Nineveh and Its Remains

Rating:
Summary: The classic
Review: Brian Fagan's edition of Austen Henry Layard's 'Nineveh and its Remains' is a wonderful and affordable abridgement of what has to be the most romantic tale of archaeology- finding the enormous palaces and monumental sculptures of the ancient assyrians(ca.850bc).Traveling by horseback to the dangerous and exotic Turkish ruled mid-east; living amongst the arab people and enjoying their culture, customs, language and learning their history; visiting the ruins of other civilizations and contemplating the 'meaning behind it all'; and finally bringing back to the light of day the ancient assyrians through their remains- human-headed lions and bird-headed divinities, massive throne rooms and polished ivories. Adventure, travel, culture, archaeology. This is the way a book of archaeology should be written.