Customer Reviews

Nineveh and Its Remains (Travellers & Explorers)

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Brian Fagan's edition of Austen Henry Layard's 'Nineveh and its Remains' is a wonderful and affordable abridgement of what has to be the most romantic tale of archaeology- finding the enormous palaces and monumental sculptures of the ancient assyrians(ca.850bc).Traveling by horseback to the dangerous and exotic Turkish ruled mid-east; living amongst the arab people and enjoying their culture, customs, language and learning their history; visiting the ruins of other civilizations and contemplating the 'meaning behind it all'; and finally bringing back to the light of day the ancient assyrians through their remains- human-headed lions and bird-headed divinities, massive throne rooms and polished ivories. Adventure, travel, culture, archaeology. This is the way a book of archaeology should be written.

This classic account of Layard's discoveries in Nimrud,(not really Nineveh, althought when he wrote the book, he thought it was Nineveh, reads like a facinating adventure story. I love the large print and quality of the book, and binding.
The many excellent illustrations give life and meaning to Layard's considerable contribution to archaeology.