Howard Carter: Before Tutankhamun [Hardcover]

C. N. Reeves (Author), John H. Taylor (Author), Nicholas Reeves (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1993

Frontisportrait + 201 pp. with numerous illus. (some in color), 4to.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

English archeologist Carter's discovery in 1922 of the almost intact tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun has overshadowed his other impressive achievements. This attractive companion volume to an exhibit at the British Museum culminates in the excavation of Tut's tomb but focuses on the determined Egyptologist's 30 years of earlier fieldwork, including his explorations of Thebes and the tombs of Hatsheput and Tuthmosis IV. Taylor, a curator at the British Museum, and former curator Reeves have stitched together letters and diary excerpts of Carter and his contemporaries, augmented by 200 plates (80 in color) featuring museum photographs and Carter's own watercolors and excavation photos. The result is a rare glimpse into the private obsession of a tremendously energetic, irascible, suspicious pragmatist, a self-made man who, by dint of hard work and luck, clawed his way to the top of the Egyptological pyramid.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 201 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams; First edition. edition (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810931869
• ISBN-13: 978-0810931862
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,087,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perceptions of Howard Carter, August 25, 2007

By 

Friend of Egypt "Instructor" (Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Howard Carter: Before Tutankhamun (Hardcover)

This book is uniquely set up with personal letters to, from and about Carter from his early years through the discovery of Tut's tomb. The letters are chronological and are accompanied by an equal share of color and B & W photographs including many artifacts, digs and finds before Tut, some of Carter's original dig catalog drawings and paintings.

A fascinating "mini" history from the perspective of Carter and, especially, his contemporaries. Easy and fun reading for anyone interested in a "behind the scenes" look at the man who discovered king Tutankhamun's tomb.

Reeves' companion book: The Complete Tutankhamun: The King, the Tomb, the Royal Treasure (King Tut),

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Product, Useful book, January 20, 2012

By 

Katherine J. Journeay (Marlborough, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Howard Carter: Before Tutankhamun (Hardcover)

This former library book came in still wrapped in it's cellophane cover. The book was in excellent condition. I never saw the exhibit this was based off of, but I happen to be researching the state of Egyptology after the turn of the century but before the discovery of Tutankhamun. As a result this book was is the perfect companion. The pictures are helpful and the excerpts of primary source material a gold mine.

I do wish the book had talked more about the impact of the Egyptian Revolution of 1919 on that year's dig season, but information about that appears to be thin.