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The Story of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King
A lively new biography of Tutankhamun—published for the hundredth anniversary of his tomb’s modern discovery
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 sparked imaginations across the globe. While Howard Carter emptied its treasures, Tut-mania gripped the world—and in many ways, never left. But who was the “boy king,” and what was his life really like?
Garry J. Shaw tells the full story of Tutankhamun’s reign and his modern rediscovery. As pharaoh, Tutankhamun had to manage an empire, navigate influential courtiers, and suffered the pain of losing at least two children—all before his nineteenth birthday. Shaw explores the boy king’s treasures and possessions, from a lock of his grandmother’s hair to a reed cut with his own hands. He looks too at Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s wife, and the power queens held. This is a compelling new biography that weaves together intriguing details about ancient Egyptian culture, its beliefs, and its place in the wider world.
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 sparked imaginations across the globe. While Howard Carter emptied its treasures, Tut-mania gripped the world—and in many ways, never left. But who was the “boy king,” and what was his life really like?
Garry J. Shaw tells the full story of Tutankhamun’s reign and his modern rediscovery. As pharaoh, Tutankhamun had to manage an empire, navigate influential courtiers, and suffered the pain of losing at least two children—all before his nineteenth birthday. Shaw explores the boy king’s treasures and possessions, from a lock of his grandmother’s hair to a reed cut with his own hands. He looks too at Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s wife, and the power queens held. This is a compelling new biography that weaves together intriguing details about ancient Egyptian culture, its beliefs, and its place in the wider world.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 13, 2022
12 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Garry J. Shaw
12 books41 followersGarry J Shaw is an author and journalist, writing about archaeology, history, and travel. He studied archaeology and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, and afterwards moved to Egypt to teach for the American University in Cairo. He has lectured in the UK, Egypt, and Canada, appeared in documentaries, and taught an online introduction to ancient Egypt for Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education.
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March 1, 2025This may seem like a very popular and slightly journalistic book (and it is), but Gary J. Shaw indeed is a trained Egyptologist, and he knows what he is talking about. I found the first part of this booklet, about the life of Tutankhamen himself, rather meager. After all, not much biographical information is known about the most famous pharaoh of all time. What surprised me most is that Shaw does not address at all the reason why under Tukankhamun, and earlier under Queen Nefertiti, the remarkable legacy of his presumed father Akhenaten was ended. Nowhere does he indicate which opposing forces were at work, forcing a return to the cult of Amun.
Well portrayed is the story of the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, by Howard Carter. I was not aware that the excavation took 7 years. And I was even less aware of how rudely Carter had handled the pharaoh's remains: they were literally ripped apart, showing once again how long archaeology has been stuck in the cowboy era (and it's still not quite over, unfortunately, to the detriment of serious scientists).
Shaw also briefly discusses the Tut-mania that broke out after the discovery of the tomb, and which continues to this day. But I remained a bit unsatisfied by his not elaborating on the results of the DNA research of Tuthankamun's remains, because ultimately only those can provide a definitive answer about the precise genealogy of the young pharaoh.
Well portrayed is the story of the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, by Howard Carter. I was not aware that the excavation took 7 years. And I was even less aware of how rudely Carter had handled the pharaoh's remains: they were literally ripped apart, showing once again how long archaeology has been stuck in the cowboy era (and it's still not quite over, unfortunately, to the detriment of serious scientists).
Shaw also briefly discusses the Tut-mania that broke out after the discovery of the tomb, and which continues to this day. But I remained a bit unsatisfied by his not elaborating on the results of the DNA research of Tuthankamun's remains, because ultimately only those can provide a definitive answer about the precise genealogy of the young pharaoh.
January 9, 2023
Rating 2.5 stars. Very accessible, slightly romanticized narrative focussing on Tutankhamun's life, on the discovery of his burial chamber and on the enormous interest and controversy that still surrounds it. Don't expect any spectacular revelations, because not much is actually known about this very young pharaoh. Gary J. Shaw portrays it well and his book is absolutely scientifically sound, but I was surprised that he thought it necessary to make Tutankhamun into a kind of movie character (the narrative style is also almost like in a staged documentary). More in my History account on GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
With my thanks for the ARC by Netgalley and publisher Yale University Press.
With my thanks for the ARC by Netgalley and publisher Yale University Press.
November 8, 2022
The Story of Tutankhamun
An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King
by Garry J. Shaw
This is an amazing and very informative book bringing the young king alive again for a short time so we can visually picture his life and death as if we were there. It's been 100 years since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and this book tells us his life before death, why he was buried there, how it was hidden, and the many things we have learned in the last 100 years.
Some things we may have had wrong at times then new discoveries helped explain things further. New medical devices have helped greatly too! No, he was not murdered! But he was chronically ill. He was also born with a club foot causing him to use a cane all his life.
He and the Aye, the man who took over after Tut died, had their names and faces obliterated by the ruler after Aye. So King Tutankhamun was never to be known or see again. He was erased from history. But after Carter found his tomb, King Tut is the most famous king from Egypt! Even little kids know about him! Boy did that backfire on that ruler!
This book is exceptionally laid out and middle grade kids will enjoy and learn from this book but adults will love it too! It's presented wonderfully! I love this history period of Egypt and this book is well researched and very informative! Loved it!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this awesome book!
An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King
by Garry J. Shaw
This is an amazing and very informative book bringing the young king alive again for a short time so we can visually picture his life and death as if we were there. It's been 100 years since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and this book tells us his life before death, why he was buried there, how it was hidden, and the many things we have learned in the last 100 years.
Some things we may have had wrong at times then new discoveries helped explain things further. New medical devices have helped greatly too! No, he was not murdered! But he was chronically ill. He was also born with a club foot causing him to use a cane all his life.
He and the Aye, the man who took over after Tut died, had their names and faces obliterated by the ruler after Aye. So King Tutankhamun was never to be known or see again. He was erased from history. But after Carter found his tomb, King Tut is the most famous king from Egypt! Even little kids know about him! Boy did that backfire on that ruler!
This book is exceptionally laid out and middle grade kids will enjoy and learn from this book but adults will love it too! It's presented wonderfully! I love this history period of Egypt and this book is well researched and very informative! Loved it!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this awesome book!
October 5, 2022
This is a fantastically immersive, accessible overview and insight into everything we know about the mysterious boy king Tutankhamun, starting just before his life all the way to the discovery of his tomb and the completion of its excavation. It's easy to read without being patronising to the reader and immersive without losing its informative nature. Even though I knew a lot of what was covered in this book, I audibly gasped several times because I felt I was witnessing the events unfold in front of me. A really impressive work of non-ficion and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of their knowledge of Tutankhamun -- fantastic for people who know nothing about Egyptology and entertaining for those who do.
October 21, 2022
Easy to read history of King Tut. Flows like fiction which, I believe, is the best kind of non-fiction. Well researched and written. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book
October 13, 2022
A hundred years ago, the discovery of ‘King Tut’s Tomb’ set the world on fire. All things Egyptian became the rage, impacting architecture, fashion, design, and even the movies.
Just over 200 pages long, with forty illustrations, The Story of King Tutankhamun was an enjoyable introduction. The story begins with Tutankhamun’s parents, Akhenaten and Nefertiti. They had changed Egypt completely, building a new capital and religious center and commanding worship of the sun disk god, sidelining other traditional gods. After their deaths, a daughter briefly ruled before Tutankhamun became pharaoh at age 10. There was a backlash against his father’s rule; the capital was returned to its previous city and the old gods rose to prominence again. Akhenaten and Nefertiti were literally erased from history, their images defaced.
The pharaoh was the chief priest. He led the religious ceremonies for the country. Born Tutankhaten, he even changed his name to Tutankhamun to show he was the son of Amun, the creator god who created all the other gods, not Aten the sun disk who his father worshipped as the source of all life.
I can’t help but wonder how Tutankhamun felt. Did he have a lack of real power? Was he an inexperienced youth who couldn’t stand up to the demands of those who had been dispossessed and were now eager to regain what they had lost? Or, did he truly believe that the abandoned gods had forsaken Egypt and left it weaker? What we do know is that his face was now the face of the Amun.
The child king married a half-sister. The lack of viable pregnancies left them without an heir. Not until Ramses was a pharaonic line reestablished. After his death, Tutankhamun was sidelined as his parents were, buried in a borrowed tomb, with a repurposed gold mask, his images defaced.
The story of how Howard Carter, funded by Lord Carnarvon, searched for Tut’s tomb, and discovered it, and the treasures therein, is legendary. Shaw addresses the legendary curse and the appropriation of Egyptian artifacts. The biography traces the legacy of Tut into contemporary times, such as the exhibit of reproductions of Tutankhamen’s tomb treasures and the “Immersive King Tut” exhibit that came to Detroit.
Shaw includes imagined scenes from the pharaohs life, and describes in detail his education and other activities. I loved the description of the woven clothing he wore, the descriptions of the ceremonies and processions, the banquets and hunting trips, learning how his tomb was robbed and hastily restored.
The book is a nice introduction to this most well known pharaoh, and is appropriate for YA readers as well as adults.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
Just over 200 pages long, with forty illustrations, The Story of King Tutankhamun was an enjoyable introduction. The story begins with Tutankhamun’s parents, Akhenaten and Nefertiti. They had changed Egypt completely, building a new capital and religious center and commanding worship of the sun disk god, sidelining other traditional gods. After their deaths, a daughter briefly ruled before Tutankhamun became pharaoh at age 10. There was a backlash against his father’s rule; the capital was returned to its previous city and the old gods rose to prominence again. Akhenaten and Nefertiti were literally erased from history, their images defaced.
The pharaoh was the chief priest. He led the religious ceremonies for the country. Born Tutankhaten, he even changed his name to Tutankhamun to show he was the son of Amun, the creator god who created all the other gods, not Aten the sun disk who his father worshipped as the source of all life.
I can’t help but wonder how Tutankhamun felt. Did he have a lack of real power? Was he an inexperienced youth who couldn’t stand up to the demands of those who had been dispossessed and were now eager to regain what they had lost? Or, did he truly believe that the abandoned gods had forsaken Egypt and left it weaker? What we do know is that his face was now the face of the Amun.
The child king married a half-sister. The lack of viable pregnancies left them without an heir. Not until Ramses was a pharaonic line reestablished. After his death, Tutankhamun was sidelined as his parents were, buried in a borrowed tomb, with a repurposed gold mask, his images defaced.
The story of how Howard Carter, funded by Lord Carnarvon, searched for Tut’s tomb, and discovered it, and the treasures therein, is legendary. Shaw addresses the legendary curse and the appropriation of Egyptian artifacts. The biography traces the legacy of Tut into contemporary times, such as the exhibit of reproductions of Tutankhamen’s tomb treasures and the “Immersive King Tut” exhibit that came to Detroit.
Shaw includes imagined scenes from the pharaohs life, and describes in detail his education and other activities. I loved the description of the woven clothing he wore, the descriptions of the ceremonies and processions, the banquets and hunting trips, learning how his tomb was robbed and hastily restored.
The book is a nice introduction to this most well known pharaoh, and is appropriate for YA readers as well as adults.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
October 14, 2022
The Story of Tutankhamun was a riveting read, partly thanks to the story-like style of the prose. Shaw keeps the story going, rather than pausing too often to debate theories, saving any such discussion for the endnotes. I certainly learnt some new things, both about Tutankhamun and Ancient Egyptian culture, from this work and I would recommend it to those interested in the period. Given the book's style, it will be suitable for both scholarly readers and the interested layperson. There was also a nice smattering of images throughout, illustrating some of the items found within the tomb. This book gets 4.5 stars from me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2022
4.5
The Story of Tutankhamun by egyptologist Garry J. Shaw is a brilliantly written new biography of the boy king, spanning from his birth and early life under his father Akhenaten’s new religious regime, all the way up to his death and the discovery and subsequent treatment of his mummy and burial goods in the twenty-first century. This is truly a wonderful addition to the centenary celebration of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon.
The Story of Tutankhamun undertakes a monumental challenge of synthesising everything that we do and do not know about Tutankhamun and displaying that information in a digestible manner that readers of all knowledge levels could not only understand, but enjoy. Shaw’s book utilises the most recent scholarship and scientific data to construct a hypothetical narrative of the boy king’s life, which I absolutely adored. Shaw draws on archaeological evidence, images, texts and all sorts of available data and research to reconstruct Tutankhamun’s life beginning in Amarna under pharaoh Akhenaten. If you aren’t familiar with the reign of Akhenaten, Egypt under this particular pharaoh was radically different as Akhenaten raised the sun disk the ‘Aten’ as the supreme deity of the region. He closed the temples and moved the capital of Egypt to Akhenaten (known today as Tell-el-Amarna). So, Tutankhamun was probably born in Amarna and was definitely born into a unique and radical time in ancient Egypt’s history. Shaw introduces us to how Tutankhamun's early life may have looked, and then goes on to give a really intimate look into just how difficult it would have been for the young boy (because he really was only a boy when he acme pharaoh), to navigate his years as king of Egypt.
Shaw then basically reconstructs the rest of Tutankhamun’s life, and the important things he undertook during his very short reign, and he does this by including as many of the artefacts found in the young king’s burial as possible. There is something deeply intimate about reconstructing the life of a boy who died over three-thousand years ago using artefacts that he would have owned, touched, used, and were deemed important enough to be buried with him to take to the next life.
Shaw doesn't finish his book at the death of Tutankhamun, but goes on to describe ancient Egypt after his death, and the following destruction of his name and image by his successors. Then, he moves thousands of years into the future, and to the incredible discovery of the tomb, and the mummy. I loved reading about the steps involved not only to the initial discovery and why it took so long to be found, but also the arduous and somewhat destructive process it was cataloguing and emptying the tomb.
This new biography of the young king doesn't necessarily add any new information to the wealth of knowledge of Tutankhamun, but that’s not the point. Garry Shaw has done a remarkable job synthesising everything we know and don’t know about Tutankhamun and created a compelling narrative-style breakdown of his life. This book is both a wonderful place for those who are new to Tutankhamun to learn about not only what was found, but how it may have been used during the king’s life, but with all of the recent scholarship to back it up. Not to mention the book is full of stunning colour images of artefacts and historical images which just adds to the tale.
If you are a lover of ancient Egypt, or you would like to learn a bit more about the household name Tutankhamun, then I could not recommend this book enough!
The Story of Tutankhamun by egyptologist Garry J. Shaw is a brilliantly written new biography of the boy king, spanning from his birth and early life under his father Akhenaten’s new religious regime, all the way up to his death and the discovery and subsequent treatment of his mummy and burial goods in the twenty-first century. This is truly a wonderful addition to the centenary celebration of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon.
The Story of Tutankhamun undertakes a monumental challenge of synthesising everything that we do and do not know about Tutankhamun and displaying that information in a digestible manner that readers of all knowledge levels could not only understand, but enjoy. Shaw’s book utilises the most recent scholarship and scientific data to construct a hypothetical narrative of the boy king’s life, which I absolutely adored. Shaw draws on archaeological evidence, images, texts and all sorts of available data and research to reconstruct Tutankhamun’s life beginning in Amarna under pharaoh Akhenaten. If you aren’t familiar with the reign of Akhenaten, Egypt under this particular pharaoh was radically different as Akhenaten raised the sun disk the ‘Aten’ as the supreme deity of the region. He closed the temples and moved the capital of Egypt to Akhenaten (known today as Tell-el-Amarna). So, Tutankhamun was probably born in Amarna and was definitely born into a unique and radical time in ancient Egypt’s history. Shaw introduces us to how Tutankhamun's early life may have looked, and then goes on to give a really intimate look into just how difficult it would have been for the young boy (because he really was only a boy when he acme pharaoh), to navigate his years as king of Egypt.
Shaw then basically reconstructs the rest of Tutankhamun’s life, and the important things he undertook during his very short reign, and he does this by including as many of the artefacts found in the young king’s burial as possible. There is something deeply intimate about reconstructing the life of a boy who died over three-thousand years ago using artefacts that he would have owned, touched, used, and were deemed important enough to be buried with him to take to the next life.
Shaw doesn't finish his book at the death of Tutankhamun, but goes on to describe ancient Egypt after his death, and the following destruction of his name and image by his successors. Then, he moves thousands of years into the future, and to the incredible discovery of the tomb, and the mummy. I loved reading about the steps involved not only to the initial discovery and why it took so long to be found, but also the arduous and somewhat destructive process it was cataloguing and emptying the tomb.
This new biography of the young king doesn't necessarily add any new information to the wealth of knowledge of Tutankhamun, but that’s not the point. Garry Shaw has done a remarkable job synthesising everything we know and don’t know about Tutankhamun and created a compelling narrative-style breakdown of his life. This book is both a wonderful place for those who are new to Tutankhamun to learn about not only what was found, but how it may have been used during the king’s life, but with all of the recent scholarship to back it up. Not to mention the book is full of stunning colour images of artefacts and historical images which just adds to the tale.
If you are a lover of ancient Egypt, or you would like to learn a bit more about the household name Tutankhamun, then I could not recommend this book enough!
January 3, 2023
Although the death mask of Tutankhamun is one of the most recognisable 'faces' of the twentieth century, it is surprisingly how little we actually know about his life that can be verified. The author uses what we do know, alongside information about life in ancient Egypt in general, to piece together what Tutankhamun's life could have been like. From his early years where even the name of his mother is not known (it is known from DNA that she was one of his father's sisters), to what actually killed him, Tutankhamun's life is mainly a mystery.
This book covers the period of his short life, & several years afterwards, before skipping to the early 1900s & then the discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 & up to the present day. The author gives us his best interpretation of the available evidence & provides alternate interpretations in the footnotes. One thing that really struck me when reading it was the evidence that Tutankhamun's burial was very hastily done & rather slipshod in areas. That's not something that I was aware of, having thought with all the burial goods etc that his burial would have been very prestigious, but it seems that it lacked the attention to detail that earlier burials of his ancestors did.
It's a quick read at just under 200 pages, as it keeps things at a surface level without diving into aspects in more detail which is a bit of a weakness in some respects, but it's well worth a read as an introduction to the subject. It left me with lots of questions to follow up on.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Yale University Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This book covers the period of his short life, & several years afterwards, before skipping to the early 1900s & then the discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 & up to the present day. The author gives us his best interpretation of the available evidence & provides alternate interpretations in the footnotes. One thing that really struck me when reading it was the evidence that Tutankhamun's burial was very hastily done & rather slipshod in areas. That's not something that I was aware of, having thought with all the burial goods etc that his burial would have been very prestigious, but it seems that it lacked the attention to detail that earlier burials of his ancestors did.
It's a quick read at just under 200 pages, as it keeps things at a surface level without diving into aspects in more detail which is a bit of a weakness in some respects, but it's well worth a read as an introduction to the subject. It left me with lots of questions to follow up on.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Yale University Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
December 1, 2022
Since I can remember I've always had this fascination with Ancient Egypt. That being said, of course King Tutankhman is a figure I've been drawn to time and time again. Back in 2010 when the King Tut exhibit returned to NYC, I of course went and had a blast. OK, enough about me! Let's get back to the book review ...
In this new biography the author goes into what was going on during the period before Tutankhman's birth in Egypt under his father, Akhenaten's, reign, his life growing up as a royal and becoming the youngest pharaoh to ever rule over ancient Egypt, to his death and funerary preparations, to the discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter and the Tut-mania that followed, a captivation that hasn't abated even through our current times.
This short, succinct biography of Tutankhamun was a fun, interesting, educational read. It's truly incredible how much I learned from this barely 200-page book! After finding out from this book all that was done by one of his predecessors, Horemheb, to erase Tut's name (He literally chiselled out Tutankhamun's name and replaced it with his own) from memory and ultimately history, it feels like a miracle to even be talking and reading about King Tut.
Tut Fun Facts:
⚱️The great golden death mask we all associate with the boy king was actually made for his mother
⚱️Tutankhamun married his 11 year old half-sister, Ankhesenamu, and their eventual deaths marked the end of their royal line
⚱️Due to tomb preparations and having no successor, King Tut's funeral didn't happen until 7 months after his death
⚱️After discovering the tomb, Howard Carter had every artefact photographed both as it was discovered in the tomb, and afterwards, as individual objects
⚱️As of the writing of this book, Tutankhman remains in his tomb. He's the only pharaoh we know of still resting in his own tomb
⚱️Once having travelled all over the world for different exhibitions, Tutankhman's treasures, amounting to about 5,000 artifacts, now have a new home at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza
Thank you Yale University Press & NetGalley for this e-ARC!
I give The Story of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy Who Became King by Garry J. Shaw 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In this new biography the author goes into what was going on during the period before Tutankhman's birth in Egypt under his father, Akhenaten's, reign, his life growing up as a royal and becoming the youngest pharaoh to ever rule over ancient Egypt, to his death and funerary preparations, to the discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter and the Tut-mania that followed, a captivation that hasn't abated even through our current times.
This short, succinct biography of Tutankhamun was a fun, interesting, educational read. It's truly incredible how much I learned from this barely 200-page book! After finding out from this book all that was done by one of his predecessors, Horemheb, to erase Tut's name (He literally chiselled out Tutankhamun's name and replaced it with his own) from memory and ultimately history, it feels like a miracle to even be talking and reading about King Tut.
Tut Fun Facts:
⚱️The great golden death mask we all associate with the boy king was actually made for his mother
⚱️Tutankhamun married his 11 year old half-sister, Ankhesenamu, and their eventual deaths marked the end of their royal line
⚱️Due to tomb preparations and having no successor, King Tut's funeral didn't happen until 7 months after his death
⚱️After discovering the tomb, Howard Carter had every artefact photographed both as it was discovered in the tomb, and afterwards, as individual objects
⚱️As of the writing of this book, Tutankhman remains in his tomb. He's the only pharaoh we know of still resting in his own tomb
⚱️Once having travelled all over the world for different exhibitions, Tutankhman's treasures, amounting to about 5,000 artifacts, now have a new home at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza
Thank you Yale University Press & NetGalley for this e-ARC!
I give The Story of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy Who Became King by Garry J. Shaw 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 25, 2024
The Story of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King chronicles the life of Tutankhamun in great detail, drawing on historical and archaeological sources to provide a portrait not only of the political upheavals of Tutankhamun's reign, but especially of what the day-to-day life of a pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty would have been like. The final couple of chapters are dedicated to the story of Tutankhamun's re-discovery by Howard Carter in 1922 and his subsequent rise to international fame, bringing the story of the boy pharaoh's life full circle. I commend the author for emphasising both archaeology and history in his narratives, which is a rare balance for most books of this genre to strike - far too often, history is allowed to take precedence over archaeology, and I found the equal attention paid to Egyptian archaeology in The Story of Tutankhamun to be a welcome surprise. Overall, I found the book to be well researched and highly informative, but I wish that a little more focus had been put on some of the remaining great mysteries of Tutankhamun's life, not least the identification of his closest family members.
January 15, 2023
With the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, it’s only natural that there should be a renewed interest in him and his times. The Story of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King by Garry J. Shaw, although a relatively short book, provides an excellent overview of the boy king’s life and the context in which he lived it.
This was the short-lived Amarna period instituted by his predecessor Akhenaten, who upended the previously stable structure of Egyptian life, particularly in religion, replacing the multitudinous deities of Egypt with the Aten, embodied in the disk of the sun, in one of the first recorded instances of monotheism. Upon the deaths of Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti, who may have reigned on her own for a short time, there was a push to restore life to the way it had been before and the old gods to their former glory, and the new king, only about ten years old at the time, was the one to undertake the task, which he seems to have done willingly enough.
Shaw tells the story of Tutankhamun and his world, including the ceremonies he would have participated in and incorporating many of the personal items found in his tomb, in an almost novelistic way, unencumbered by the invariable hair-splitting over various interpretations of events that can be found in more academically oriented histories; these are relegated to endnotes for those who are interested. Relationships between the various characters are particularly tricky, even with DNA testing. This makes it easy to follow, especially for the general reader, who tends to find qualifications such as “must have been,” “is thought to have,” etc., to be distracting and annoying. Tutankhamun, his predecessors, his tragic wife and sister (or half-sister) Ankhesenamun, and the successors who benefited from their association with him and later erased him and his family from Egyptian history, are portrayed as living, breathing human beings with very human emotions and failings. Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King is an enjoyable introduction to an intriguing period within an already fascinating history.
I received a copy of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was the short-lived Amarna period instituted by his predecessor Akhenaten, who upended the previously stable structure of Egyptian life, particularly in religion, replacing the multitudinous deities of Egypt with the Aten, embodied in the disk of the sun, in one of the first recorded instances of monotheism. Upon the deaths of Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti, who may have reigned on her own for a short time, there was a push to restore life to the way it had been before and the old gods to their former glory, and the new king, only about ten years old at the time, was the one to undertake the task, which he seems to have done willingly enough.
Shaw tells the story of Tutankhamun and his world, including the ceremonies he would have participated in and incorporating many of the personal items found in his tomb, in an almost novelistic way, unencumbered by the invariable hair-splitting over various interpretations of events that can be found in more academically oriented histories; these are relegated to endnotes for those who are interested. Relationships between the various characters are particularly tricky, even with DNA testing. This makes it easy to follow, especially for the general reader, who tends to find qualifications such as “must have been,” “is thought to have,” etc., to be distracting and annoying. Tutankhamun, his predecessors, his tragic wife and sister (or half-sister) Ankhesenamun, and the successors who benefited from their association with him and later erased him and his family from Egyptian history, are portrayed as living, breathing human beings with very human emotions and failings. Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King is an enjoyable introduction to an intriguing period within an already fascinating history.
I received a copy of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2023
This is a biography written to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb. The tomb was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. The discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb fascinated the world then and it still does. King Tutankhamen became famous by chance.
After Tutankhamen died, his dynasty disappeared and a new royal line took over. The ancient Egyptians attempted to erase Tutankhamen’s legacy and name. His tomb disappeared under the desert sands of time. He was forgotten. Until the day Howard Carter unearthed a small chamber in the Valley of the Kings. His tomb was crammed with golden artifacts.
Despite King Tutankhamen’s short reign, he has become one of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs. This is because of all the golden treasures that were found in his tomb. His tomb was not plundered like most ancient tombs. It had remained mostly intact. King Tutankhamen remains one of Egypt’s biggest tourist attraction still to this day.
Tutankhamen’s tomb is a time capsule from 1300 BC. The illustrations and photographs that are included are bright and beautiful. It details the majestic elegance of ancient Egypt. This book takes you through the life and times of King Tutankhamen. He ascended the throne and became Pharaoh at the age nine. He reigned until his death at the young age of nineteen.
I have always been fascinated with Egyptian history. In 1976 as a child, I remember King Tut’s exhibit traveling the United States for the first time. In 2006 I was able to finally see King Tut’s exhibit. If you love Egyptian history this is a book you must read. This is a well written book that held my interest from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
After Tutankhamen died, his dynasty disappeared and a new royal line took over. The ancient Egyptians attempted to erase Tutankhamen’s legacy and name. His tomb disappeared under the desert sands of time. He was forgotten. Until the day Howard Carter unearthed a small chamber in the Valley of the Kings. His tomb was crammed with golden artifacts.
Despite King Tutankhamen’s short reign, he has become one of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs. This is because of all the golden treasures that were found in his tomb. His tomb was not plundered like most ancient tombs. It had remained mostly intact. King Tutankhamen remains one of Egypt’s biggest tourist attraction still to this day.
Tutankhamen’s tomb is a time capsule from 1300 BC. The illustrations and photographs that are included are bright and beautiful. It details the majestic elegance of ancient Egypt. This book takes you through the life and times of King Tutankhamen. He ascended the throne and became Pharaoh at the age nine. He reigned until his death at the young age of nineteen.
I have always been fascinated with Egyptian history. In 1976 as a child, I remember King Tut’s exhibit traveling the United States for the first time. In 2006 I was able to finally see King Tut’s exhibit. If you love Egyptian history this is a book you must read. This is a well written book that held my interest from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 28, 2023
✨ Review ✨ The Story of Tutankhamun; An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King, by Garry J. Shaw
I requested this book on a whim -- something about it just caught my attention. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book -- it made what we know about the life of King Tut accessible and even fun to read. Stretching from the reign of his parents + his childhood, through his life and death, his mummification and burial, the raiding of his tomb, the discovery of his tomb, and his memory today, this book covers a vast stretch of topics.
Admittedly, the book veers toward the speculative, based on what we know, but for a more accessible narrative of this history, I thought this made the book more engaging. Presumably well documented (as an outsider to this field) and filled with photographs to illustrate the text, this was an excellent quick introduction to Tut's life, death, and memory.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: nonfiction; history; biography
Pub Date: out now
Read this if you like reading about:
⭕️ ancient Egypt
⭕️ museums and memory
⭕️ biographies of ancient figures
Thanks to Yale University Press and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!
I requested this book on a whim -- something about it just caught my attention. I really enjoyed the writing style of this book -- it made what we know about the life of King Tut accessible and even fun to read. Stretching from the reign of his parents + his childhood, through his life and death, his mummification and burial, the raiding of his tomb, the discovery of his tomb, and his memory today, this book covers a vast stretch of topics.
Admittedly, the book veers toward the speculative, based on what we know, but for a more accessible narrative of this history, I thought this made the book more engaging. Presumably well documented (as an outsider to this field) and filled with photographs to illustrate the text, this was an excellent quick introduction to Tut's life, death, and memory.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: nonfiction; history; biography
Pub Date: out now
Read this if you like reading about:
⭕️ ancient Egypt
⭕️ museums and memory
⭕️ biographies of ancient figures
Thanks to Yale University Press and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!
January 20, 2023
This was an amazing history book that I learnt so much from. I got so engrossed while reading this book as it was so very interesting and flowed seamlessly. I actually had to finish reading it in one day as I just couldn't put it down. I was up very late to finish it. It was well worth it, though. It was so well written and kept my interest throughout. It really was fascinating reading as I didn't know all that much about Tutankhamun. It was so interesting learning about the flood that came through the valley of King. I also became involved in all the excitement surrounded in looking for his tomb. I really couldn't believe how long it took to remove all the artefacts I was shocked. I definitely recommend reading this book, especially if you love Egyptian history and archaeology. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this fascinating history in such a wonderful, none heavy and readable way. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this fantastic author.
Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this fascinating history in such a wonderful, none heavy and readable way. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this fantastic author.
April 30, 2023
With his impressive funerary mask, the pharaoh Tutankhamun is a well-known image, almost a pop star. On the other hand, due to a series of fortunate circumstances described in the book, his was the tomb in the best preserved condition ever found by archaeologists. Using the most recent interpretations of the artefacts found inside, Schaw brilliantly describes the events that brought the very young pharaoh to the throne, his life, his achievements, his reforms, and his early death. Equally vividly described are the subsequent events, which led him to be forgotten, and the discovery of the tomb. This is an easy-to-read but truly exciting book for those who simply want to know more details about the boy pharaoh, but which, thanks to the extensive notes and rich biography, becomes a useful working tool for Egyptology enthusiasts.
February 22, 2023
I enjoyed this greatly. It was well written and had a fun narrative woven in. Unlike some people I don’t see any romanization but rather the depiction of how humans would have seen themselves and thought during their era. I like that our ideals are not projected onto this biography because what we think is wrong and what they thought was wrong were vastly different. “It was what it was” and villianizing it isn’t going to change it or do anything for the boy king’s memory. Off my soap box. Anyway, I look forward to reading more from this author/Egyptologist and THANK YOU for not putting any pictures of dead bodies. It’s disrespectful and unsettling to look at.
August 4, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! Shaw does such a wonderful job sharing important pieces of information about King Tutankhamun and Egypt in an easy to understand and follow way. I loved the images throughout the book, and had to keep stopping to view my own pictures of Egypt and the famous tomb of the boy king, when I was there in August 2022. Shaw recapped and highlighted all the main points and made it sound interesting and exciting. A must read for those wanting to learn more about King Tut and those who enjoy Egyptian history. Overall a wonderful read, and now it makes me want to return to Egypt more than ever before!
January 17, 2023
This is all encompassing. It goes into the history of Egypt, including environmental history. I learned alot about egyptian history, beyond the scope of Tutankhamun. This extensive background, I felt, was important for a deep dive into the young king.
It is a heavy read, and very academic. It takes time to make your way through it, but it is well worth it. I would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in Tutankhamun, but also in Ancient history or archeology.
Loved it!
It is a heavy read, and very academic. It takes time to make your way through it, but it is well worth it. I would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in Tutankhamun, but also in Ancient history or archeology.
Loved it!
January 6, 2023
There's a lot of books about Tutankhamun out now and this is the one I would choose to recommend if you want to learn about this pharaoh, famous for the discovery of his tombs and the riches.
There's more in the story, there's a complex and intriguing historical time..
It's easy to follow and entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
There's more in the story, there's a complex and intriguing historical time..
It's easy to follow and entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
February 9, 2023
It’s impressive that we know so much about someone who lived several millennia ago. Recommended by my daughter, and it did not disappoint.
December 31, 2024
Interesting details about his tomb discovery.
November 1, 2022
Publication Jan. 2, 2023
Excellent and this is coming from someone who once pondered taking up the study of archeology. Well, until I realized how tedious and boring the parts that didn't involve finding riches beyond the imagination really was. Seriously, I've always found Tutankhamun fascinating, both from the standpoint of history and the wonder of what it really must have been like for him, as a quite young boy, to suddenly be turned into what might as well have been a god. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of Howard Carter's discovery of his long hidden tomb and takes a look at not just that but more modern connected events. This book, which is an easy read, takes a fascinating look at both, not to mention offers up an extensive selections of endnotes, bibliography, index, and photos, some of which were genuinely new to me despite my long-held fascination with the find.
In other words, even if you think you know everything there is about King Tut, as he's usually called, you're likely to find something new. I know I did. I most liked the author's weaving of a non-fictional story in what I'll dub a fictional manner, bringing the story to life. It gives it the "you are there" feel. You can almost feel the heat, noise, smells, and intense activity about Tut. While the author does not attempt to project feelings of awe, fear, or wonder on the boy king, he uses existing evidence to make some educated assumptions about what his life must have been like both before and after he became king. Even after his death, you're left feeling pangs of sympathy for his young wife as she strives to hold things together, being ultimately forced to wed a much older man who had been a trusted advisor to Tut. In other words, this is both a historical and very human story.
One image that stayed with me involved the humble laborers who slaved away in a rush to create Tutankhamun's tomb, then the more modern laborers as they cleared and worked to move discovered treasures to safer confines. Unlike the burial workers, however, they did have a railroad of sorts, a trolley, perhaps we'd call it. Given the shortage of rails, however, workers had to built, disassemble, then repeat many times to move things from the tomb area to the museum or work spaces. Nor were they all in good condition. Did you know they had to, well, take Tut's mummified remains apart to get it out of the coffin that had been treated with an over-abundance of resin? As the author details, the funeral was a rushed job, despite the fact we'd consider it a long period in modern times to prepare a body for burial. Heck, the tomb used seems to even been borrowed, perhaps from Nefertiti. Evidence supporting this assumption/educated guess is within. Since I read something regarding Tut just recently, I believe on the belief that he had a clubbed foot, it's intriguing to know the background of the burial and how the rush and accidents may impact even modern findings.
Seriously, give this one a read. Heck, even the infamous curse gets a nod, not to mention comedian Steve Martin's 1973 novelty song "King Tut". Yep, something for everyone. Thanks #NetGalley and #YaleUniversityPress for giving me the chance to renew my interest in all things King "Tut".
Excellent and this is coming from someone who once pondered taking up the study of archeology. Well, until I realized how tedious and boring the parts that didn't involve finding riches beyond the imagination really was. Seriously, I've always found Tutankhamun fascinating, both from the standpoint of history and the wonder of what it really must have been like for him, as a quite young boy, to suddenly be turned into what might as well have been a god. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of Howard Carter's discovery of his long hidden tomb and takes a look at not just that but more modern connected events. This book, which is an easy read, takes a fascinating look at both, not to mention offers up an extensive selections of endnotes, bibliography, index, and photos, some of which were genuinely new to me despite my long-held fascination with the find.
In other words, even if you think you know everything there is about King Tut, as he's usually called, you're likely to find something new. I know I did. I most liked the author's weaving of a non-fictional story in what I'll dub a fictional manner, bringing the story to life. It gives it the "you are there" feel. You can almost feel the heat, noise, smells, and intense activity about Tut. While the author does not attempt to project feelings of awe, fear, or wonder on the boy king, he uses existing evidence to make some educated assumptions about what his life must have been like both before and after he became king. Even after his death, you're left feeling pangs of sympathy for his young wife as she strives to hold things together, being ultimately forced to wed a much older man who had been a trusted advisor to Tut. In other words, this is both a historical and very human story.
One image that stayed with me involved the humble laborers who slaved away in a rush to create Tutankhamun's tomb, then the more modern laborers as they cleared and worked to move discovered treasures to safer confines. Unlike the burial workers, however, they did have a railroad of sorts, a trolley, perhaps we'd call it. Given the shortage of rails, however, workers had to built, disassemble, then repeat many times to move things from the tomb area to the museum or work spaces. Nor were they all in good condition. Did you know they had to, well, take Tut's mummified remains apart to get it out of the coffin that had been treated with an over-abundance of resin? As the author details, the funeral was a rushed job, despite the fact we'd consider it a long period in modern times to prepare a body for burial. Heck, the tomb used seems to even been borrowed, perhaps from Nefertiti. Evidence supporting this assumption/educated guess is within. Since I read something regarding Tut just recently, I believe on the belief that he had a clubbed foot, it's intriguing to know the background of the burial and how the rush and accidents may impact even modern findings.
Seriously, give this one a read. Heck, even the infamous curse gets a nod, not to mention comedian Steve Martin's 1973 novelty song "King Tut". Yep, something for everyone. Thanks #NetGalley and #YaleUniversityPress for giving me the chance to renew my interest in all things King "Tut".
June 22, 2025
The story of Tutankhamun provides a short overview of everything regarding the life, afterlife and discovery of Tutankhamun.
This book is written in a less academic manner than other literature on Tutankhamun and sometimes suffers from a lack of depth in its writing. However, it does nevertheless provide a good general understanding of Tutankhamun's short reign and the treasures found within his tomb. Shaw also discusses the discovery by Howard Carter of his burial chamber and the ensuing Tut-mania which gripped the United Kingdom. No concrete explanation is given for Tutankhamun's death, but many theories are presented, such as him falling from his chariot, possibly being bludgeoned to death, or being kicked by a horse. However, Shaw posits the most likely explanation was a combination of poor general health due to Malaria and other ailments, meaning that when he broke his leg, likely in a fall, he was too weak to recover. It was also interesting to read that Tutankhamun may not have actually had a clubfoot and that this is instead the result of damage done to his foot during his mummy's excavation.
Overall, this is an expansive book on Tutankhamun, but one with a certain lack of depth and insightfulness.
This book is written in a less academic manner than other literature on Tutankhamun and sometimes suffers from a lack of depth in its writing. However, it does nevertheless provide a good general understanding of Tutankhamun's short reign and the treasures found within his tomb. Shaw also discusses the discovery by Howard Carter of his burial chamber and the ensuing Tut-mania which gripped the United Kingdom. No concrete explanation is given for Tutankhamun's death, but many theories are presented, such as him falling from his chariot, possibly being bludgeoned to death, or being kicked by a horse. However, Shaw posits the most likely explanation was a combination of poor general health due to Malaria and other ailments, meaning that when he broke his leg, likely in a fall, he was too weak to recover. It was also interesting to read that Tutankhamun may not have actually had a clubfoot and that this is instead the result of damage done to his foot during his mummy's excavation.
Overall, this is an expansive book on Tutankhamun, but one with a certain lack of depth and insightfulness.
October 17, 2022
The Story of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King by Garry J. Shaw is a great nonfiction and biography that gives all the history and thrill of a fantastic and fascinating life.
I have read many books on several of the Egyptian dynasties as well as archeological events surrounding these great historical figures, so I had a baseline knowledge base and interest when I began this book, however it is still a fascinating, interesting, informative, and entertaining read no matter what level of knowledge the reader already possesses.
The pages flew by and it kept my interest throughout. Well-researched and educational yet entertaining…an excellent combination.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Yale University Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/3/23.
I have read many books on several of the Egyptian dynasties as well as archeological events surrounding these great historical figures, so I had a baseline knowledge base and interest when I began this book, however it is still a fascinating, interesting, informative, and entertaining read no matter what level of knowledge the reader already possesses.
The pages flew by and it kept my interest throughout. Well-researched and educational yet entertaining…an excellent combination.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Yale University Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/3/23.
October 11, 2022
The Story of Tutankhamun is written by Garry J. Shaw just in time for the centenary of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter. Shaw has a way of writing that makes the figures of the past come to life, and the history moves along at a quick pace without becoming dry. The author very clearly cares about the human aspects of Tutankhamun, his family, and his subjects, which is important as all of that generally tends to be swept away in the face of the priceless treasures that were uncovered in his tomb. He also weaves together and looks at the various theories that surround both the causes of Tutankhamun's death and the condition of his tomb when it was uncovered.
It's an easy, fast read that would be a helpful and welcome reference to anyone who already enjoys Egyptology or to those who are beginners and wish to know more about the famed pharaoh beneath the gold and jewels.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's an easy, fast read that would be a helpful and welcome reference to anyone who already enjoys Egyptology or to those who are beginners and wish to know more about the famed pharaoh beneath the gold and jewels.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2022
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
This is a short biography on Tutankhamun, focusing on the period of his father's reign through to his successors and the end of his family's dynasty. The information is good and easy to follow, and gives a good picture of the boy king himself, as well as the political landscape of Egypt at that time. Here we get a picture of Tut as a boy struggling to return to tradition after the monotheistic reign of his father, while battling external and internal issues. The author does not really expand or add to the reader's understanding of Tut, I didn't feel like I learned anything new from this book. I also felt like it read more like an academic paper instead of a book at times, though overall the book is easy to read. I liked the inclusion of full color photographs, which I felt added a lot to the story of Tut.
This is a short biography on Tutankhamun, focusing on the period of his father's reign through to his successors and the end of his family's dynasty. The information is good and easy to follow, and gives a good picture of the boy king himself, as well as the political landscape of Egypt at that time. Here we get a picture of Tut as a boy struggling to return to tradition after the monotheistic reign of his father, while battling external and internal issues. The author does not really expand or add to the reader's understanding of Tut, I didn't feel like I learned anything new from this book. I also felt like it read more like an academic paper instead of a book at times, though overall the book is easy to read. I liked the inclusion of full color photographs, which I felt added a lot to the story of Tut.
October 31, 2022
Before reading "The Story of Tutankhamun" by Garry J. Shaw, I knew about as much as most people know about the Boy King—primarily about his tomb and the treasures that were discovered there. Garry Shaw takes it deeper in his book, placing King Tut in the context of this time and place, including what is known about his ancestors, his wife, and the time before and after his reign. I found the information interesting, and feel like I came away with a deeper understanding of this time in Egyptian history. I wish the book had a better flow and more consistent viewpoint—at times it read like an academic book, and other times it drifted into what I can only imagine are best guesses at how the King felt in certain moments. The book also stated some items as facts that, in further research, turned out to be less certain. In all, a good read if one knows little about Tutankhamun, as I did.
February 3, 2023
I was given copies of this book by The Reading Agency for my reading group and whilst it's not our usual genre we thoroughly enjoyed it (one member let her 10 year old grand daughter read it and she also loved it) It is well written and sets out the story of King Tutankhamun in under 150 pages, we found it easy to read and well illustrated, it was written like a novel packed full of facts including such things as King Tutenkhamun's disability and hunting on a chariot, concluding with the death of Lord Carnarvon and the Mummy's Curse, some found the footnotes very useful (over 20 pages of them) - I would recommend this book to anyone; and it is a great read for a book club generating plenty of discussion
October 24, 2022
I’ve always had a fascination with Egypt and as soon I seen this book I knew I needed to read it.
When it comes to Tutankhamen, I will admit I didn’t know much about him apart from his tomb being discovered thousands of years after his death. Now I have a better understanding of who he was. I cannot wait to learn more about him in future books.
From start to finish it was incredible. Filled with many interesting facts, details, and pictures. It is just the perfect book for anyone interested in Egypt and history.
A book I highly recommend and would happily re-visit again and again.
I now suffer from TUT-MANIA! Haha.
When it comes to Tutankhamen, I will admit I didn’t know much about him apart from his tomb being discovered thousands of years after his death. Now I have a better understanding of who he was. I cannot wait to learn more about him in future books.
From start to finish it was incredible. Filled with many interesting facts, details, and pictures. It is just the perfect book for anyone interested in Egypt and history.
A book I highly recommend and would happily re-visit again and again.
I now suffer from TUT-MANIA! Haha.
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