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Tutankhamun: The Untold Story
The uncovering of the tomb of the mysterious boy King of Egypt, Tutankhamun, on November 26, 1922, was the most important and splendid discovery in the history of modern archaeology. The find revealed four burial chambers so filled with priceless objects of gold and alabaster and lapis lazuli and onyx that it took years to remove the nearly 5,000 dazzling works of art from the underground tomb.
Until now, however, although there have been countless stories and accounts, including Howard Carter's--the discoverer's--own, on one has revealed the entire truth: the bitter intrigues, the power struggles, the myriad scandals and mysterious deaths surrounding the discovery and its aftermath. What happened there changed forever the course of archaeological expeditions--no longer were foreigners and adventurers able to simply walk in and appropriate whatever they could find of ancient civilizations.
Thomas Hoving, former head of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, by a prodigious search for the facts of the discovery in previously untapped sources--old records, diaries and correspondence--has recounted not only the known but the untold story and the strange and colorful characters who played the major parts in it.
Until now, however, although there have been countless stories and accounts, including Howard Carter's--the discoverer's--own, on one has revealed the entire truth: the bitter intrigues, the power struggles, the myriad scandals and mysterious deaths surrounding the discovery and its aftermath. What happened there changed forever the course of archaeological expeditions--no longer were foreigners and adventurers able to simply walk in and appropriate whatever they could find of ancient civilizations.
Thomas Hoving, former head of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, by a prodigious search for the facts of the discovery in previously untapped sources--old records, diaries and correspondence--has recounted not only the known but the untold story and the strange and colorful characters who played the major parts in it.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
42 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Hoving
67 books21 followersThomas Pearsall Field Hoving was an American museum executive and consultant, best known for serving as the Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
His books primarily focus on art-related subjects, including art forgeries, Grant Wood, Andrew Wyeth, Tutankhamen, and the 12th-century walrus ivory crucifix known as the Bury St. Edmunds Cross. His memoir, Making the Mummies Dance, details his years at the Met.
His books primarily focus on art-related subjects, including art forgeries, Grant Wood, Andrew Wyeth, Tutankhamen, and the 12th-century walrus ivory crucifix known as the Bury St. Edmunds Cross. His memoir, Making the Mummies Dance, details his years at the Met.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 24, 2015
From the moment he made the discovery, it took Howard Carter 10 years to dismantle the inner shrines and see the boy King lost to history. This is one amazing story, written by Hoving who worked for the Met Museum, which originally sponsored Tutankhamen's excavation. The book centers around Howard Carter's incredible journey to do his work, from grand beginnings to humble endings, a decade of stress, politics, governments coming and going, bitter arguments and even the sudden death of his patron. All and all, it is a marvelous book, with such moments as Carter noting how the air changed in the tomb causing the wood to crack and moan, to finding a delicate wreath of decayed flowers hung around one of the inner coffins, no doubt a personal gift from someone close to the King, to the King's love for walking sticks and bows and arrows. The book is written with style and a passion to show Carter's personality, which ran the spectrum from GREAT DETECTIVE to EMBITTERED BLACKHEART AND THIEF.
WOW! I loved it.
This was surely one of the great watersheds in anthropology, for during this time, how concessions and digs were managed, changed. All because of the great riches of the Boy King Tutankhamen.
It was also the end to foreign countries, (to some extent) coming in and raiding tombs and taking home all the treasures.
I've read a lot on Egyptian history, it's old, full of facts, and shines a great light on surrounding countries of the time. Next year, I want to go back and reread them all, because I really enjoy the subject. It's like a guilty pleasure. But you have to imagine that when Carter found this tomb, when he began his work, everything inside and the King was 32 hundred years old! Do you realize how old that is? What that meant? How really amazing this find was for everyone???? I want to read it again. My copy is the original and some of the pages are falling out. I am buying a newer copy for Christmas along with the latest studies on Tutankhamun. I want to know everything! RECOMMENDED TO EVERYONE.
WOW! I loved it.
This was surely one of the great watersheds in anthropology, for during this time, how concessions and digs were managed, changed. All because of the great riches of the Boy King Tutankhamen.
It was also the end to foreign countries, (to some extent) coming in and raiding tombs and taking home all the treasures.
I've read a lot on Egyptian history, it's old, full of facts, and shines a great light on surrounding countries of the time. Next year, I want to go back and reread them all, because I really enjoy the subject. It's like a guilty pleasure. But you have to imagine that when Carter found this tomb, when he began his work, everything inside and the King was 32 hundred years old! Do you realize how old that is? What that meant? How really amazing this find was for everyone???? I want to read it again. My copy is the original and some of the pages are falling out. I am buying a newer copy for Christmas along with the latest studies on Tutankhamun. I want to know everything! RECOMMENDED TO EVERYONE.
November 7, 2017
A great, well researched book on the finding and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb.
Contrary to the title, the book is actually about the two excavators Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter than it is about the mysterious boy king. The book goes into vivid detail about the events that led up to the discovery, the processing, documentation, preserving, and transportation of the all the unbelievable historical treasures. It also accounts the ridiculous political strife that plagued the tomb and everyone involved in it.
Despite the length and tediousness of reading it, this book impressed me with how thoroughly it was researched and how well it was written. Thomas Hoving hunted down every little scrap he could find (and from reading the book it seems like he got it all or came very close to it), and condensed it into something pleasant to read without leaving out anything important or interesting. I particularly like how it dispels the never ending myth of there being a Pharaoh's Curse or that Carter and Carnarvon never took anything from the tomb.
Also, Tutankhamun's fingers, toes, and penis were gilded in gold during burial. That's something I didn't know.
The ending was sad because it describes the horrid condition the priceless treasures are in at the museum in Cairo because there isn't enough funds and the little there is is being embezzled by bad bureaucrats. Tutankhamun's Treasures, dying a slow death by neglect.
"Strong Bull, Beautiful of Birth."
"I have seen yesterday; I know tomorrow."
Contrary to the title, the book is actually about the two excavators Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter than it is about the mysterious boy king. The book goes into vivid detail about the events that led up to the discovery, the processing, documentation, preserving, and transportation of the all the unbelievable historical treasures. It also accounts the ridiculous political strife that plagued the tomb and everyone involved in it.
Despite the length and tediousness of reading it, this book impressed me with how thoroughly it was researched and how well it was written. Thomas Hoving hunted down every little scrap he could find (and from reading the book it seems like he got it all or came very close to it), and condensed it into something pleasant to read without leaving out anything important or interesting. I particularly like how it dispels the never ending myth of there being a Pharaoh's Curse or that Carter and Carnarvon never took anything from the tomb.
Also, Tutankhamun's fingers, toes, and penis were gilded in gold during burial. That's something I didn't know.
The ending was sad because it describes the horrid condition the priceless treasures are in at the museum in Cairo because there isn't enough funds and the little there is is being embezzled by bad bureaucrats. Tutankhamun's Treasures, dying a slow death by neglect.
"Strong Bull, Beautiful of Birth."
"I have seen yesterday; I know tomorrow."
November 1, 2015
Rewatching Raiders of the Lost Ark recently, I decided I wanted to read something about a real archeological adventure. Thomas Hoving’s Tutankhamun: The Untold Story may have no Nazis, trap-filled tombs or desperate fist fights, but it is, nevertheless, a fascinating story, one which Hoving turns into a genuine page-turner, thanks to his vivid characterisations of the main players (Howard Carter in particular, as a man who was peerlessly methodical when dealing with the ancient dead, but impetuous and difficult with the living), his beautifully evocative descriptions of the objects discovered in the tomb (his chapter on Carter & Carnarvon’s first exploration of the tomb is quite breathtaking), and his clear explanations of the political and media tangles surrounding the dig.
It’s an incredible story. Very little historical information emerged from the tomb of the young king, but it was laden with gold — and not just gold, but ancient gold (and ivory, and gems) turned into beautiful artefacts. The sheer wealth involved, not to mention the wonder of its discovery over three thousand years since its burial, and its national (and world) importance at a time when Egypt was chafing under British Imperial rule, made the whole situation incredibly loaded — something not helped by the fact that Carter & Carnarvon made a fundamental mistake in cutting all but one of the world’s newspapers out of the loop, when millions of readers were hungry for every scrap of information about the find. The drama doesn’t let up till the end, thanks to Carter locking up the tomb and walking off the dig shortly after opening the king’s sarcophagus.
An excellent read, and a very interesting story.
It’s an incredible story. Very little historical information emerged from the tomb of the young king, but it was laden with gold — and not just gold, but ancient gold (and ivory, and gems) turned into beautiful artefacts. The sheer wealth involved, not to mention the wonder of its discovery over three thousand years since its burial, and its national (and world) importance at a time when Egypt was chafing under British Imperial rule, made the whole situation incredibly loaded — something not helped by the fact that Carter & Carnarvon made a fundamental mistake in cutting all but one of the world’s newspapers out of the loop, when millions of readers were hungry for every scrap of information about the find. The drama doesn’t let up till the end, thanks to Carter locking up the tomb and walking off the dig shortly after opening the king’s sarcophagus.
An excellent read, and a very interesting story.
February 8, 2023
So, part of the reason I was disappointed in this book is completely my fault. I went into the book assuming it was examining our understanding of Tutankhamun and his era, with only some examination of the finding of his tomb and those surrounding the discovery, like Howard Carter. Unfortunately, this book is not the untold story of Tutankhamun, and instead a biography of Carter's life and those who aided him in finding the tomb. The book goes through the social and political changes which brought about the find, as well as the latter reactions (and rumors of a curse) which persisted after the find. Besides a couple paragraphs dabbled through the book, Tutankhamun himself is hardly mentioned. So yeah, I found this book a bit boring, and I feel like I didn't learn much more about the tomb's finding then I already knew.
March 23, 2015
Despite this having been steadily in print since 1978, I had just never gotten around to it. I'm glad I finally picked this up, for Hoving tells it all in stylish and engaging language. Most of us have at least heard of Tutankhamun. Many of us have seen specials on TV, exhibits at museums and so on. Hoving tells a gossipy, behind the scenes tale of the seedy nitty-gritty behind the gold and the glamor. He ushers us into the palmy days of the British Empire, when Egypt was an uneasy Protectorate of the British Crown, and archeology was paid for by rich foreigners, who expected to be paid in loot, uh---I mean antiquities. The money in this case was Lord Carnarvon, an especially wealthy English Earl. He came to Egypt on the advice of his doctors when he was recovering from severe injuries from a car wreck. When he caught the Egyptology bug, he hired a prickly, self-righteous archeologist named Howard Carter. Carter had been trained by the best Egyptologists of the time. He was methodical, thorough and tenacious. They both were enthralled by a particular dream. They longed to locate the tomb of a shadowy figure, a Pharoah of the 18th dynasty, a character of many mysteries. The common wisdom of the digging community held that the Valley of the Kings was exhausted and there were no more tombs to be found. Carter was sure that the pundits were wrong. With his usual meticulous care, he had mapped out areas already investigated, and had targeted a roughly triangular area where no one had excavated. To make a long story short, after much sweat, anguish and expenditure, they found it, the Mother Lode, the real deal. They located King Tut's tomb, the only unlooted (well sorta) tomb ever found. Sounds like a fairy tale, huh? Well, not so much. At this point, Hoving's tale begins to warm up. He takes us into the politics, the greed, the nationalism, patriotism, arrogance and bone-headed idiocy that plagued what should have been an archeological dream. He introduces us to the major players and the shadowy figures behind the screen. These were the last days of the excavator as looter, and we see museums, government offices and newspapers all plotting to get their share of gold and/or glory. It is a saga both sordid and ridiculous, and Hoving makes us feel as though we were there. I'm happy to recommend it to all my friends. I'm happily plotting to find Hoving's other books. I do love educated and cultured skullduggery.
May 11, 2022
Dramatic history of Howard Carter's search for the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. Long after all experts declared the Valley completely explored, and containing nothing further of interest to find, Carter, backed by his patron Lord Carnarvon, continued to pursue clues and conduct exploratory digs in the area. At last, in the year Carnarvon had declared to be the last he would fund, Carter came upon a single step, which further excavation revealed to be a steep staircase chiseled into the solid limestone, leading to a door concealed behind hundreds of tons of rubble and sand. From this triumphant moment, Carter's history becomes more tragic, as his temper and childlike insistence on having his way in all things resulted in a tarnished reputation, and feelings of defeat. As of Hoving's writing, in 1978, the unique treasures carefully removed from Tutankhamun's tomb lay deteriorating in Cairo's museum of Egyptology; one hopes they've been better cared for in the subsequent nearly 50 years.
November 15, 2019
An entertaining guide that also fills in the (considerable) gaps in my knowledge about the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. If you have ever seen (or would like to see) one of the occasional traveling exhibits of artifacts from the tomb, this book will be an invaluable source of understanding. Filled with interesting characters, long struggles and competing layers of bureaucrats, this book puts flesh on the bones of a still-mysterious event. Best of all, it's a solid, entertaining read.
December 19, 2020
Although obviously dated at this point (2020), this book is still a wealth of information about Howard Carter and the discovery and excavation of the tomb. A must read for any aspiring armchair Egyptologist.
May 6, 2024
I read this as background source material for my television series Tutankhamun – along with quite a few other books on Carter, the search for the tomb, and Egyptology as it then stood. Hoving's book is something of a rip-roaring story in the Boys Own tradition, which is both its attraction and its main failing. Anecdote and hearsay jostle cheerfully for position with historical fact, and there are too many moments when I felt Hoving was playing fast and loose for the purposes of propelling things along.
There's also the matter of tone. This is, after all, intended to be a factual account of Carter's search for the tomb; yet we have discursive moments like
"Mohammed had just enough time to pack up the gold coins, throw them into a basket of corn, and send them off with his nubile young wife in a basket balanced on her pretty head. All would have gone well had she not cast one provocative look from behind her shawl at one of the government police..."
...and so forth. If this kind of thing is your cup of tea, you'll very much enjoy the rest of the book. For me, there are so many issues here – starting of course with, simply, waaaaay too much male gaze. Close on the heels of that, though, are queries of historical accuracy: how do we know that the woman's glace was "provocative"? Why on earth would she be flirting with police officers when she knows she has stolen gold coins on her person? Isn't it more likely that she was scared, and therefore aroused suspicion? But we'll never know. The impression Hoving gives is that he was right there, and that he's telling us the story from the creaking leather armchair of his club: and what a story it is! (Wait till you hear about the nubile girls, eh, chaps?)
The fact of the matter is that Carter's story is fascinating enough without this kind of authorial slackness. The core elements of the history are here, but Hoving has clothed them in such anecdotal, subjective detail that it's hard to know what to trust. This is the Carter story as Technicolor legend, not dry fact; and while it may be entertaining (to some) as a result, it's also rather frustrating to read.
There's also the matter of tone. This is, after all, intended to be a factual account of Carter's search for the tomb; yet we have discursive moments like
"Mohammed had just enough time to pack up the gold coins, throw them into a basket of corn, and send them off with his nubile young wife in a basket balanced on her pretty head. All would have gone well had she not cast one provocative look from behind her shawl at one of the government police..."
...and so forth. If this kind of thing is your cup of tea, you'll very much enjoy the rest of the book. For me, there are so many issues here – starting of course with, simply, waaaaay too much male gaze. Close on the heels of that, though, are queries of historical accuracy: how do we know that the woman's glace was "provocative"? Why on earth would she be flirting with police officers when she knows she has stolen gold coins on her person? Isn't it more likely that she was scared, and therefore aroused suspicion? But we'll never know. The impression Hoving gives is that he was right there, and that he's telling us the story from the creaking leather armchair of his club: and what a story it is! (Wait till you hear about the nubile girls, eh, chaps?)
The fact of the matter is that Carter's story is fascinating enough without this kind of authorial slackness. The core elements of the history are here, but Hoving has clothed them in such anecdotal, subjective detail that it's hard to know what to trust. This is the Carter story as Technicolor legend, not dry fact; and while it may be entertaining (to some) as a result, it's also rather frustrating to read.
June 15, 2024
great read for anyone into archeological/historical gossip <3 hoving dramatized the events of this discovery & dig in a compelling and well researched way, adding much more depth to the politics and petty drama surrounding the discovery of king tut’s tomb. could be indulgent and biased at times. but i was fine w the bias seeing as i also hate these these old white dudes w/ no archeological background & their quest to exploit and steal every last piece of their discoveries for the benefit of old white institutions alone (*cough* the met & the times)! and their refusal to collaborate in any way with the governments & people of the country where they made their discovery.
“They were locked into positions rooted in
pre-World War I attitudes, based upon outmoded concepts of colonialism, elitism, and a misguided sense of scientific privilege” (288).
actually so sick of this “debate” regarding where artifacts should end up. it is never about education or science (as institutions will claim), but profit profit profit. this was present on every page, in every negotiation, and in every black market trade. not a single piece of this discovery should have ever left egypt. and don’t even get me started on the commodification of a literal tomb??? a BODY??? insane. howard carter, you petulant greedy little man, u suck.
(oh and also fuck haremhab for destroying all the records of king tut’s rule cuz i am so curious about that dude and every book/doc “about” king tut is actually about howard carter. boo hiss)
“They were locked into positions rooted in
pre-World War I attitudes, based upon outmoded concepts of colonialism, elitism, and a misguided sense of scientific privilege” (288).
actually so sick of this “debate” regarding where artifacts should end up. it is never about education or science (as institutions will claim), but profit profit profit. this was present on every page, in every negotiation, and in every black market trade. not a single piece of this discovery should have ever left egypt. and don’t even get me started on the commodification of a literal tomb??? a BODY??? insane. howard carter, you petulant greedy little man, u suck.
(oh and also fuck haremhab for destroying all the records of king tut’s rule cuz i am so curious about that dude and every book/doc “about” king tut is actually about howard carter. boo hiss)
August 25, 2025
Ya desde su título levanta sospechas porque la historia jamás contada es algo que hemos visto y leído en demasiadas ocasiones y el contenido final es una mezcla de sensaciones curiosa.
El libro fue publicado originalmente en 1978, pero la edición en español es de 2007, ¿por qué publicarlo casi 30 años más tarde con todo lo que se ha publicado al respecto desde entonces?
El autor tiene todo nuestro respeto como lectores desde el inicio al tratarse de una personalidad importante dentro del MET a cuyo archivo ha podido acceder para documentarse en profundidad. Sin embargo, este espectacular trabajo de investigación queda ensombrecido, en mi opinión, con demasiada novelización de los hechos. En ocasiones parece que estamos leyendo una novela sobre el tema más que un relato histórico y el hecho de que entre sus fuentes se encuentren también conversaciones privadas no ayuda a que el texto sea especialmente riguroso detallando sentimientos y sensaciones de personas que nadie salvo los implicados podía conocer.
No obstante, el libro es muy entretenido e ilustrativo sobre el descubrimiento y recomiendo su lectura, pero siempre desde una óptica más de entretenimiento, no porque no esté profusamente documentado, sino porque esa novelización de los hechos y que el autor incline la balanza personal con los protagonistas dejando ver sus opiniones y sentimientos sobre ciertas personas no ayudan a darle el tono profesional que debería tener.
El libro fue publicado originalmente en 1978, pero la edición en español es de 2007, ¿por qué publicarlo casi 30 años más tarde con todo lo que se ha publicado al respecto desde entonces?
El autor tiene todo nuestro respeto como lectores desde el inicio al tratarse de una personalidad importante dentro del MET a cuyo archivo ha podido acceder para documentarse en profundidad. Sin embargo, este espectacular trabajo de investigación queda ensombrecido, en mi opinión, con demasiada novelización de los hechos. En ocasiones parece que estamos leyendo una novela sobre el tema más que un relato histórico y el hecho de que entre sus fuentes se encuentren también conversaciones privadas no ayuda a que el texto sea especialmente riguroso detallando sentimientos y sensaciones de personas que nadie salvo los implicados podía conocer.
No obstante, el libro es muy entretenido e ilustrativo sobre el descubrimiento y recomiendo su lectura, pero siempre desde una óptica más de entretenimiento, no porque no esté profusamente documentado, sino porque esa novelización de los hechos y que el autor incline la balanza personal con los protagonistas dejando ver sus opiniones y sentimientos sobre ciertas personas no ayudan a darle el tono profesional que debería tener.
October 10, 2025
Da appassionata di archeologia, è stato un libro molto bello e ricco di informazioni, tuttavia a volte molto pesante e difficile da stargli dietro con troppi nomi che non riesco a ricordare. Ovviamente ha senso perché ognuno di loro hanno avuto un ruolo legale o pratico nella scoperta e ispezione della tomba del re.
Howard Carter è decisamente stato un uomo molto irascibile ma nel suo campo a parer mio un genio, non tutti si sarebbero messi a cercare una tomba partendo da poco e niente come indizi, senza nemmeno la certezza che ci fosse.
Dal mio punto di vista, la scoperta della tomba è stato un modo per dare la seconda vita al re (nonostante io non sia d’accordo col dissacrare le sue spoglie), nell’antico Egitto eliminare il nome di una persona era per eliminarlo dai ricordi (se non erro) ed è per questo che credo che il suo successore abbia eliminato quasi ogni sua traccia. E invece, ai giorni d’oggi è il nome più conosciuto fra gli antichi re egizi, dando al re, eternità.
Come scrisse Arthur Merton;
“Tutankhamon, nonostante fosse morto, vivesse ancorara e regnasse oggi a Tebe e a Luxor”
Howard Carter è decisamente stato un uomo molto irascibile ma nel suo campo a parer mio un genio, non tutti si sarebbero messi a cercare una tomba partendo da poco e niente come indizi, senza nemmeno la certezza che ci fosse.
Dal mio punto di vista, la scoperta della tomba è stato un modo per dare la seconda vita al re (nonostante io non sia d’accordo col dissacrare le sue spoglie), nell’antico Egitto eliminare il nome di una persona era per eliminarlo dai ricordi (se non erro) ed è per questo che credo che il suo successore abbia eliminato quasi ogni sua traccia. E invece, ai giorni d’oggi è il nome più conosciuto fra gli antichi re egizi, dando al re, eternità.
Come scrisse Arthur Merton;
“Tutankhamon, nonostante fosse morto, vivesse ancorara e regnasse oggi a Tebe e a Luxor”
November 17, 2025
Well, this was quite the examination of the exploration, discovery and excavation of King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings by the adventurer Howard Carter.
I enjoyed how the author Thomas Hoving organised the book into chapters that were in chronological order and focused on dramatic themes within the eventful story. I also appreciated how Hoving included historical correspondence within the text to support various claims and to add even more credibility to the storytelling.
His subject matter, explorer Howard Carter, was just as gifted at his craft as he was seriously flawed as a man and highly reactive to a fault. I think that the author captured Carter’s personality and the spirit of the time just about perfectly.
Towards the end of the book, it would have been nice to have included more about Carter’s “post Tut” life back in England and his lack of scholarship—rather than just a quick sentence or two. Also, what about Lady Evelyn Herbert? Introduced halfway through the book and summarily left without a trace or epilogue. I guess those are only relatively minor quibbles within the context of a pretty amazing story. Definitely recommended.
I enjoyed how the author Thomas Hoving organised the book into chapters that were in chronological order and focused on dramatic themes within the eventful story. I also appreciated how Hoving included historical correspondence within the text to support various claims and to add even more credibility to the storytelling.
His subject matter, explorer Howard Carter, was just as gifted at his craft as he was seriously flawed as a man and highly reactive to a fault. I think that the author captured Carter’s personality and the spirit of the time just about perfectly.
Towards the end of the book, it would have been nice to have included more about Carter’s “post Tut” life back in England and his lack of scholarship—rather than just a quick sentence or two. Also, what about Lady Evelyn Herbert? Introduced halfway through the book and summarily left without a trace or epilogue. I guess those are only relatively minor quibbles within the context of a pretty amazing story. Definitely recommended.
November 16, 2022
No modern nation leader had as extravagant funerary as the Pharoah King Tut. To build four shrines around a sacrophagus that contained one after another coffins and finally 13 layers binding the mummy. All filled with priceless objects. And then much more included in the rest of the pyramid. Howard carter was the archaeologist who made the discovery and excavation- a genius at his trade but as becomes clear he is out of his elememt when it comes to dealing with government bureaucrats. It killed his sponsor and almost drove him mad. And in the background is interplay of egyptian nationalists, the vestiges of Napoleonic power (as evidenced in the Antiquities/Egyptian museum, and the Brit colonial might. Exciting read.
July 15, 2021
Una de mis pasiones escondidas es la arqueología, y en especial la egiptología. Es de esos sueños que siguen estando presentes desde que era pequeña y la verdad es que una vez que eres adulta se hacen más palpitantes cuando un día te encuentras con las alertas puestas del National Geographic para ver las actualidades sobre el panorama arqueológico. Ir a Egipto es una de esas tareas pendientes de la vida, y mientras no me lo pueda permitir me queda viajar a través de los libros, que es uno de sus principales objetivos.
Para leer más: https://www.antiasreadings.com/2021/0...
Para leer más: https://www.antiasreadings.com/2021/0...
April 19, 2023
Although well-researched and well-written, I found the major topic -- the disagreements and troubles in the 1920s between Howard Carter, who found King Tut's tomb, and the Egyptian government -- to be not very interesting. Carter's difficult personality and Egyptian nationalism combined to create what was a huge international controversy over how the contents of Tut's tomb should be distributed, but comes across as pretty much a test of egos between the two sides. Only a few episodes of the story sparked much real interest in me.
May 23, 2020
A readable and entertaining account of the archeological search, the preservation efforts, and the personalities and bureaucratic politics surrounding Tutankhamun's tomb. The biggest problem is the abrupt end, with only ten pages covering the excavation after the end of Carter's fight along with the ongoing speculation about the Pharaoh's history and the uncertain fate of the artifacts.
February 1, 2021
I was hoping this book would have more information about King Tut but evidently there isn't much information available about him. The book was very detailed about finding the tomb and extremely interesting.
January 18, 2018
This was such a great behind the scenes story. All the politics and intrigues revealed.
September 5, 2019
account of the discovery of tutankhamun's tomb. interesting, though heavy on summary. would have liked more utilization of primary sources.
February 12, 2021
Some parts were hard to get through. But it was an interesting read.
June 2, 2022
Well written
August 25, 2024
This book was released to great success in 1978, when the Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibit, which Hoving helped organize, was inspiring a latter-day wave of Tutmania across the United States. It was the first detailed treatment of the subject since Howard Carter's own time, as Egyptologists in the mid-20th century regarded the Tutankhamun phenomenon as old hat. Hoving's book drew upon a previously untapped source of information: the Metropolitan Museum of Art's papers related to the tomb discovery and to Carter's American lecture tour. Based on these sources, Hoving revealed details that had been previously unknown to the general public and were often highly unflattering to Carter and company. His narration of events is vivid, dramatic, and frequently cynical.
But Hoving had a habit of stretching the evidence to make for a sensational story. While some of his criticisms of Carter were entirely valid, others were dubious. For instance, the story on p. 311 about Carter threatening to reveal "the true and scandalous account of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt" is apparently a gross embellishment of very vague primary-source documents, yet it has spawned an enduring conspiracy theory. This book ended up being the starting point for serious historiography about the Tutankhamun discovery, precisely because scholars had to tease out what was true and false in Hoving's account. The first example is T. G. H. James' biography of Carter, which treats the documentary evidence in meticulous detail and comments on Hoving's flights of imagination in its footnotes. But James' interpretation of the facts sometimes evinces a pro-Carter bias. Books from the 21st century are more critical and increasingly point out the colonialist attitudes inherent in the archaeology of Carter's time (Christina Riggs' books Treasured and Photographing Tutankhamun arguably do so ad nauseam).
If you're less interested in such weighty subjects and simply want a good telling of the story, I recommend either Joyce Tyldesley's book Tutankhamen: The Search for an Egyptian King, which has less detail about the events of the discovery but more about the tomb itself and its contents, or H. V. F. Winstone's biography of Carter, which has its own quirks but strikes a reasonable balance between Hoving's flamboyance and James' rigor.
But Hoving had a habit of stretching the evidence to make for a sensational story. While some of his criticisms of Carter were entirely valid, others were dubious. For instance, the story on p. 311 about Carter threatening to reveal "the true and scandalous account of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt" is apparently a gross embellishment of very vague primary-source documents, yet it has spawned an enduring conspiracy theory. This book ended up being the starting point for serious historiography about the Tutankhamun discovery, precisely because scholars had to tease out what was true and false in Hoving's account. The first example is T. G. H. James' biography of Carter, which treats the documentary evidence in meticulous detail and comments on Hoving's flights of imagination in its footnotes. But James' interpretation of the facts sometimes evinces a pro-Carter bias. Books from the 21st century are more critical and increasingly point out the colonialist attitudes inherent in the archaeology of Carter's time (Christina Riggs' books Treasured and Photographing Tutankhamun arguably do so ad nauseam).
If you're less interested in such weighty subjects and simply want a good telling of the story, I recommend either Joyce Tyldesley's book Tutankhamen: The Search for an Egyptian King, which has less detail about the events of the discovery but more about the tomb itself and its contents, or H. V. F. Winstone's biography of Carter, which has its own quirks but strikes a reasonable balance between Hoving's flamboyance and James' rigor.
March 29, 2020
Really interesting book, delving into the politics and the archaeology of the era. Slightly dry in places but overall a thoroughly worthwhile read.
February 11, 2011
Riveting, but somewhere in the rush to go back to Egypt I got distracted. I'll definitely want to start this one again.
Second time's the charm ...
2/10/11 Right, so I picked this book up again to complement my reading of "The Egyptologist" for my book club. Within these pages are chronicled the trials, tribulations, and - yes! - outright lies surrounding the excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun. Hoving obviously did a tremendous amount of research for this one, but unless you're a pharaoh-phile I imagine you'll have trouble getting through the entire book. Hell, I *am* a pharaoh-phile and I didn't get through the book the first time! This book is made even more poignant by the physical danger that Egypt's antiquities are currently facing, particularly in the fire-and-riot-endangered Egyptian Museum just north of Tahrir. I think that I was less riveted by this book than by "King of the Confessors," even though I'd never heard of the ivory cross in the Cloisters before I began the book - weird, huh? Must say something about the writing.
Second time's the charm ...
2/10/11 Right, so I picked this book up again to complement my reading of "The Egyptologist" for my book club. Within these pages are chronicled the trials, tribulations, and - yes! - outright lies surrounding the excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun. Hoving obviously did a tremendous amount of research for this one, but unless you're a pharaoh-phile I imagine you'll have trouble getting through the entire book. Hell, I *am* a pharaoh-phile and I didn't get through the book the first time! This book is made even more poignant by the physical danger that Egypt's antiquities are currently facing, particularly in the fire-and-riot-endangered Egyptian Museum just north of Tahrir. I think that I was less riveted by this book than by "King of the Confessors," even though I'd never heard of the ivory cross in the Cloisters before I began the book - weird, huh? Must say something about the writing.
March 27, 2008
What most people know about King Tutankhamun is that there was lots of gold and curse in his tomb. But throughout the find there was also conflict, intrigue, triumph and failure--in short, a grand human story on a magnificent global scale. Although the book was written in the late 1970's, the original story of the tomb's opening hasn't changed since the 1920's, so the core of the book doesn't suffer from its age. In fact, since the author was in charge of the orignal touring show of Tutankhamun's treasures in the 1970's, he had access to tons of information that, up until that point, had never been released to the public. Some of it is fascinating, some infuriating, and most of it is sadly revealing of the casual racism and colonialism of a previous age. I'm a HUGE Egyptology nerd, and a lot of what was in this book was news to me, so that's saying something.
March 12, 2015
I picked up this book recently at Half Price Books. I thought I'd read it when it first was published but was pleasantly surprised to find out I hadn't. This book was very interesting. It gave a look at the behind-the-scenes work that was happening when Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter worked to find King Tut's tomb in 1922. The author is former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a primary backer of (and recipient of largess from) Carnarvon's expeditions.
Anyone who has been enthralled by discoveries in the Valley of the Kings will enjoy this work. It reads like fiction and it'll keep you turning those pages!
Anyone who has been enthralled by discoveries in the Valley of the Kings will enjoy this work. It reads like fiction and it'll keep you turning those pages!
October 13, 2019
This book was published in the 1970s and came into my hands, used, about 20 years ago. To my taste, there's no better account of the finding of King Tut's tomb than this book, written in marvelous style by Hoving, a former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. There is way more to this story than you ever knew, and this book covers all the characters, exotic locales, intrigue, dust, heat, thrills, gold, and adventure using lots of private research material that brings this story to life and reads like the best movie you ever saw!
May 23, 2011
Although an art curator, Thomas Hoving presents what is primarily an history of the search for, discovery and disposition of the contents of the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. The book is well illustrated.
March 17, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is interesting and well written and documented. After I finished reading the book I went to see the King Tut exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Having read the book made the exhibit so much more interesting!
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