Subject
Excavations (Archaeology) -- Egypt -- Fiction Books
Best books
Norma Lorimer
There was a King in Egypt
"There Was a King in Egypt" by Norma Lorimer is a historical novel written in the late 1910s. The story centers around Michael Amory, a young English Egyptologist, as he engages in excavations related to the tomb of Akhnaton's mother, amidst the backdrop of ancient Egyptian culture and early 20th-century explorations. The narrative blends history with themes of mysticism and romantic entanglements, particularly involving Michael, his colleague Freddy Lampton, and Freddy's sister, Margaret, who arrives in the excavation camp. The beginning of the novel introduces Michael Amory against the serene yet daunting landscape of Egypt at dawn, depicting his fascination with the ancient ruins and hinting at the spiritual connection he feels with the land. He is soon disrupted by thoughts of life beyond his archaeological pursuits, particularly with the impending arrival of Margaret, which stirs a mix of anticipation and annoyance in him. The narrative immerses the reader in the excavation process, highlighting the daily realities the characters face and setting the stage for the complex interplay of relationships and historical reverence that will unfold as Margaret joins the expedition and Michael grapples with his feelings for her and the echoes of Akhnaton's legacy.
Sax Rohmer
She who sleeps : $b A romance of New York and the Nile
"She who sleeps : A romance of New York and the Nile" by Sax Rohmer is a novel written in the early 20th century. It blends New York society intrigue with Egyptian archaeology and a hint of the supernatural. The story centers on Barry Cumberland, a wealthy collector’s son haunted by a mysterious, priestess-like woman and drawn into an expedition proposed by the imposing dealer Danbazzar, whose papyrus hints at a princess preserved alive across millennia. Expect romance, occult science, and a transatlantic chase that links a modern mystery to pharaonic secrets. The opening of the story follows Barry racing through a mountain storm, glimpsing an Egyptian-looking woman on a balcony moments before crashing his car, then awakening in a hospital with a nameless rescuer and no way to trace the site. He finds the secluded house but meets only a hostile caretaker and shuttered windows, later spotting the same woman from afar in a walled garden, again behind a veil in a passing limousine, and possibly once more at a pier. Meanwhile, Barry’s father entertains Danbazzar, who unveils a unique papyrus about Princess Zalithea, a captive allegedly placed into suspended life in Seti’s time; experts authenticate the document while debating its claims, and Danbazzar reveals he has located the unopened tomb and a related formula. John Cumberland agrees to fund an excavation up the Nile, and as plans form, Barry prepares to depart—still compelled by the elusive woman whose appearances bookend the beginning.
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