The Murder of Tutankhamen

by Bob Brier

Book Overview

Tutankhamen lived through an extraordinarily turbulent time in ancient Egypt's history. Torn apart by revolution, Egyptian society was wracked by religious and political turmoil, as ambitious ministers with thwarted desires plotted secretly. Meanwhile the young king and his adored wife could not produce an heir. All this instability produced the combustible situation that, Bob Brier believes, ultimately led to Tutankhamen's murder. Acting as both...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399143831
• ISBN13: 9780399143830
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Riveting non-fiction

I love this book. I am a very busy mom and I don't get alot of time to myself. This book is great even if you only have 20 minutes at a time to read it. Dr. Briar writes more like a story-teller than a history professor. He takes us beyond the grandeur and shows us the "humsn" side of Ancient Egyptian life as well as the politics of archeology. Its captivating. We have 2 of Dr. Briar's lecture series on DVD so I was already a fan and the book did not change that. If I had professors like him in college I'd probably have been a History major.

Good Book

Lots of good info, but a bit outdated. It gives a lot of information without being overly scholarly. A good read though.

a fascinating look at history

I read this book shortly before seeing the Pharoahs of the Sun exhibit that toured the country last year, featuring the artwork that appeared around the reign of Akhenaten and Tutankhamen.The background in Brier's book allowed me to fully understand the importance of the artwork, and even have an interesting conversation with one of the curators about the debate over Tut's parentage. (Brier says Tut was Akhenaten's son by a secondary wife and the curator agreed.)I found almost nothing left out of this book and the scholarship was impressive. Whether it was murder that killed Tut will probably never be known, but Brier presents a good case.

A Great And Informative As Well As Intriguing Work.

"The Murder Of Tutankhamen" is a very well-written book that never bores you and keeps you reading. Brier presents not only the facts and evidence about Tut's murder, but also gives an interesting lesson on Egypt's history and he makes clear how the factors that killed Tut came to be. This is a book that is incredibly packed with information, fatcs, and evidence. It feels more like an exotic detective novel. I was totally thrilled! Never has a book based on fact interested me so much. Books like these should be read in schools and studied by all interested in great, epic history. Brier is a fantastic investigator who puts together a puzzle full of betrayal, intrigue, romance, murder and conspiracy. I was also surprised to find out thing I never imagined, like the murder of the Haitit prince. "The Murder Of Tutankhamen" is a lush, informative work that deserves wonderous praise. I highly recommend it.

Excellent for all amateurs of Egyptian history

I absolutely loved this book! Bob Brier really has a feel for ancient Egypt. It hardly matters whether his driving thesis is 110% spot on; his love of the subject matter and the characters in his story comes shining through. It is a gripping read, 'unputdownable' in the true sense, highly recommended not only to those who feel a strange attraction for those ancient times in Egypt, but also for the casual student of religious history. He casts a fascinating light on this most extraordinary period and carries us buoyantly along with him. Don't wait for the softcover; if you like ancient Egypt this book is too important, and you will want to read it again and again to savour the vital flavour of the epoch, it's characters, religion and royal culture. 5 stars and more!