What do you think?
Rate this book
Double Take: Two sides One story Tutankhamun's Tomb:
Two men share an ambition to discover a tomb that nobody else believes in. It ia the burial place of a forgotten boy-king. Their search begins in a remote Egyptian valley, where fabulous treasures await them. But neither man is prepared for the consequences of opening Tutankhamun's tomb ...
Howard Carter A hot-headed rising star in the field of archaeology. All his life he has dreamt of discovering the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh, but his dream turns into a nightmare as the world's press descend on the site.
Lord Carnarvon Wealthy and well-connected, with a passion for racehorses, fast cars and Egyptian treasures. The discovery of the tomb will be his greatest achievement, but he will pay a tragic cost.
Howard Carter A hot-headed rising star in the field of archaeology. All his life he has dreamt of discovering the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh, but his dream turns into a nightmare as the world's press descend on the site.
Lord Carnarvon Wealthy and well-connected, with a passion for racehorses, fast cars and Egyptian treasures. The discovery of the tomb will be his greatest achievement, but he will pay a tragic cost.
- GenresNonfiction
144 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2003
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 31, 2023
There cannot surely be two more unlikely bedfellows as Egyptologists as Lord Carnarvan and Howard Carter but here they are unearthing Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Not only did they emerge from very different backgrounds, one had knowledge and working experience of ancient Egypt, the other was a dabbler in the subject but was a wealthy man who could provide finance. So the two got together and at first it worked out reasonably well. Eventually, however, arguments ensued and the pair fell out. But that was not before Tutankhamen's tomb had been discovered and created a worldwide sensation. Alan Macdonald tells the story with passion and plenty of verve, so much so that at times it reads like a thriller.
Carnarvan and Carter first worked together in 1907 when their ultimate aim was to work in the Valley of the Kings but when they did, success evaded them and they were almost on the point of giving up. But Carter persuaded his boss to give them one last chance in 1922. He did and that is how they ultimately came to unearth Tutankhamun but once again it was a last ditch effort as Carnavan wanted to throw the towel in again but Carter's persuasive power saved the day again. This time it all paid dividends.
But it was no easy road to success. There were all sorts of problems along the way, not least the commitment to The Times to have exclusive reporting rights once Tutankhamun's tomb had been discovered. And as time went on the Carnavan/Carter relationship soured even though they had been, shall we say, partners in crime, in the early days of the discovery when what they got up to when they were opening the tomb is shrouded in mystery.
The partnership breakdown was put back together for an official opening of the tomb and even this caused animosity between the two of them. Then when they entered for the first time, all sorts of stories about a curse being put on them emerged and when Carnavan was taken ill not long afterwards, this rumour took on a new life. Caravan subsequently died at age 57. And when he did the curse of entering the tomb took on a new life. Novelist Marie Correlli had warned 'The most dire punishment follows any rash intruder into a sealed tomb' while Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also saw dark forces at work - but who would take notice of him with the Cottingley fairy story on his record!
Carter did return to Egypt after Carnavan's death and completed his work but, returning to England afterwards, he was never the same man and did not manage to complete the eight-volume work he had planned on the Tutankhamun adventure before he died in 1939 at age 64. He never did receive the recognition that he thought he deserved but whatever, Tutankhamun had swallowed up 13 years of his life and left him utterly exhausted.
There is a lot more to the story and the author does a great job of piecing it all together and the book is well worth a read.
31 August 2023
Less than a year since the first read I indulged myself again; the tale was so fascinating that it was worth a second read, which endorsed my view above.
Carnarvan and Carter first worked together in 1907 when their ultimate aim was to work in the Valley of the Kings but when they did, success evaded them and they were almost on the point of giving up. But Carter persuaded his boss to give them one last chance in 1922. He did and that is how they ultimately came to unearth Tutankhamun but once again it was a last ditch effort as Carnavan wanted to throw the towel in again but Carter's persuasive power saved the day again. This time it all paid dividends.
But it was no easy road to success. There were all sorts of problems along the way, not least the commitment to The Times to have exclusive reporting rights once Tutankhamun's tomb had been discovered. And as time went on the Carnavan/Carter relationship soured even though they had been, shall we say, partners in crime, in the early days of the discovery when what they got up to when they were opening the tomb is shrouded in mystery.
The partnership breakdown was put back together for an official opening of the tomb and even this caused animosity between the two of them. Then when they entered for the first time, all sorts of stories about a curse being put on them emerged and when Carnavan was taken ill not long afterwards, this rumour took on a new life. Caravan subsequently died at age 57. And when he did the curse of entering the tomb took on a new life. Novelist Marie Correlli had warned 'The most dire punishment follows any rash intruder into a sealed tomb' while Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also saw dark forces at work - but who would take notice of him with the Cottingley fairy story on his record!
Carter did return to Egypt after Carnavan's death and completed his work but, returning to England afterwards, he was never the same man and did not manage to complete the eight-volume work he had planned on the Tutankhamun adventure before he died in 1939 at age 64. He never did receive the recognition that he thought he deserved but whatever, Tutankhamun had swallowed up 13 years of his life and left him utterly exhausted.
There is a lot more to the story and the author does a great job of piecing it all together and the book is well worth a read.
31 August 2023
Less than a year since the first read I indulged myself again; the tale was so fascinating that it was worth a second read, which endorsed my view above.
April 3, 2023
I bought this for my teenage kids and they showed no real interest. Such a shame as it was a really interesting read. I had no idea the drama and angst that went into the discovery and excavation of Tutankhamun. Was quite exciting. Highly recommend for s read.
August 1, 2018
It is one of the most engrossing books I have read. Alan Macdonald takes us on a thrilling non stop ride into the bowels of the earth through heaps of rubble, and blocked tunnels towards an enigma named Tutankhamen. On being discovered will the young king heap the curse on his tormentors who dared to disturb his sleep? Read and come to your own conclusions.
May 27, 2019
Such a fascinating story.I loved how the book is and is hard to put down.Would love to read all the books in the double take series.The fact that they are real stories that happened to real people offer lessons on life and make them all the more interesting.
June 27, 2020
U najkracim crtama prikazuje otkrice Tutankamonove grobnice, zivota lorda K i Kartera, kao i sve detalje koji su potrebni prosecnom citaocu.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews