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The Shadow King: The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut's Mummy
More than 3,000 years ago, King Tutankhamun’s desiccated body was lovingly wrapped and sent into the future as an immortal god. After resting undisturbed for more than three millennia, King Tut’s mummy was suddenly awakened in 1922. Archaeologist Howard Carter had discovered the boy-king’s tomb, and the soon-to-be famous mummy’s story—even more dramatic than King Tut’s life—began.
The mummy’s “afterlife” is a modern story, not an ancient one. Award-winning science writer Jo Marchant traces the mummy’s story from its first brutal autopsy in 1925 to the most recent arguments over its DNA. From the glamorous treasure hunts of the 1920s to today’s high-tech scans in volatile modern Egypt, Marchant introduces us to the brilliant and sometimes flawed people who have devoted their lives to revealing the mummy’s secrets, unravels the truth behind the hyped-up TV documentaries, and explains what science can and can’t tell us about King Tutankhamun.
The mummy’s “afterlife” is a modern story, not an ancient one. Award-winning science writer Jo Marchant traces the mummy’s story from its first brutal autopsy in 1925 to the most recent arguments over its DNA. From the glamorous treasure hunts of the 1920s to today’s high-tech scans in volatile modern Egypt, Marchant introduces us to the brilliant and sometimes flawed people who have devoted their lives to revealing the mummy’s secrets, unravels the truth behind the hyped-up TV documentaries, and explains what science can and can’t tell us about King Tutankhamun.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
32 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Jo Marchant
22 books190 followersDr Jo Marchant is an award-winning science journalist based in London. She has a PhD in genetics and medical microbiology from St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College in London, and an MSc in Science Communication (with a dissertation in evidence-based medicine) from Imperial College London. She has worked as an editor at New Scientist and at Nature, and her articles have appeared in publications including The Guardian, Wired UK, The Observer Review, New Scientist and Nature. Her radio and TV appearances include BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week and Today programmes, CNN and National Geographic. She has lectured around the world. Her book Decoding the Heavens was shortlisted for the 2009 Royal Society Prize for Science Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 9, 2022
The Shadow King takes a look at the history of King Tut’s mummy from a modern perspective. What really happened to King Tutankhamun and why do we care so much? She examines the history of discovery, how the mummy has been analyzed over the years, and recent scientific evidence. She explores the many theories that have arisen over time with a keen eye for separating fact from speculation.
Marchant’s writing style is clever and clear. She explains the science in ways that make complex subjects easy to assimilate. She sounds like a good friend telling the reader all these exciting historic and scientific facts she has uncovered in her research.
She stars with the history, including the discovery of the tomb, Tutankhamun’s extended family, and the mummification process. Next, the author takes a look at how technology has changed and produced new ideas about the way King Tut died. She reports the methods that have been utilized to examine the remains include x-ray, CAT scans, and DNA analysis. Early archeologists thought nothing of man-handling the bones and cutting the corpse into pieces. These days, scientists would be appalled by the contaminations that were introduced by this crude approach.
Some of my personal favorite sections involved the evolution of archeology, from early treasure hunting to modern meticulous care and scientific analysis, the infighting among scientists regarding the applicability of DNA evidence into two camps. One camp believes DNA can be extracted and provides a clear path to tracing the family history of these mummies. The other doubts that thousands of years old DNA can provide evidence of sufficient quality to perform this analysis (and questions the “official” conclusions). It is fascinating the number of causes of death that have been considered, including such diverse ideas as chariot accident, infection, war, malaria, poisoning, tuberculosis, and hippo attack.
The book covers the museum exhibits of the contents of the tomb, the Discovery channel’s involvement in funding and filming further research, and the potential influence exerted to “find something definitive.” She incorporates recent history such as the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and its impact on Egyptology. She interviews prominent Egyptologists and concludes with her feelings about visiting the tomb.
I appreciated Marchant’s style. She remains neutral and open-minded about what she may find. I enjoyed her fact-based approach, even realizing that we may never know what actually happened. It reads as a real-life mystery, with plenty of intrigue. This is an excellent read for anyone interested in the history of Egypt. I found it fascinating.
“It’s the story of the people who have studied Tutankhamun and the other royal mummies—who these scientists were, where they came from, and most importantly, what they were trying to find. But more than that, it’s about all of us—why we are so fascinated with Tut, why we love these stories so much, and why we care so intimately about the fate of a boy who lived millennia ago. In other words, what studying this mummy really illuminates is not Tutankhamun himself but us today: what makes us human and the different things we’re searching for. The more we probe this sorry pile of bones, the more we shine a light deep into our own souls.”
4.5
Marchant’s writing style is clever and clear. She explains the science in ways that make complex subjects easy to assimilate. She sounds like a good friend telling the reader all these exciting historic and scientific facts she has uncovered in her research.
She stars with the history, including the discovery of the tomb, Tutankhamun’s extended family, and the mummification process. Next, the author takes a look at how technology has changed and produced new ideas about the way King Tut died. She reports the methods that have been utilized to examine the remains include x-ray, CAT scans, and DNA analysis. Early archeologists thought nothing of man-handling the bones and cutting the corpse into pieces. These days, scientists would be appalled by the contaminations that were introduced by this crude approach.
Some of my personal favorite sections involved the evolution of archeology, from early treasure hunting to modern meticulous care and scientific analysis, the infighting among scientists regarding the applicability of DNA evidence into two camps. One camp believes DNA can be extracted and provides a clear path to tracing the family history of these mummies. The other doubts that thousands of years old DNA can provide evidence of sufficient quality to perform this analysis (and questions the “official” conclusions). It is fascinating the number of causes of death that have been considered, including such diverse ideas as chariot accident, infection, war, malaria, poisoning, tuberculosis, and hippo attack.
The book covers the museum exhibits of the contents of the tomb, the Discovery channel’s involvement in funding and filming further research, and the potential influence exerted to “find something definitive.” She incorporates recent history such as the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and its impact on Egyptology. She interviews prominent Egyptologists and concludes with her feelings about visiting the tomb.
I appreciated Marchant’s style. She remains neutral and open-minded about what she may find. I enjoyed her fact-based approach, even realizing that we may never know what actually happened. It reads as a real-life mystery, with plenty of intrigue. This is an excellent read for anyone interested in the history of Egypt. I found it fascinating.
“It’s the story of the people who have studied Tutankhamun and the other royal mummies—who these scientists were, where they came from, and most importantly, what they were trying to find. But more than that, it’s about all of us—why we are so fascinated with Tut, why we love these stories so much, and why we care so intimately about the fate of a boy who lived millennia ago. In other words, what studying this mummy really illuminates is not Tutankhamun himself but us today: what makes us human and the different things we’re searching for. The more we probe this sorry pile of bones, the more we shine a light deep into our own souls.”
4.5
April 2, 2013
When I started this book, I was expecting a super boring read with lame Egyptian history strewn across it. What I found was far better!
This book was such a fun and exciting trip down Egyptian history lane that I’m have trouble forming my words to describe it. Marchant not only debunks all the myths out there surrounding King Tut’s death, but he does with historical accuracy and storytelling finesse.
This review is basically turning into a jumble of my feelings because, unfortunately, I don’t really have a coherent list that you guys are used to (my bad, sorry!). I just had such a great experience reading this nonfiction history book, that I’m afraid no one will believe me.
Anyway, this book takes you through all the various archaeological expeditions through the digger’s perspective. To me, this material was invaluable especially since I’d never read it in such a format. I have read about the digs and what was found in science and other history magazines but never have I experienced it in a novel-like arrangement. That’s the magic of this book. It reads like a sweet story wrapped in all that historical goodness.
If you were that kid in high school who just loved social studies class and couldn’t wait to learn about far off lands, this book is your play day. I recommend it to all ages, and I actually believe children will enjoy this book despite its nonfictional characteristic. All in all, this book will be a huge hit around the house.
My humble thanks to the publisher for allowing me to review this ARC.
Happy History!!!
There is more fun around the corner at Rainbows and Books
This book was such a fun and exciting trip down Egyptian history lane that I’m have trouble forming my words to describe it. Marchant not only debunks all the myths out there surrounding King Tut’s death, but he does with historical accuracy and storytelling finesse.
This review is basically turning into a jumble of my feelings because, unfortunately, I don’t really have a coherent list that you guys are used to (my bad, sorry!). I just had such a great experience reading this nonfiction history book, that I’m afraid no one will believe me.
Anyway, this book takes you through all the various archaeological expeditions through the digger’s perspective. To me, this material was invaluable especially since I’d never read it in such a format. I have read about the digs and what was found in science and other history magazines but never have I experienced it in a novel-like arrangement. That’s the magic of this book. It reads like a sweet story wrapped in all that historical goodness.
If you were that kid in high school who just loved social studies class and couldn’t wait to learn about far off lands, this book is your play day. I recommend it to all ages, and I actually believe children will enjoy this book despite its nonfictional characteristic. All in all, this book will be a huge hit around the house.
My humble thanks to the publisher for allowing me to review this ARC.
Happy History!!!
There is more fun around the corner at Rainbows and Books
January 29, 2014
I have to confess I found this book disappointing. It's a fascinating topic, not so much a history of Tutankhamun and Ancient Egypt as it is a history of the archaeological investigations of Tutankhamun; of how his tomb was discovered, investigated, analysed; the different approaches used, from dentistry, anatomy and radiography to genetics; the academic arguments and debates; the behind-the-scenes string-pulling, political and nationalist agendas; the commercialisation of Tutankhamun's image and the role television has played in funding much of the research.
But for me, it was lacking something. It seemed to bounce too much between scientific overview and personal monologue. There were some careless errors, which really should have been picked up in editing - Tutankhamun's skull being described as 157 centimetres wide, as one example! And (and I freely acknowledge this is my own personal niggle) to my mind no self-respecting author, unless they are writing children's books, should be using the word 'tummy' when discussing archaeological and scientific research! To me it reads very much like a very intelligent and educated author (Marchant has a PhD in genetics, after all) trying just that bit too hard to be approachable, to 'dumb down' quite complex issues for the lay audience.
And in the end, what do we learn of Tutankhamum himself? Nothing. Which, I'll concede, is partly the point of this book. Depending on which scientist, archaeologist or historian you believe, he was either "a tragic child who succumbed to tuberculosis, a murder victim, daredevil chariot racer, malaria-infected cripple, brave soldier, and even a hippo’s last meal."
But for me, it was lacking something. It seemed to bounce too much between scientific overview and personal monologue. There were some careless errors, which really should have been picked up in editing - Tutankhamun's skull being described as 157 centimetres wide, as one example! And (and I freely acknowledge this is my own personal niggle) to my mind no self-respecting author, unless they are writing children's books, should be using the word 'tummy' when discussing archaeological and scientific research! To me it reads very much like a very intelligent and educated author (Marchant has a PhD in genetics, after all) trying just that bit too hard to be approachable, to 'dumb down' quite complex issues for the lay audience.
And in the end, what do we learn of Tutankhamum himself? Nothing. Which, I'll concede, is partly the point of this book. Depending on which scientist, archaeologist or historian you believe, he was either "a tragic child who succumbed to tuberculosis, a murder victim, daredevil chariot racer, malaria-infected cripple, brave soldier, and even a hippo’s last meal."
October 14, 2017
A short description of the horrors connected to the attempts to sequence the DNA of Egyptian mummies, and specifically of Tutankhamon (and how the Egyptian revolution of 2011 changed the situation — not really for the best, though it had been bad anyway).
February 10, 2022
Really cool for anyone whose ever been interested in Ancient Egypt and/or archeology; Marchant gives a lot of detail about the discovery of Tut’s tomb and tons of things that have happened with it and Egyptology more generally since. There’s lots of science, pseudoscience, politics, and religion and sooooo many dots connected and substance filled in beyond the pop culture and TV specials. Marchant really manages to be quite thorough and open-minded while being grounded and approachable in her writing style.
December 28, 2013
In 1927, after studying Tutankhamun's mummy and the contents of his tomb, Howard Carter concluded: "The mystery of his life still eludes us—the shadows move but the dark is never quite uplifted."
The Shadow King is not a book about the ancient Tutankhamun, but rather traces the "bizarre afterlife" of Tutankhamun after his tomb was discovered by Howard Carter. Jo Marchant traces our fascination with the boy-king throughout the years and throughout the many theories about who he was and how he died.
The first thing I must do is praise Jo Marchant for creating a book that manages to be satisfying for Egyptology nerds and yet is never overwhelming for readers who are only just dipping their toes in the wells of Ancient Egypt. Marchant writes in an approachable, easy accessible and entertaining manner and explains well the intricacies and issues surrounding the discussions and debates about Tutankhamun.
The story contained in this book is not the story of Tutankhamun's life, but the story of the attempts to reconstruct it, from the efforts of Howard Carter to the breakthroughs and stories Zahi Hawass has given the world. The Shadow King is a neat summary of all the unanswered questions, the debates and the discussions about Tutankhamun and his family.
Even being a self-professed Egyptology nerd, I found plenty amongst the pages to intrigue me or provide some information or insight I had not previously been aware of. For instance, the debate around the legitimacy of the 2010 DNA results has been something I was aware of, but largely ignored because the scientific debate went right over my head. But for the first time, I feel like I've gotten it – Marchant explains it in terms that I, a layperson who has avoided science since high school, can understand.
Marchant doesn't try to analyse in detail the different identities that Tutankhamun has, even as she notes that they have flipped from one extreme to the other. This is a little disappointing as after finishing Dominic Montserrat's Akhenaten: History, Fantasy and Ancient Egypt , I've been on the lookout for books that do a similar thing for Tutankhamun and Nefertiti. That said, such an analysis would feel out of place, perhaps too academic in The Shadow King.
Perhaps because Marchant doesn't (and doesn't try to) pin down the real Tutankhamun or provide a cool headline about his life, her book seems to be getting little attention – which is a pity because it is such a great resource on Tutankhamun. The quote above is taken from the final pages of the book and provides a good summming up: the questions we have about Tutankhamun can never fully be answered (ignoring my unrealistic optimism for a new discovery that tells all). We may learn new facts about his life that may or may not be true (the CT scans for example have been disputed inasmuch as possible - few people have been given access to the scans in order to form an independent opinion), but there is always doubt and more questions.
Marchant is comfortable with this ambiguity and it is refreshing to read the tale of Tutankhamun from someone who doesn't have an axe to grind or a about their image Tutankhamun to tell. It is a resource on Egypt's most famous pharaoh that I would happily recommend to anyone wanting to know more about Tutankhamun, be they well-versed or largely ignorant of Egyptology.
January 28, 2016
The Shadow King: The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut’s Mummy, is not simply another rehashing of the King Tut legend and lore. Instead, author Jo Marchant focuses the stranger-than-fiction history behind the search for Tut and the subsequent fallout of Carter’s discovery. And indeed, fallout; in terms of scientific, historical, sociological, and political consequences, is the best way to describe the decades since The Boy King was discovered. The hunt for King Tut and the search for clues as to the truth of his demise have had a hidden, but substantial, impact on not only Egypt but the world.
Marchant makes every effort to go back to the original source material, tracking down the people who were directly involved in the many events described in the book wherever possible, and uncovering the original notes and journals of those long-dead individuals who first led the charge to find Tut and open his tomb. What we learn is that the search for answers pushed the boundaries of science in a hundred different directions, encouraging (and in some cases forcing) scientists to completely rethink what we knew about everything from DNA to radiology to forensic odontology.
Some of the most interesting sections of the book focus more on how the mystique of Tut has been used to gain influence in socio-political spheres. We see how Tut served as a de facto “ambassador” for Egypt during the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty negotiations. We see Tut’s image usurped by the Black Power movement of the 1960’s. We see how certain elements attempted to usurp Tut’s legacy to prove the validity of the Bible. The Boy King proved to be more influential in death, in a way, than he could possibly have been in life.
Marchant does a thorough and balanced job of sorting through all of the various theories and conspiracies surrounding Tut and his treasure. Again, she goes to the original source material to make her points clear. In most cases, she refrains from passing judgment per se and instead lets the evidence speak for itself.
When dealing with some of the more outlandish beliefs, however, she barely contains her contempt in a way that is refreshingly funny. So often with this type of book, the author takes great care to remain “diplomatic” in how he or she responds to the less reasoned elements in the field. There are points where the sarcasm almost drips off the page. It is nice to see someone refusing to give serious weight to nonsensical ideas instead of pretending all ideas are equally valid.
Despite the complex nature of the research, Marchant maintains an accessible style that allows the reader to follow the twists and turns easily. The Shadow King reads like a history lesson cleverly disguised as an adventure/mystery. Perhaps it isn’t so much a disguise, as the only way to do justice to the story of King Tut.
Review Note: I was given a complimentary advanced review copy of this title for review. This title is scheduled for release June 4th, 2013.
Marchant makes every effort to go back to the original source material, tracking down the people who were directly involved in the many events described in the book wherever possible, and uncovering the original notes and journals of those long-dead individuals who first led the charge to find Tut and open his tomb. What we learn is that the search for answers pushed the boundaries of science in a hundred different directions, encouraging (and in some cases forcing) scientists to completely rethink what we knew about everything from DNA to radiology to forensic odontology.
Some of the most interesting sections of the book focus more on how the mystique of Tut has been used to gain influence in socio-political spheres. We see how Tut served as a de facto “ambassador” for Egypt during the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty negotiations. We see Tut’s image usurped by the Black Power movement of the 1960’s. We see how certain elements attempted to usurp Tut’s legacy to prove the validity of the Bible. The Boy King proved to be more influential in death, in a way, than he could possibly have been in life.
Marchant does a thorough and balanced job of sorting through all of the various theories and conspiracies surrounding Tut and his treasure. Again, she goes to the original source material to make her points clear. In most cases, she refrains from passing judgment per se and instead lets the evidence speak for itself.
When dealing with some of the more outlandish beliefs, however, she barely contains her contempt in a way that is refreshingly funny. So often with this type of book, the author takes great care to remain “diplomatic” in how he or she responds to the less reasoned elements in the field. There are points where the sarcasm almost drips off the page. It is nice to see someone refusing to give serious weight to nonsensical ideas instead of pretending all ideas are equally valid.
Despite the complex nature of the research, Marchant maintains an accessible style that allows the reader to follow the twists and turns easily. The Shadow King reads like a history lesson cleverly disguised as an adventure/mystery. Perhaps it isn’t so much a disguise, as the only way to do justice to the story of King Tut.
Review Note: I was given a complimentary advanced review copy of this title for review. This title is scheduled for release June 4th, 2013.
December 17, 2021
What happens to a mummy when it’s ‘found’? Should we move them? What tests do they do on them? How are they stored in the museum? This book will answer all those questions and more.
December 30, 2017
A very good account of the discovery and especially the later life of Tutankhamum's mummy and everything (and there was, and still is, a lot going on) that happened around it. The most unexpected thing for me was the story about two enemy groups of ancient DNA specialists who have different conferences and don't really talk to each other that much.
The story is like this:
1. Tunnel of Legends
2. Clues by Candlelight
3. Opera of a Vanished Civilization
4. Death of Swift Wings
5. A Brutal Postmortem
6. Palm Wine, Spices, and Myrrh
7. Letters from Liverpool
8. Secrets from Blood and Bone
9. X-raying the Pharaohs
10. Living Image of the Lord
11. Evil Pyramids and Murderous Mold
12. Sliced, Diced, Brought Back to Life
13. The Third Door
14. Fingerprints, Forensics, and a Family Tree
15. DNA Down the Rabbit Hole
16. Spare Ribs and Hand Kebabs (this is bizarre, btw, the images of severed hands given to King Tut).
17. Revolution
18. Audience with the King
Afterword: A Brief Window
The story is like this:
1. Tunnel of Legends
2. Clues by Candlelight
3. Opera of a Vanished Civilization
4. Death of Swift Wings
5. A Brutal Postmortem
6. Palm Wine, Spices, and Myrrh
7. Letters from Liverpool
8. Secrets from Blood and Bone
9. X-raying the Pharaohs
10. Living Image of the Lord
11. Evil Pyramids and Murderous Mold
12. Sliced, Diced, Brought Back to Life
13. The Third Door
14. Fingerprints, Forensics, and a Family Tree
15. DNA Down the Rabbit Hole
16. Spare Ribs and Hand Kebabs (this is bizarre, btw, the images of severed hands given to King Tut).
17. Revolution
18. Audience with the King
Afterword: A Brief Window
April 27, 2024
Author Jo Marchant has written a well-structured and easy to read book, which uses to describe the intrigued DNA study performed on Tutankhamun mummy’s during February 2008.
The book is concise and goes directly to the point. So direct that shows clearly a layer of unbelievable political decisions related with this anthropological, scientific, work.
The book is concise and goes directly to the point. So direct that shows clearly a layer of unbelievable political decisions related with this anthropological, scientific, work.
December 26, 2023
The Shadow King: The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut’s Mummy
By Jo Marchant
Reviewed December 26, 2023
This is not a history of Tutankhamun, but the story of what happened to his mummy in the years since Howard Carter discovered his tomb in 1922. As such, it is as much a story of the evolution of archaeology from primarily treasure hunting to a more scientific undertaking, a search to learn about the past and its people and cultures, and less about finding gold and jewels.
The mummy of King Tutankhamun (I dislike referring to him as “King Tut”, a modern sobriquet coined by people I suspect were too lazy to make an effort to learn his true name) has suffered many indignities since Howard Carter discovered the boy-king’s tomb back in 1922.
Although Carter was in many ways light years ahead of treasure hunters of the past, today, his methods would be termed nothing short of brutal. When it came time to examine the royal mummy, Carter found that the resins used in the ancient process had hardened so that he literally dismembered the king’s remains. The photos we see today of a completely articulated body are an illusion, the arms, legs, and head all detached during, and the torso was literally cut in half. So much for respect and dignity!
There is also the story of a second desecration of the king’s mummy, and case of the missing Royal Member, a tale of how a certain bit of the king’s anatomy once was lost, then found again.
In the hundred years since Tutankhamun’s tomb was found, the king’s remains have been subjected to any number of examinations, from X-rays to CAT scans and DNA analysis, and the author does a great job of explaining the hows and whys associated with the different processes. Thanks to this, I finally understand why DNA analysis takes so long.
Within the pages are a number of interesting and colorful personalities, from Howard Carter and the members of his team to Zawi Hawass, who according to the author’s descriptions can be both a charmer and a bully. If nothing else, though, he is a strong proponent of Egyptians reclaiming their heritage after his native country being plundered by Europeans who, for so long, felt that the locals weren’t smart enough to understand the intricacies of their own country’s history.
In the end, in spite of all the tests and analyses, there are still more questions than answers when it comes to Tutankhamun, and more often than not the theories proposed reflect more about the people involved in presenting them than in a minor king who died more than 3,000 years ago, with everyone wanting a piece of the pharaohnic pie.
By Jo Marchant
Reviewed December 26, 2023
This is not a history of Tutankhamun, but the story of what happened to his mummy in the years since Howard Carter discovered his tomb in 1922. As such, it is as much a story of the evolution of archaeology from primarily treasure hunting to a more scientific undertaking, a search to learn about the past and its people and cultures, and less about finding gold and jewels.
The mummy of King Tutankhamun (I dislike referring to him as “King Tut”, a modern sobriquet coined by people I suspect were too lazy to make an effort to learn his true name) has suffered many indignities since Howard Carter discovered the boy-king’s tomb back in 1922.
Although Carter was in many ways light years ahead of treasure hunters of the past, today, his methods would be termed nothing short of brutal. When it came time to examine the royal mummy, Carter found that the resins used in the ancient process had hardened so that he literally dismembered the king’s remains. The photos we see today of a completely articulated body are an illusion, the arms, legs, and head all detached during, and the torso was literally cut in half. So much for respect and dignity!
There is also the story of a second desecration of the king’s mummy, and case of the missing Royal Member, a tale of how a certain bit of the king’s anatomy once was lost, then found again.
In the hundred years since Tutankhamun’s tomb was found, the king’s remains have been subjected to any number of examinations, from X-rays to CAT scans and DNA analysis, and the author does a great job of explaining the hows and whys associated with the different processes. Thanks to this, I finally understand why DNA analysis takes so long.
Within the pages are a number of interesting and colorful personalities, from Howard Carter and the members of his team to Zawi Hawass, who according to the author’s descriptions can be both a charmer and a bully. If nothing else, though, he is a strong proponent of Egyptians reclaiming their heritage after his native country being plundered by Europeans who, for so long, felt that the locals weren’t smart enough to understand the intricacies of their own country’s history.
In the end, in spite of all the tests and analyses, there are still more questions than answers when it comes to Tutankhamun, and more often than not the theories proposed reflect more about the people involved in presenting them than in a minor king who died more than 3,000 years ago, with everyone wanting a piece of the pharaohnic pie.
March 13, 2022
(Interlibrary loan from Florida. I was a little surprised that this book was not available at my local library, nor even any in the state of Maryland. It’s not *that* old.)
All about King Tut’s mummy; from discovery to all the poking and prodding it’s gone through down the years. The author is good at telling the story, but the last few chapters felt more like a magazine article---she’s using the first person a lot in going around interviewing folks. That’s a small thing, I guess, but it left a slightly bad taste in my mouth.
The pictures in the middle of the book were… sort of boring, and didn’t seem to add much. I would have liked to see something more interesting. But I’m nitpicking---this was an interesting book. (OK, one more. I really didn’t need to read about the so-called “curse”, or at least not that much. Nor did I really need to hear from the nutballs who thought that King Tut was Jesus, or Moses, or whatever. Just felt like filler.)
There was a bit about the discoveries made in the Valley of the Kings before King Tut, and then a lot about Howard Carter. I had thought he was more of an amateur treasure hunter. But he was a real expert, actually acting as an official in Egypt. (Till he got fired for telling his Egyptian workers that they can actually punish idiot Europeans for messing with stuff.) He was just working for an amateur---but rich enough to fund things---treasure hunter. There was a surprising amount of (apparent) messing with the grave and with the mummies, both during WWII and the Arab Spring and aftermath. When the people who should have been watching the store were understandably distracted. But it makes much more difficult a lot of the science of trying to figure out who King Tut is, what he was like, how he died, and so on.
All about King Tut’s mummy; from discovery to all the poking and prodding it’s gone through down the years. The author is good at telling the story, but the last few chapters felt more like a magazine article---she’s using the first person a lot in going around interviewing folks. That’s a small thing, I guess, but it left a slightly bad taste in my mouth.
The pictures in the middle of the book were… sort of boring, and didn’t seem to add much. I would have liked to see something more interesting. But I’m nitpicking---this was an interesting book. (OK, one more. I really didn’t need to read about the so-called “curse”, or at least not that much. Nor did I really need to hear from the nutballs who thought that King Tut was Jesus, or Moses, or whatever. Just felt like filler.)
There was a bit about the discoveries made in the Valley of the Kings before King Tut, and then a lot about Howard Carter. I had thought he was more of an amateur treasure hunter. But he was a real expert, actually acting as an official in Egypt. (Till he got fired for telling his Egyptian workers that they can actually punish idiot Europeans for messing with stuff.) He was just working for an amateur---but rich enough to fund things---treasure hunter. There was a surprising amount of (apparent) messing with the grave and with the mummies, both during WWII and the Arab Spring and aftermath. When the people who should have been watching the store were understandably distracted. But it makes much more difficult a lot of the science of trying to figure out who King Tut is, what he was like, how he died, and so on.
July 15, 2018
This is a really excellent box that delves not really into Tutankhamun but more into the people who discovered and worked on him. I enjoy reading about ancient Egypt but it can be very frustrating, because not much is actually known about ancient Egypt. This book is up-front with how little is known and instead focuses on those who are trying to learn more, and what makes their job so difficult. I am a geneticist, like the author, so I appreciated the in-depth discussion of the DNA analysis done on the mummies, and why there is so much disagreement about the results. The problem Egyptologists have is one shared by all scientists: namely, that it is unlikely their work will be able to draw any sort of definite conclusion, but in order to receive funding to do the work and future studies it is necessary to make far more out of it that is actually there. So I do not look harshly upon the head of Antiquities who did what he could to sell the results he got, even if they're not really that conclusive. I had seen both one of the American tours of King Tut's treasures, as well as documentaries about his heritage and supposed deformities, and that is why I went looking for books like this one, that can give more context to the information. I enjoyed the conclusion that the Pharaoh died because he was a reckless teenager, and that the supposed deformities are a result of mishandling of his mummy. I knew Carter and his team had really damaged the mummy, but I didn't realize how much, and it was nice to get that kind of detail in here.
This book is well-written and interesting, and I definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt.
This book is well-written and interesting, and I definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt.
December 20, 2020
While not exactly a page-turner, this was a fascinating book. For its size (about 300 pages), it crams in a gob of information without ever feeling like it's skipping over details or rushing through things.
The book dives into the history of Egyptian excavations leading up to the discovery of King Tut's tomb, then follows along the various attempts to examine the mummy. In an effort to determine the genealogy of Tut and a few other famous mummies, science gets put to the test against politics, egos, and the desire to keep old legends alive.
My only complaint is the book can get "thick" in places and I would have liked to see the author's humor (which is readily apparent in some of the footnotes) a bit more in the text.
The book dives into the history of Egyptian excavations leading up to the discovery of King Tut's tomb, then follows along the various attempts to examine the mummy. In an effort to determine the genealogy of Tut and a few other famous mummies, science gets put to the test against politics, egos, and the desire to keep old legends alive.
My only complaint is the book can get "thick" in places and I would have liked to see the author's humor (which is readily apparent in some of the footnotes) a bit more in the text.
December 8, 2018
Insightful and interesting read, which not only provides incredible detail into the discovery of, and thereafter story of, Tutankhamun’s mummy, but also many interesting stories of other characters in ancient Egypt. Plus all about the scientific testing that has been done and how it works.
Everything is backed up with many resources given, this book must have been a monumental effort.
Really great read.
Everything is backed up with many resources given, this book must have been a monumental effort.
Really great read.
July 25, 2021
I enjoyed this. The author has an engaging style.
For example, this is the first time I have ever read of the tomb discovery and its opening without my eyes glazing over. That’s no mean feat. I usually have to prop up my eyelids at the first sighting of Carter and Carnarvon in a book.
This time I was enthralled from Carter right through to our flamboyant friend with the hat, and beyond.
For example, this is the first time I have ever read of the tomb discovery and its opening without my eyes glazing over. That’s no mean feat. I usually have to prop up my eyelids at the first sighting of Carter and Carnarvon in a book.
This time I was enthralled from Carter right through to our flamboyant friend with the hat, and beyond.
August 4, 2017
Very readable account of Tut’s discovery and all the examinations and indignities inflicted on his remains over the decades. So much effort, so much speculation with ultimately no definitive answers on how he died (probably an accident) and his ancestry. Just the right amount of technical detail to explain what was done, but not too much to get bogged down in incomprehensible details.
August 27, 2020
Though I wanted to like this book more, it lost me after the first quarter of the book. I enjoyed the lead up to and the discussion of the actual event of finding King Tut. But for some reason, for me it was a total slog through the rest of the way. Some good information, but I just wished for more.
August 18, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read it in the heat of a La Paz summer, a good backdrop for reading about the Sahara. The theories that resulted from the examinations of Tut’s mummy were both the result of the technology of the time and personal biases which made for an interesting journey.
May 12, 2017
I, more than ever, want to see Tut's tomb, the pyramids, and once again, his gorgeous mask.....
September 26, 2017
Fascinating history of Tut-ology - The discovery and 90 years of continually revived analysis of the evidence surrounding his life and death. This is a story not yet completed.
September 9, 2020
So good! You don't need to be a boring history professor to enjoy this. The story almost reads like fiction!
June 16, 2021
I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Egyptology/Archaeology, as it really changed my perspective on several things
January 29, 2022
This books is awesome. That's all I'll say.
October 22, 2022
Little dry, but really an interesting read. I learned a lot - mostly that we don’t know anything.
September 5, 2023
4.5 stars
Review to come
Review to come
July 15, 2017
I am completely obsessed with Ancient History but Egypt holds a particular fascination for me, as it does for so many others. The Shadow King takes the reader through the entire journey of King Tut's mummy- from how he came to be discovered, the burial, the excavations and autopsies, to Tutmania, possible theories to his death, and the excavations and identifications of his possible family tree. I loved this book. It was an in-depth history book without being dry. Jo Marchant was able to capture my interest immediately with simple, fun writing and interesting backstories that really gave perspective to what has gone on in the field of Egyptology over the years. I had a blast reading this book and I also learned a lot about the mummification process and especially how early burials were handled. It's amazing to think anything survived at all!! There are a lot of color and black and white pictures included but I almost wish there had been more. I found myself googling things that the author mentioned for a visual simply because a picture hadn't been included in the book. I also really appreciate how Jo Marchant manages to keep her personal opinions out of all the different theories and write with an objective point of view. Simply put, if you love Ancient Egypt and King Tut and you are looking for an easy to understand, fun, and informative book then definitely give The Shadow King a read.
May 20, 2013
I have always had a soft spot for archaeology, Egyptology, and all things ancient but have never had the time to read and research as much as I would like, so when the opportunity to review The Shadow King arose I was very excited to say the least! It has been a long time since I had read anything of substance on the subject, especially about Tutankhamun, well since I had visited the Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in 2005. I was hoping that the Shadow King would be a great re-introduction to this mysterious ancient king and maybe provide some additional information I hadn't encountered before, but it was much, much more!
Framed around the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 and the subsequent research on his mummy through the next 90 years, Marchant branches out to give us a snapshot of the evolution of Egyptology, archaeology as a whole, and forensic anthropology. This story flows in a very accessible, easy to read narrative that gives the readers an overview of the evolution of the science behind studying ancient Egypt. From the days of treasure hunting Europeans to more scientifically minded Egyptian nationals, Marchant tells a story of what would now be considered mistreatment of artifacts to the careful analysis of hard data.
Not dry in the slightest, the story of these mummies, their discovery, and analysis (especially Tutankhamun himself) is fraught with politics, in-fighting, and a myriad of different stories about his life and death. We see how after his undisturbed 3,000 year rest, Tut's mummy became a media sensation almost overnight, leading to two different waves of "Tutmania" in the 1970s and 2000s. Learn how changes in forensics from basic autopsy to DNA analysis have taken Tut from an 18 year old murder victim to a buck-toothed, club-footed, disease-ridden invalid, to a strong charioteer and general and then back again as Egyptologists attempt to interpret their data.
As the story unfolds, Marchant does an excellent job of keeping interest alive, providing an excellent balance between the modern analysis of the mummies and the intrigue behind the scenes that has gone on non-stop from Howard Carter through Zahi Hawass and beyond. She is able to paint vivid images of the work and research, as well as the conditions of the mummies and how in the end scientists have found Tutankhamun's embalming to be rather unique. All of this was of great benefit to me as my review copy was on the Kindle and I didn't have the benefit of the reference images until the very end.
I highly recommend The Shadow King to anyone who even has a passing interest in Ancient Egypt, archaeology, or forensic science. It pulls together the ups and downs of scientific research and interpretation that reads at times with the intrigue of a thriller while still staying based in the fact. The reader is able to reach their own conclusions, especially in the area of ancient DNA analysis where even those involved in the research admit there is an "all or nothing" approach to its acceptance. The Shadow King has rekindled my interest and love of Ancient Egypt and can only hope that as politics in the region settle, more research and progress will be made before too long!
Framed around the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 and the subsequent research on his mummy through the next 90 years, Marchant branches out to give us a snapshot of the evolution of Egyptology, archaeology as a whole, and forensic anthropology. This story flows in a very accessible, easy to read narrative that gives the readers an overview of the evolution of the science behind studying ancient Egypt. From the days of treasure hunting Europeans to more scientifically minded Egyptian nationals, Marchant tells a story of what would now be considered mistreatment of artifacts to the careful analysis of hard data.
Not dry in the slightest, the story of these mummies, their discovery, and analysis (especially Tutankhamun himself) is fraught with politics, in-fighting, and a myriad of different stories about his life and death. We see how after his undisturbed 3,000 year rest, Tut's mummy became a media sensation almost overnight, leading to two different waves of "Tutmania" in the 1970s and 2000s. Learn how changes in forensics from basic autopsy to DNA analysis have taken Tut from an 18 year old murder victim to a buck-toothed, club-footed, disease-ridden invalid, to a strong charioteer and general and then back again as Egyptologists attempt to interpret their data.
As the story unfolds, Marchant does an excellent job of keeping interest alive, providing an excellent balance between the modern analysis of the mummies and the intrigue behind the scenes that has gone on non-stop from Howard Carter through Zahi Hawass and beyond. She is able to paint vivid images of the work and research, as well as the conditions of the mummies and how in the end scientists have found Tutankhamun's embalming to be rather unique. All of this was of great benefit to me as my review copy was on the Kindle and I didn't have the benefit of the reference images until the very end.
I highly recommend The Shadow King to anyone who even has a passing interest in Ancient Egypt, archaeology, or forensic science. It pulls together the ups and downs of scientific research and interpretation that reads at times with the intrigue of a thriller while still staying based in the fact. The reader is able to reach their own conclusions, especially in the area of ancient DNA analysis where even those involved in the research admit there is an "all or nothing" approach to its acceptance. The Shadow King has rekindled my interest and love of Ancient Egypt and can only hope that as politics in the region settle, more research and progress will be made before too long!
June 4, 2020
Quick read, good history, present day info was boring
I really enjoyed the 1st half of the book. The 2nd half focused on political climate, flawed science and too many characters to keep my interest and I skimmed through to the end. Really enjoy Jo Marchant's book though and will continue to read her other ones.
I really enjoyed the 1st half of the book. The 2nd half focused on political climate, flawed science and too many characters to keep my interest and I skimmed through to the end. Really enjoy Jo Marchant's book though and will continue to read her other ones.
April 1, 2013
I was totally one of those kids that loved ancient history. The Greeks, the Romans, the Egyptians, you name it I was there. I was lucky enough to have a family that encouraged my interests, and my American aunt gave me what became one of my FAVOURITE books – I pictorial book of pieces exhibited in the USA Tutankhamun exhibition. I pored over that thing like nobodies business. I bet I wasn’t the only kid like that. It’s been a while since I’ve read a good book on Egyptology and Jo Marchant’s The Shadow King was a real treat, bringing back up that little kid still inside me.
In The Shadow King Marchant traces the journey of Tutankhamun from his discovery by Howard Carter in the 1920′s to the present, a modern story of academic infighting, scientific advances, political upheavel and societal fascination. Her stated aim is to unravel the half stories that are often presented about Tutankhamun in over-hyped TV documentaries to find the truth, or as much of it as anyone can know, about the beloved King Tut.
Although Marchant’s work is obviously pop-journalistic rather than scientific (though she does come from a scientific background), she does a fantastic job of her topic. One gets the impression that her research is very thorough. She writes with a conversational and engaging style, without glossing over or dumbing down the complex social, political and scientific forces at play in this story. And that makes The Shadow King a brilliant read. Tutankhamun is brought to life, not as the mysterious boy king, but the modern mummy and its impossible not to love it. What I respect the most about Marchant’s work here is that she doesn’t ultimately make any conclusions and admits that it is not her place to do so – it’s perhaps this fact that sets The Shadow King apart from comparative titles. Instead, she wisely points out that in truth we know little more about the reality of Tutankhamun’s life (and death) than we did when Carter pulled him out of the ground and possibly never will. The science is to unreliable (given the state of the 3000 year old mummy), the politics to complex (especially given Egypt’s recent revolution). That honesty, given the rumours and opposing viewpoints that swirl around Tut, is the best way this book could have gone.
I loved this one. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love it as well. And as I’ve already seen another reviewer suggest, try reading it to your kids, so they can feel the fascination too.
4 stars
In The Shadow King Marchant traces the journey of Tutankhamun from his discovery by Howard Carter in the 1920′s to the present, a modern story of academic infighting, scientific advances, political upheavel and societal fascination. Her stated aim is to unravel the half stories that are often presented about Tutankhamun in over-hyped TV documentaries to find the truth, or as much of it as anyone can know, about the beloved King Tut.
Although Marchant’s work is obviously pop-journalistic rather than scientific (though she does come from a scientific background), she does a fantastic job of her topic. One gets the impression that her research is very thorough. She writes with a conversational and engaging style, without glossing over or dumbing down the complex social, political and scientific forces at play in this story. And that makes The Shadow King a brilliant read. Tutankhamun is brought to life, not as the mysterious boy king, but the modern mummy and its impossible not to love it. What I respect the most about Marchant’s work here is that she doesn’t ultimately make any conclusions and admits that it is not her place to do so – it’s perhaps this fact that sets The Shadow King apart from comparative titles. Instead, she wisely points out that in truth we know little more about the reality of Tutankhamun’s life (and death) than we did when Carter pulled him out of the ground and possibly never will. The science is to unreliable (given the state of the 3000 year old mummy), the politics to complex (especially given Egypt’s recent revolution). That honesty, given the rumours and opposing viewpoints that swirl around Tut, is the best way this book could have gone.
I loved this one. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love it as well. And as I’ve already seen another reviewer suggest, try reading it to your kids, so they can feel the fascination too.
4 stars
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