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Rating: 
Summary: Great overview for beginners
Review: After reading several novels set in Egypt (particularly the Amelia Peabody mysteries), I found myself curious to learn about the "reality" of the subject. I don't want to know EVERYTHING about this topic, but I wanted to get some grounding in it.This book was a perfect solution. It covers the "investigations" (or more commonly looting) of the Egyptian treasures, starting with Herodotus and ending, pretty much, with Petrie. (I was surprised that it didn't follow the history to Carter.) The author manages to explain what each era was like, describing both what an individual (such as Belzoni or Petrie) did, the conditions in which the events occured, and why it was important. He also writes with humor and a steady non-judgemental hand -- pointing out what the detractors said (then and now) as well as the supporters' view. It's not all fascinating stuff; there were some subjects that didn't hold my interest, but I didn't mind flipping over them. The pictures are all in black and white, but they're all interesting and they illuminate the people as well as the places. It was certainly enjoyable reading for a subject amateur like myself.
Rating:
Summary: Great overview for beginners
Review: After reading several novels set in Egypt (particularly the Amelia Peabody mysteries), I found myself curious to learn about the "reality" of the subject. I don't want to know EVERYTHING about this topic, but I wanted to get some grounding in it. This book was a perfect solution. It covers the "investigations" (or more commonly looting) of the Egyptian treasures, starting with Herodotus and ending, pretty much, with Petrie. (I was surprised that it didn't follow the history to Carter.) The author manages to explain what each era was like, describing both what an individual (such as Belzoni or Petrie) did, the conditions in which the events occured, and why it was important. He also writes with humor and a steady non-judgemental hand -- pointing out what the detractors said (then and now) as well as the supporters' view. It's not all fascinating stuff; there were some subjects that didn't hold my interest, but I didn't mind flipping over them. The pictures are all in black and white, but they're all interesting and they illuminate the people as well as the places. It was certainly enjoyable reading for a subject amateur like myself.
Rating: 
Summary: Great - but find the earlier edition!
Review: Fagan is a great tour guide of the heyday of Indiana Jones style archaeology in Egypt during the 18th and 19th centuries. His narrative is compelling and the ancedotes entertaining - but do yourself a favor and find the original edition (it came out in 1970's) at a used bookstore (on or off-line). It is PACKED with gorgeous illustrations that really bring the story to life. I can't believe they reissued this edition without them. I can only assume they did so to save money on printing costs.
It is still, of course, a great book without the illustrations; but they do so much to bring the story to life.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I read this some years ago when it first came out. It was a fascinating read. Now I am trying to buy a copy of my own so I can read it again before I go to Egypt for the first time. I educated and trained as an archaeologist and spent years working in the field. Brian Fagan is a well known archaeologist and a scholar. This book reflects that kind of attention to the facts.
Rating:
Summary: Great telling of the pillaging of Egyptian treasures.
Review: This is a well written story of the acquisition of Eqyptian treasures for the British Empire. Facinating tale of Belzoni using his talents as a strongman for English shows to manuver massive stone artifacts. Truly a good read.
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