The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, and Poetry, New Edition [Paperback]

William Kelly Simpson (Author), Raymond O. Faulkner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 1973

The latest edition of this highly praised anthology of ancient Egyptian literature offers fresh translations of all the texts as well as some twenty-five new entries, including writings from the late literature of the Demotic period at the end of classical Egyptian history. The book also includes an extensive bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A reliable rendering of the Egyptian text that can be useful to students of Egyptology and provide the layman with delightful reading material."

Language Notes

Text: English (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 345 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; Revised edition (September 10, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300017111
• ISBN-13: 978-0300017113
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #531,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference, July 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, and Poetry, New Edition (Paperback)

This is a great book to add to your Egyptian Literature library. It contains many narratives, stories, lamentations, and poetry which can also be found in the three volume set by Miriam Lichtheim. Although many `stories' are fragmentary - it is not THAT excessive. The editors have provided footnotes and commentaries on the missing parts of the stories, which attempt to explain the missing parts. Each `story' starts with a commentary, and is followed by the text. Some pieces include: "Shipwrecked Sailor", "Story of Sinuhe", "Tale of the Doomed Prince", "Contendings of Horus and Seth", "Truth and Falsehood", "Teaching for Merikare", "Maxims of Ptahhotpe", "The Man Who Was Tired of Life", "Instruction of Amenemope", "Hymn to the Aten", "Instruction of a Man for His Son".

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference, July 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, and Poetry, New Edition (Paperback)

This is a great book to add to your Egyptian Literature library. It contains many narratives, stories, lamentations, and poetry which can also be found in the three volume set by Miriam Lichtheim. Although many `stories' are fragmentary - it is not THAT excessive. The editors have provided footnotes and commentaries on the missing parts of the stories, which attempt to explain the missing parts. Each `story' starts with a commentary, and is followed by the text. Some pieces include: "Shipwrecked Sailor", "Story of Sinuhe", "Tale of the Doomed Prince", "Contendings of Horus and Seth", "Truth and Falsehood", "Teaching for Merikare", "Maxims of Ptahhotpe", "The Man Who Was Tired of Life", "Instruction of Amenemope", "Hymn to the Aten", "Instruction of a Man for His Son".

4 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Collection from Old, Middle and New Kingdoms., January 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, and Poetry, New Edition (Paperback)

I should say that the edition that I bought only last year, the new edition, is from 1973 and may not be exactly like the revised edition. My interest in these writings arose from an understanding that they had a not intangible effect on Biblical literature. But although I feel bad giving this book only 3 stars I should explain that there are reasons for this. First is that many of the stories, etc. are fragmentary or missing the entire beginning, end or both. If they were all complete it would get at least 4. The other reason is the often obscure quality of the readings, which is purely a function of our not getting enough exposure to books like this. Mostly if the story was complete, it was very enjoyable, but if broken up and missing parts, it seemed useless to the general reader. So I cannot say that the low rating is due in any way to the fault of the editors or translators. Other than that it was a charming array of tales and advice that is every bit as good as Biblical literature.