Mummies: Death and Life in Ancient Egypt

by James Hamilton-Paterson, Carol A. R. Andrews

Examines the mysterious relics of Egypt's past, detailing the chemical processing involved in mummification, discussing superstitions that have persisted through the centuries, & providing photographs, diagrams & other illustrations.

Genres: History, Egyptian Literature, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

James Hamilton-Paterson is a British poet, novelist, and one of the most private literary figures of his generation. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford, he began his career as a journalist before emerging as a novelist with a distinctive lyrical style. He gained early recognition for Gerontius, a Whitbread Award-winning novel, and went on to write Ghosts of Manila and America’s Boy, incisive works reflecting his deep engagement with the Philippines. His interests range widely, from history and science to aviation, as seen in Seven-Tenths and Empire of the Clouds. He also received praise for his darkly comic Gerald Samper trilogy. Hamilton-Paterson divides his time between Austria, Italy, and the Philippines and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about the practice, techniques, beliefs and lore of Egyptian mummies and mummification coauthored by a scholar, Andrews, and a popularist, Hamilton-Paterson. Illustrated.