Knopf Guide: Egypt (Knopf Guides) (Paperback)

~ Knopf Guides (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Hip-pocket portable and richly illustrated." -- Conde Nast Traveler

The Pharoahs of ancient Egypt believed that even in death, life is everlasting, so their tombs stored the worldly possessions deemed necessary in the afterlife. In many ways, their desire for eternity has become realized as their civilization -- nearly 9,000 years after its birth -- still captures the imagination and hearts of travelers. Travel to this country and witness the Pyramids at Giza -- the only one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.

Journey through the Valley of the Kings and discover the spectacular Temple of Hatshepsut, the mysterious Sphinx, the dramatic interiors of the great pyramids and mosques. Visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum of Cairo with Tutankhamun's gold and treasures. Read about the daily life of the pharoahs, their gods and sacred funerary rites Learn about sand dunes, desert oases, and the fertile Nile delta. Travel to Alexandria -- once the second largest city in the Roman Empire -- and navigate its open-air markets and then steal-away to a quiet walled-garden. The Knopf Guide to Egypt is packed with all the essential, practical information you will need including where to stay, shop and enjoy local cuisine, as well as how to order a coffee ziada (sweet), mazbut (fairly sweet) or sada (bitter). It is a perfect companion to this engaging and sometimes challenging destination.

From the Inside Flap

"Hip-pocket portable and richly illustrated." -- Conde Nast Traveler

The Pharoahs of ancient Egypt believed that even in death, life is everlasting, so their tombs stored the worldly possessions deemed necessary in the afterlife. In many ways, their desire for eternity has become realized as their civilization -- nearly 9,000 years after its birth -- still captures the imagination and hearts of travelers. Travel to this country and witness the Pyramids at Giza -- the only one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.

Journey through the Valley of the Kings and discover the spectacular Temple of Hatshepsut, the mysterious Sphinx, the dramatic interiors of the great pyramids and mosques. Visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum of Cairo with Tutankhamun's gold and treasures. Read about the daily life of the pharoahs, their gods and sacred funerary rites Learn about sand dunes, desert oases, and the fertile Nile delta. Travel to Alexandria -- once the second largest city in the Roman Empire -- and navigate its open-air markets and then steal-away to a quiet walled-garden. The Knopf Guide to Egypt is packed with all the essential, practical information you will need including where to stay, shop and enjoy local cuisine, as well as how to order a coffee ziada (sweet), mazbut (fairly sweet) or sada (bitter). It is a perfect companion to this engaging and sometimes challenging destination.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Knopf (March 28, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679755667
• ISBN-13: 978-0679755661
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 4.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,140,219 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exquisite travel book, May 15, 2008

By	Rita Duvall (Bear Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Knopf Guide: Egypt (Knopf Guides) (Turtleback)

I am always happy when the next trip I am planning is a destination that has a Knopf Guide associated with it.
So, I was thrilled that it was time to add "Egypt" to my growing collection, which now includes nine of these guides.
They are wonderful while planning the trip, a perfect size to take along and lovely to have as reference after the voyage. They are visual jewels; a miniature art history book that is so much more than a guide book. I like everything about the book: the way it feels, its format, paper, rich inks and the nice little ribbon marker.
Start your own collection - they look great lined up on my bookshelves!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Glitzy illustrations NOT enough, March 15, 2000

By	Shirley Sanderson "reader" (SF Bay Area) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yes, the pictures are nice.But as a useful resource on a trip, this book was amazingly deficient.Major destinations are inadequately covered, while more minor ones are discussed in detail. The Lonely Planet guide was infinitely more useful and informative.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for home or travel, September 6, 2009

By	Desert Dweller (Vail, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knopf Guide: Egypt (Knopf Guides) (Turtleback)

I spent four years in the Sinai Peninsula as a peacekeeper and used the edition previous to this one the whole time I was there. I was able to travel all over the country and this was virtually the only printed guide I used. (One exception--I bought the specific guide for the Egyptian Museum from their gift shop.) As some users have noted, this doesn't necessarily provide the broadest coverage of hotels and restaurants, but as a one volume resource on travel, history, art, religion, language, literature, cuisine and many other interesting facts, this can't be beat. It's easy to carry in a small bag, purse or just stuffed in a large pocket. Think of it as a nice supplement to the travel maps and hotel brochures that travel nicely without the heft of some of the other travel guides. Even though I returned over two years ago, I still pull out my Knopf Egypt guide and just thumb through it at home. It's lavishly illustrated, very thoughtfully laid out and has thorough indices and cross references to help you find anything. I always get a Knopf guide for whatever country I happen to be in (the guides for The Holy Land, Morocco, and Ireland just to name a few). They've never failed me and I'd recommend them for a short tour visit, a lengthy stay in the country or just traveling in your easy chair at home.