which means it gives a little bit of info about many things. And I think as an encyclopedia it does an excellent job.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice beginners source for the young ones, January 9, 2001

By 

John Ingle - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Mummies (Paperback)

Well this is an encyclopedia of mummies after all and it covers a very broad range of mummie nostagalia from really non-sensical 'stuff' to really interesting facts. The pictures are of an excellent quality and really liven up this somewhat "dead" book...sorry couldn't help it.

The book is entertaining yet it falls short of being an "academic" resource. Don't get me wrong the information is quite good and the bibliography is quite extent but it seems that this encyclopedia is geared more towards a younger audience and would be an excellent stepping stone for a child or teenager who is interested in mummies, both recent and ancient. Another interesting section of the book is the appendix that lists where the mummies are displayed at and how many each collection has and from what time period. So if you ever go on a trip to one of the areas that house the museums where the mummies are it would be an interesting side trip for the family.

I would recommend this encyclopedia for any one who is interested in all things mummies but for the serious student there are other and better works to be found on the subject.