The Tomb of Tutankhamun

by Howard Carter, David P. Silverman (Introducer), Sandro Vanninni (Photographer)

‘Three thousand, four thousand years maybe, have passed and gone since human feet last trod the floor on which you stand, and yet, as you note the signs of recent life around you — the half-filled bowl of mortar for the door, the blackened lamp, the finger-mark upon the freshly painted surface, the farewell garland dropped upon the threshold — you feel it might have been but yesterday.’

There have been countless accounts of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, from the sober to the sensational, but none is as powerful as Howard Carter’s own firsthand testimony. He recalls the evidence that first drew him to the Valley of the Kings in 1914; the six seasons of patient, fruitless searching; moonlit encounters with would-be tomb-robbers; and the near-miraculous discovery at the eleventh hour, just as funding was about to run out, of the royal necropolis seal – the jackal and nine captives – which signalled a pharaoh’s resting-place. With admirable restraint, Carter cabled Lord Carnarvon, the excavation’s sponsor, and waited two weeks for him to arrive before breaking the sealed doorway. What they found was beyond imagining. Unlike most royal tombs, Tutankhamun’s had largely escaped plundering; with more than 5,000 artefacts, it remains the most complete Egyptian burial ever discovered.

With the discovery of the tomb, Carter’s work was only beginning. As well as exploring the significance of the objects found, he describes the careful cataloguing and photographing, the precautions taken against looting and the constant stream of visitors, who, for diplomatic and other reasons, had to be shown the site, wasting valuable time. Carter expresses his frustration with press sensationalism, and the ‘unpardonable and mendacious’ rumours of a curse that supposedly killed Lord Carnarvon, which he saw as an insult to the deceased.

This two-volume edition features an entire volume dedicated to magnificent colour photography of Tutankhamun’s treasures taken by Sandro Vannini. In recent years, Vannini has been given rare access by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities to carry out photography at the Cairo Museum. He uses a digital sensor to create high-resolution enlargements that would be impossible with film alone, meaning that we can appreciate these artefacts in unprecedented detail as well as from new angles. In the other volume, we have reproduced the text together with the original photographs by Harry Burton, who worked with Carter at the exhibition site and was the first to photograph the tomb. Professor David P. Silverman of the University of Pennsylvania, a leading authority on Egyptology and curator of the major exhibition ‘Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs’, has contributed an introduction. The binding designs are by Peter Suart, based on images of winged guardian goddesses. The endpapers to the first volume show the ropes and royal necropolis seal that secured the doors to the second shrine before being opened by Carter.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Egypt, Egyptology, Archaeology, Ancient History, Science

608 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 1954

About the author

Howard Carter is best known for his discovery of the tomb of the 14th century BCE Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Carter was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist who devoted his life to archaeology. He first travelled to Egypt in 1891, where he held several archaeological positions, until in 1907 he was privately funded by the English aristocrat Lord Canarvon to carry out work at Canarvon's excavation sites. This work was interrupted by World War One, but resumed immediately after. In 1922, growing tired of the lack of results Canarvon offered Carter one more year of funding.

On the 4th of November 1922 Carter discovered the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. This discovery immediately gained international attention, and huge crowds flocked to see the tomb. This was the first intact ancient, royal Egyptian discovered. The immensely demanding task of excavating and examining the artefacts continued for several years, amidst a great amount of controversy and difficulties.

Carter eventually left Tutankhamum for others, and spent the remainder of his life as an agent for collectors and museums, and as a public speaker on the subject of Egyptology.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love all things Egyptian, and the discovery of King Tut's tomb is a special favourite. I like that the book is written by Howard Carter. Yes, he does go into details about the many items they found in the tomb, and those sections might be a bit long-winded for some, but not to me. I felt like I was standing next to him. I could feel the awe, and the excitement, of each new find.

Probably, my favourite quote is this one, "...as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold - everywhere the glint of gold. For the moment - an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing by - I was struck dumb with amazement, and when Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, 'Can you see anything?' it was all I could do to get out the words, 'Yes, wonderful things."

Also, this one, "Three thousand, four thousand years maybe, have passed and gone since human feet last trod the floor on which you stand, and yet, as you note the signs of recent life around you – the half-filled bowl of mortar for the door, the blackened lamp, the finger-mark upon the freshly painted surface, the farewell garland dropped upon the threshold – you feel it might have been but yesterday."

4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.

[bookstories_travels🪐 · Rating 4 out of 5]

#retoegipcio2023 de @inquilinas_netherfield. Premisa “Arqueología”.

Hay ciertos temas y personajes en los que es inevitable caer en un reto sobre Egipto, y la tumba de Tutankamón y su descubrimiento por parte de Howard Carter y Lord Carnavorn en 1922 es uno de ellos. Y es que la tumba de Tutankamón, el faraón niño, es uno de esos elementos tan característicos que a uno se le viene inmediatamente a la cabeza cuando se piensa en el fascinante mundo del Egipto antiguo. Como bien dicen en el propio ensayo, si un rey que apenas gobernó unos cuantos años, que murió con menos de veinte años y que no hizo nada destacable durante su mandato, que fue olvidado durante muchas centurias por todos; tuvo un enterramiento tan fastuoso ¿Que no hubiera podido encontrarse en la tumba de los faraones más destacados como Ramsés II o Akenatón si estas se hubieran encontrado intactas? Simplemente pensarlo pone los pelos de punta.

En este libro, el propio Howard Carter nos relata con todo lujo de detalles todos los entresijos del hallazgo arqueológico más famoso de la historia, desde que se empezó a investigar que más podría hallarse en el Valle de los Reyes cuando este lugar parecía que no podía dar más de si, hasta los entresijos de índole más científica de los cientos de objetos, ropas y joyas que fueron hallados en la tumba. Y no solo se ciñe a todo lo que se encontró en la tumba. También da un repaso a la propia historia del valle de los Reyes, a los pasos previos que les pusieron a él y a Lord Carnavorn sobre la pista de la tumba, y da un repaso a todo lo que se sabía en la época relacionadas con las costumbres cotidianas y con la muerte y en enterramiento en el antiguo Egipto. Entre otros aspectos.

Me ha sorprendido mucho esta lectura.Me esperaba un libro más árido, con un estilo narrativo, más denso y aburrido. Y no, me he encontrado con una obra escrita de una manera muy dinámica y ágil, pero sin perder de vista lo realmente importante del hallazgo arqueológico. Howard Carter imprime a la obra un espíritu muy colorido que la hace muy amena e interesante de leer. Tiene una forma de narrar muy inteligente y agradablemente cinematográfica , logrando el equilibrio perfecto entre lo científico e histórico y lo novelesco. “La Tumba de Tutankamón” es un ensayo científico que no pierde de vista su objetivo principal de reseñar los aspectos históricos y arqueológicos más importantes que supuso el descubrimiento de la tumba. Pero lo hace de una forma muy cercana al lector, de manera que éste se instruya y descubra cosas de una forma amena y cercana. La mezcla es perfecta y atrayente, ya que incluye elementos más románticos como la aventura, la fascinación del mundo egipcio, la reverencia de entrar en un lugar que durante milenios no fue hollado por pies humanos, y la compasión que incita el que Tutankamón muriera tan joven y fuera tan olvidado por sus sucesores; con el rigor arqueológico y científico y con todo lo que el hallazgo permito descubrir sobre la cultura egipcia.

Y es que el libro es una entrañable y bien merecida oda al trabajo de los arqueólogos, Al rigor científico y al esfuerzo de todos los implicados en el hallazgo. Howard Carter no duda en alabar la ciencia y demostrar como esta, ya en su época, había ido evolucionando. Respecto a los descubrimientos arqueológicos hechos en los años previos por meros aficionados a la arqueología sin una preparación estable o formal, y que tantas barbaridades y errores cometieron por estar más enfocados en hallar que en que su labor fuera relevante para la ciencia y el futuro (ejem Schliemann ) Carter nos habla de todo el caballo en equipo y el esfuerzo que se tuvieron que realizar para convertir el descubrimiento de la tumba del niño faraón en uno de los mayores hitos de la arqueología de todos los tiempos. No pueden menos que llamar poderosamente la atención la forma en que poco a poco iban dedicándole tiempo y mimo a cada uno de los objetos hallados, por pequeños e insignificantes que fueran aparentemente, con el fin de cuidarlos lo mejor posible y de conservarlos para las generaciones posteriores; y la labor prácticamente detectivesca que realizaron para determinar que fue lo que paso en la tumba desde que su destinatario fue depositado en ella (desgraciadamente, como el resto de tumbas del Valle de los Reyes, la de Tutankamón también fue el escenario de varios robos. Por suerte, todo parece indicar que los ladrones se llevaron muy poquitas cosas, aunque seguramente muy significativas) y explicar muchas de las cosas que con las que se toparon una vez dentro, dándoles no pocas veces un contexto histórico que nos ha ayudado a conocer mejor la cultura egipcia. El amor de Howard Carter hacia su profesión traspasa al lector, maravillándose este del esfuerzo que todos estos hombres llevaron a cabo y de la rigurosidad de su trabajo. Y llenándose de agradecimiento y reverencia, por la forma en que gracias a ellos nos ha llegado en tan buenas condiciones uno de los tesoros más impresionantes de la historia. Es cierto que Howard Carter presenta el lado más trabajoso de la labor arqueológica, e ignora algunos de los aspectos y asuntos más espinosos que sobrevolaron el descubrimiento (que haberlos los hubo). Y pero no por ello no puede dejar de reconocerse la labor de todos estos hombres y mujeres. De hecho, el sabio equilibrio que la expedición arqueológica supo encontrar entre secretismo, trabajo arduo y apoyo de los periodistas de la época. Fue una estrategia de comunicación muy inteligente que ayudo a que el enterramiento y los nombres de todos los implicados ganaran la justa fama y relevancia que a día de hoy mantienen.

Si hubiera que ponerle un, pero es que hacia el final se me hizo muy pesado. En el sentido de que muchos capítulos son meras descripciones de todos los objetos que se encontraron en las diferentes a las de la tumba real. Es cierto que todos estos pueden encontrarse fácilmente en Internet, y que además en mi casa contaba con un libro ilustrado, muy bueno que me ayudó a poner en imágenes todo lo que encontraba escrito. Pero esto, a la larga se hace un poco pesado, y el tener que buscar esas imágenes me sacaba de la lectura. De todas maneras esto lo cojo con pinzas, porque me parece inevitable que ocurra en un trabajo de estas características, que no deja de tener un fin más científico o divulgativo que centrado en el entretenimiento. Si hubiera que incluir fotos de todos los objetos descritos, el tomo sería considerablemente largo y grueso (y muy caro para nuestros bolsillos).

En definitiva, “La Tumba de Tutankamón” era un volumen que pensaba que se me iba a hacer muy aburrido y difícil de leer. Pero me ha dado mucho más de lo que pensaba que iba a encontrarme en él. Una lectura amena, que logra conectar al lector moderno con el antiguo Egipto y la arqueología. ha sido una lectura fascinante, que he disfrutado mucho. Howard Carter es un narrador soberbio. Una de otras muchas cosas en las que destacaba este hombre.

[Chari · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Can you see anything?”
“Yes, wonderful things..”

Y maravilloso e interesante, para mi, ha sido leer el relato del descubrimiento de la tumba de Tutankhamón narrado en primera persona por Howard Carter. Que comienza con una descripción del Valle, de sus trabajos preliminares en Tebas cuando dio comienzo con sus excavaciones para Lord Carnarvon en 1907, hasta el hallazgo de la tumba en 1922, haciendo para ello una detallada exposición de cuales fueron los pasos dados a partir de ese momento. Lo que fue la investigación preliminar, la inspección y vaciado de la antecámara, del contenido de la tumba y la cámara funeraria, la apertura del sarcófago, de los tres féretros, los tesoros y ajuar que encontraron en la habitación que había tras la cámara, y los objetos del anexo a ella.
El libro termina hablando sobre la causa principal del deterioro y cambios químicos en los objetos de la tumba pero yo hubiese seguido leyendo tan gustosamente impresiones más personales de lo que todo ello supuso para Carter, como cuando trata el tema de los visitantes y periodistas, porque si con 17 años una sociedad de egiptología inglesa advierte de su talento como dibujante, no dispone de menos interés como narrador.

“May your spirit live, may you spend millions of years, you who love Thebes,
sitting with your face to the north wind, yours eyes beholding happiness”

(Epitafio de la tumba de Howard Carter e inscripción del precioso cáliz de alabastro de Tutankhamón)

Howard Carter encontró que las relaciones con los funcionarios egipcios, los medios de comunicación y el público eran muy difíciles sin su alter ego, Lord Carnarvon. Sintiéndose superado por los periodistas cuando la única prioridad para él era trabajar trabajar y trabajar, realizó un trabajo sin precedentes que le llevaría diez años de su vida tras la muerte de su amigo Lord Carnarvon.

Pena que en Putney Vale, en las afueras de Londres, coincidiendo en 1939 con los inicios de la Segunda Guerra Mundial asistieran sólo unas pocas personas a la ceremonia de entierro de un hombre, Howard Carter, que una década antes se había convertido en un héroe nacional.
Una verdadera lástima desde luego que no se le reconociera en su justa y merecidísima medida, de manera acorde a su fabuloso descubrimiento y labor desarrollada.
Pero no pasa nada mi Carter, aquí me tienes, para reivindicarte y recordarte.

[David Albanell · Rating 5 out of 5]

El millor descobriment de tots, i gran Howard Carter.

Supongo que la mayoría de los excavadores confesarán su sensación de sobrecogimiento —casi de turbación— al irrumpir en una cámara cerrada y sellada por manos piadosas hace tantos siglos. Por un momento el tiempo como factor de la vida humana pierde su sentido. Han pasado tres o quizá cuatro mil años desde que un pie humano pisó por última vez el suelo donde uno está y, no obstante, al reparar en los signos de vida reciente a su alrededor —el cuenco de argamasa a medio llenar para la puerta, la lamparilla ennegrecida, las huellas de dedos en la superficie recién pintada, la guirnalda de despedida caída en el umbral— recibe uno la impresión de que apenas fue ayer. Hasta el aire que se respira, y que no se ha renovado a través de los siglos, se comparte con quienes llevaron a la momia a su último descanso. El tiempo se desintegra con los pequeños detalles íntimos como estos, y se siente uno como un intruso.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Carter, famed archaeologist, discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun (King Tut) in 1922 and wrote about the discovery expedition in this work. The discovery of King Tut's tomb was, and continues to be, sensationalized because the tomb was almost entirely intact. Only one set of grave robbers disturbed the tomb, and apparently made off with very few artifacts.

Mr. Carter wrote these chapters at the time of his excavation of the tomb, so it is all written in present tense, and it's easy for the reader to forget almost 90 years have passed since the discovery of the tomb. It is extremely well written and conveys Carter's sense of duty and wonder, though I admit some of the chapters on recovery of the artifacts themselves made my eyes glaze over. I also struggled with a sense of unease because I believe it is inherently wrong to disturb a gravesite, though many believe the importance of the 3,000 year old artifacts justifies the excavation. Those interested in egyptology will enjoy this book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is FASCINATING. The most famous archaeological site in the world, brought to you by the man who found it.

I’m sorely tempted to compare this book to a more modern appraisal of Tutankhamun - something written after all the study Carter says he “still wants to do” was actually done

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! This was a delight from start to finish...step by step through the discovery and preservation of the tomb. Howard Carter has a very engaging "voice" and you feel that you are discussing it over coffee with a learned friend. The wealth of detail in the artifacts, the preservation techniques used, the excitement of seeing a room that had not been entered for many centuries, the dificulties encountered in the long process of clearing the tomb are all described in detail. Highly recommended!

[Damselindistress]

For the moment, time as a factor in human life has lost its meaning. Three thousand, four thousand years maybe, have passed and gone since human feet last trod the floor on which you stand, and yet, as you note the signs of recent life around you – the half-filled bowl of mortar for the door, the blackened lamp, the finger-mark upon the freshly painted surface, the farewell garland dropped upon the threshold – you feel it might have been but yesterday.

[not xarnah · Rating 4 out of 5]

makes me more sad i probably am going to fail ANT100

[Geraldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book for decades and finally opened it up to find the brochure I got when I attended the showing of Treasurers of Tutankhamen at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in the spring of 1978. Although my sons were only five and seven years old, they remember the beauty of the gold mask that covered the pharaoh's head in his coffin. It was in an area all by itself, the room was black and only a light shone on the actual solid gold mask. A wonderful remembrance.

This book is marvelous. I should have read it when I bought it, but I believe I treasure it more now that I better understand the 10 years of work that it took for Carter to take everything out of the tomb. I can't even imagine the work of cataloguing, photographing, and moving to a place to be restored and then moving again to the museum in Cairo.

A recent PBS documentary on King Tut pulled in even more information and showed what a real treasure this book is. If you can't get to Egypt...and who can these days, this is the next best thing.

[Terri Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

AS much as I love my history and all things to do with Ancient Egypt, I was a little disappointed in this book for a few reasons. One, while I understand that it was written nearly a hundred years ago, I found Carter's style to be dry and boring in some areas, which made me feel tired while trying to read it. I also found it disappointing that there were no in lay photographs within the book too, it would've been nice to see some of the artefacts and items that Howard Carter was writing about, maybe it would've helped the dryness a little.

[Xarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book, written by the man who excavated the tomb itself, extremely approachable and very exciting. Throughout reading it, I yearned to be there discovering the magnificence of the tomb. These were the days of archaeology!

[Georgene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited when I found this book in a used book store. I'm very surprised I had never run across it before. This was my first non-fiction book of 2014.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent books with great photos and details.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting first hand account. slow going as it is detailed descriptions of artifacts, but informative.

[Sotiris Makrygiannis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Carter is to Egypt what Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, is to Greece, a controversial figure for the British and a thief for the locals. Why? Just visit the British museum and watch The Phidias marbles of Acropolis, stolen and stored in a dim, dark room, alone and badly cut from the rest of the Athens acropolis. Same for Howard, how the British obtained so many Mummies and treasures of Ancient Egypt? This book describes the process well.

"The world has money but not enough antiques", Howard used to say. To his benefit, he discovered things; Elgin just stole them. It is not only his fault; Turkish authorities must also be blamed. At the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, everything was for sale, to the point that Mehmed the Conqueror's bones probably shook in the grave becouse he did preserve much from his barbarian army but not his ancestors.

The book implies how the looting was done; planes will land next to the tomb and in the desert and airlift the cargo. At the same time, the officials in Cairo will get plenty of other goodies to be happy without, of course, having full knowledge. British charm and few mirrors can outsmart the glorious Egyptian people that forgot their history and magnificent past in exchange for a modern system, political Islam.

At this point, I remind myself that the one God religious system is an Egyptian invention. Perhaps by fusion made with the Israelite tribes living among them. Tutankhamun's father, Akhenaten, created the Aten religion based on 1 God and a holy trinity. He didnt live much; the old establishment and the priesthood cast probably murdered him and tried to erase him from the records.

Coincidentally enough, his father belongs to the 18th Dynasty of Pharaohs of Egypt. Precisely that moment in history, a great schism occurs, the famous Israelite EXODUS from Egypt to the promised land. To me, at least, it is evident that his father enabled the one God system that was further developed and expanded by the Jews.

Parts of that system can be seen in the name of the Pharaoh and his son; we say Tutankh-AMEN.
In Hebrew, that means FAITH and is part of his name. Tutankh-AMEN was named Tutankhaten, ATEN the religious system his father developed but later changed the ending to AMEN.

So when you go to church and say AMEN, remember that this was probably a title of a great idealist, the faithful one, the creator of the 1 God system of the Holly Trinity: Akhenaten. Whose son proudly carries his name and is the most magnificent mummy of all time.

I hope by sharing this story now see this little child with a bit more respect as it comes from a family tree that didnt rule only Egypt but placed the seeds that changed the belief system of a whole planet. And how do we pay respect to them? Do we let them sleep and rest in their place of birth or do we "sell" tickets and tour them around the world? A bit more respect here is required from my point of view.

[ERIC PECHINOT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I'm a history buff, I never took to ancient Egypt. What should I care for a civilization whose pictorial conventions in particular and art in general barely ever evolved (1) and its wholesale obession with death and the hereafter? Creepy!
Still one must always keep an open mind. And if I'm honest, I'll say that when I went to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, I was over the moon, elbowing my way through the crowd from one stupendous statue to the next wowing showcase the only drawback of the visit. Furthermore deep inside of me, there is still this little boy with his adventurous spirit untrammelled by the passage of time and growing old.
Hence Howard Carter's memoir.
The man was convinced one more tomb was yet to be unearthed in the Valley of the Kings but he was running out of time and Lord Carnavon, his benefactor, out of patience. Everyone was getting flustered by the day. So it was quite a piece of luck when a young local boy (2 ) rushed to Carter with the hunch that what he had just happened on in the dust might well be the upper step to a flight of stairs hidden below ground, the outset of an extraordinary discovery!
So this is the sense of thrill I felt throughout this very good book. Of course we now know much more than Carter did at the time. For instance, historians can now explain why Tutankhamun's belongings were found unceremoniously strewn all over the floor, evidence of a desecrating rush in the burial of the young pharaoh. You won't find the key to the mystery in the book (3), but you'll still enjoy a story worth its salt.
(1): I am convinced that the bust of Nefertiti displayed in Berlin in the Neues Museum is but a scam; were it not, the curator would have given the nod to running a carbon 14 test a long time ago, wouldn't he?
(2): Today in Egypt,a campaign is being launched to pull his name out of the shadow and fairly put his memory in the limelight, which is just about time, I'd say!
(3): You may find it interesting to browse through Science News and the article "King Tut's tomb has secrets to reveal 100 years after its discovery", one of many recent publications on the matter.

[Da Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Carter nos cuenta como descubrió la tumba del faraón Tutankamón y describe a detalle todo el trabajo que requirió poner a salvo el impresionante tesoro que acompañaba al rey.

Un relato imprescindible para todos los que tenemos cierta fascinación por el antiguo Egipto. Un libro que ojalá hubiese podido leer de niño.

Sin embargo, ha podido ser una completa obra maestra si hubiese sido coescrito con algún historiador experto en el antiguo Egipto, ya que constantemente es necesario recurrír a otra fuentes para entender el porqué de ciertas situaciones, como por ejemplo el hecho de que Tutankamon no tenga una enorme pirámide sobre su tumba. Y la razón de esto (dato que he conocido buscando en la web) es que durante las dinastías egipcias hubo cambios en los dogmas religiosos y sus rituales, así, los faraones con pirámide pertenecen a una antigua tradición en la cual el muerto debe ascender directamente hacia el dios sol Ra. Para la época de Tutankamón se creía en cambio que el muerto primero debía descender hacia el inframundo transformándose en Osiris para luego renacer como Ra.

Esta observación también tiene un aspecto positivo, y es que invita al lector a hacer una investigación más profunda de la historia.

En conclusión, es una lectura muy interesante, que permite conocer y entender mucho mejor la importancia de la arqueología y que nos acerca a un pasado increíblemente lejano.

[Eric Kortschak]

As the books contained collected here are something of a historical artifact themselves - three volumes, published over the course of a decade nearly a century ago - and meant to deliver an account of something that has been accounted and re-accounted in practically every medium imaginable since, it’s difficult to really review them as I normally would another book. Is it possible to assess their success or failure as a reader in 2023?

But even if a star rating is pointless, I can certainly say that there’s plenty of interest here for aficionados of this incredible archaeological discovery (or even Ancient Egypt in general), and hearing Carter espouse his own views on his profession and the precise methods used to uncover and preserve the contents of the tomb were more than worth the price of admission for me (and puts a nice kibosh on the increasingly-common accusation of “plundering” that some would level at the expedition).

The books are probably more than a little too dry to serve as an introductory read, but if the aim was more to catalogue than entertain, is that really an issue? Something worth knowing going in, perhaps, but I enjoyed my time with them.

[Abhïshék Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richly illustrated, wonderfully told and bought for a bargain (2 British Pounds) at an OXFAM store in Edinburgh. I have been utterly fascinated with all things ancient Egypt since I was 9 - and this book successfully quenches so many of my wishes. Carter writes with amazing precision on the excitement, dangers, frustrations and incredible work needed to not only “discover” a tomb - but ensure its documentation and preservation for posterity. While there can be many naysayers for the ethics of a colonial power carting away treasures to their own lands, the undeniable fact is that the science of archaeology was leveraged to bring many of these treasures to light - by these “foreign” eyes. Because for the orient, we live through “history” and don’t consider the need to “hide it all away behind the glass chambers of museums.”

[June Ling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, exhilarating, consuming and magnificent. Words just can’t do justice to describe Howard Carter’s firsthand account on his marvellous discovery 100 years ago. From the very first page to the last, you’d feel as if you just can’t put the book down and when it’s over, a sense of longing for more takes you.

His style of writing, how he carries his journey along the pages are just captivating. Providing his own thoughts during his experience excavating; his trials, successes and worries are all fully emoted. You’d feel as if you were there with him. I particularly enjoyed the little bits of information of him relating the artefacts to further educate the reader on its significance, or rather, just how us humans are still somewhat same, even from thousands of years ago.

A humbling read, one that reignites your passion towards Egyptology, no matter your stance.

[María Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tutankamón se le ha llamado a veces el niño-rey. Un adolescente cuyo corto reinado tuvo lugar en un momento ciertamente convulso de la historia del Antiguo Egipto, y que sin embargo se ha convertido en uno de los faraones más conocidos, si no el que más, de nuestro tiempo.
Parte de ello se deriva sin duda del descubrimiento de su tumba, liderado por Howard Carter y financiado por Lord Carnavon, quienes excavaron con tesón y confianza hasta sacar a la luz los deslumbrantes tesoros que escondía el lugar de descanso del joven monarca.
En este libro el propio Howard Carter da cuenta del proceso con todo detalle. Aunque el inventario de los objetos encontrados, en los capítulos finales, pueda llegar a cansar, la historia de este descubrimiento, narrada por su principal protagonista, resultará sin duda muy interesante para los amantes de la arqueología.

[Cristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro fascinante con una visión Arqueológica. A veces, la historia se entiende como una narración consecutiva de hechos y personajes que dieron forma (en teoría) a ciertos periodos de tiempo. Pero llegar a esas conexiones, y tan antiguas como las divisiones imperiales egipcias, toma forma únicamente por los Arqueólogos. Howard hizo un gran trabajo científico, y casi 100% ético, casi... (británicos). Su libro no ahorra en detalles de lo fascinante que es Tut, de lo increíble que fue encontrarlo, y de las paradojas de que un niño faraón sin mucha importancia ahora fuera la cara (literalmente) visible que aparece en la mente de muchas personas cuando dicen "Egipto".

[Giuliana Unlibropersognaregiuly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Devo dire che sono rimasta un pò delusa da questo libro, che altro non è se non un infinito elenco degli oggetti rinvenuti nella tomba del faraone. Carter è prolisso oltre ogni limite, tant'è che a fine libro, presa dalla disperazione, ho evitato le appendici perchè rischiavo di addormentarmi.Un libro del genere doveva essere per lo più fotografico,con brevi inserti dell'autore. Le descizioni infinite secondo me creano tanta confusione e noia. Pollice verso.

[Urko Orosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una pena que cada dos por tres caiga en un mero inventario, porque cuando narra todo lo que rodea al hallazgo de la tumba y las conclusiones a las que va llegando se convierte en un libro estupendo.

[Sharon Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carter wrote clearly with a light touch of humour. He made no attempt to mystify his readers. You get a succinct explanation of the finding of the tomb and detailed descriptions of the objects found within. An updated version with photographs would be welcome.

[Elena Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carter waxes poetic on our shared humanity. At times technical, but never boring. It's a great pairing with Taschen's Tutankamen. You can look up the objects in the Taschen book while reading about where they were discovered and in what condition.

[Alberto Cuervo-Arango · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maravilloso, todavía más leyéndolo en pleno crucero por el Nilo.

Lo terminé justo antes de visitar el Museo Egipcio de El Cairo, así que pude ver la tumba de Tutankamon con un guía muy especial.

[Don McMorland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well told, fascinating and often moving first-hand account of one of the great discoveries in archaeology. It is wonderful to read it in the words of Howard Carter himself.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and fascinating read.