Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict
First line: The saloon glows in the flicker of the candelabras and the low light of ornate wall sconces.
Summary: In the 1920’s the discovery of the century shook the world. The tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun was uncovered fully intact in the Valley of the Kings by archeologist Howard Carter and his patron, Lord Carnarvon. However, few know about the woman, who helped make this venture possible, Lady Evelyn Herbert, Lord Carnarvon’s daughter.
Having grown up surrounded by the artifacts and research of Egyptologists, she became fascinated with one person in particular, the first female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. As she travels with Carter and her father to Egypt, she hopes to find the lost tomb of this elusive pharaoh. During a time of turmoil between the British and Egyptian governments, they risked their lives to make this historical dig. When it comes down to a decision between her passion and her loyalties to her father, she must make a choice that will change her life and the world.
My Thoughts: Ancient Egypt is absolutely fascinating. Over the years, I have consumed as much as I can on the subject through documentaries and books. Last year I attended a talk given by former Director of Antiquities and world renowned Egyptologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass. It was so interesting to listen to him talk about the discoveries he has made or is on the verge of making. Reading Marie Benedict’s new book I can completely sympathize with Evelyn’s passion in all things Ancient Egypt.
The plot is told in dual timelines. One follows the rise of Queen Hatshepsut and the other is Lady Evelyn Herbert. Through Hatshepsut, we see her rise to pharaoh of Egypt and Eve shows us how the one time ruler was erased from history by her successors. I loved learning about Lady Evelyn and her part to play in the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. In many descriptions of this event, it is only the men who are mentioned but now readers can meet the woman involved too.
Interwoven into the narrative is the question of who these artifacts actually belong to once discovered. Are they the property of the home country or the discoverer/colonial power? This question still plagues museums and collectors today. Many items are being returned to their homelands but there are still some that draw international attention including the bust of Nefertiti held in Berlin, Germany.
If you want something to entertain as well as inform then this may be just the book for you! It will make the reader think and likely lead them to explore more about the real history behind the novel. For more on Queen Hatshepsut and other queens of Egypt I would recommend When Women Ruled the World by Kara Cooney.
