Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt

When I'm planning some research or need to check a fact from another source, any book by Dr. Mertz is a good place to start. Her knowledge and ability to impart that knowledge is always welcome and a breath of fresh air in a subject that other authors tend to get detail heavy and enjoyment light. Dr. Mertz handles the subject with thoroughness and aplomb, making this an enjoyable read for those that just want a little background on the history of this vast area of research. Her humor shines through on every page and will bring the past back to life as only she can. Through this book and her other superb book, Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt you can get the true feeling for this ancient culture and realize that no matter the time in history, people are people and it makes the long dead seem much more alive.

This book was purchased for my daughter, who teaches at the elementary level. She has always been fascinated by history and she and her sons have been studying Egyptian history. She read the book and thought it was wonderfully informative. If you have an interest in ancient history, Barbara Mertz is a well educated and very informed source of information about ancient Egypt.

Ms. Mertz (aka. Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels) has one of the most delightful writing styles I have ever encountered--especially on her beloved Egypt. This interesting work is divided topically into chapters on clothing, housing, food, art, war, mummification, etc. Though relatively few, the pictures are helpful, and the selection of color plates is well reproduced. Occasionally the points of revision are visible, but this is still a wonderfully delightful introduction on "how to be an Ancient Egyptian."

Barbara Mertz is also the real name of writers Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels. She has written 37 books in the popular Amelia Peabody series (Amelia is a Victorian Egyptologist and archaeologist) and 29 suspense books as Michaels. Mertz received her doctorate in Egyptology in 1952, and her first book published was Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs: a Popular History of Egyptology. Her first novel was published in 1966. This is the second edition of Black Land, Red Land, originally published in 1978. This well-written and readable book is an excellent source of information on life in ancient Egypt. Mertz covers everything, including childhood, pets, women and queens, clothing, jewelry and cosmetics, towns and houses, education, magic, religion, science, medicine, mathematics, pyramid building, boats, mummification and tombs. All are fascinating, though my personal favorite is the chapter on painting and sculpture, and the Amarna period. The XVIII Dynasty has always fascinated me: the time of Queen Hatshepsut, Akhenaton, and Tutankhamon. It is difficult to imagine a kingdom and society that lasted for nearly 4,000 years; the U.S. is an infant in comparison. There is a chronology, map, notes, and a list of books for further reading. The line drawings and photographs enhance the text perfectly. Readers of the Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss mysteries, anyone longing to travel to see the ancient wonders of Egypt, or anyone with an interest in archaeology, will love this book. Armchair Interviews agrees.

A wonderful sequel to 'Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs', this book sets aside the well-scrutinized lives of famous pharoahs, and turns instead to the day-to-day life of the rest of Ancient Egypt. Much of the material is new to me, and I found it fascinating reading. Of course, Ms. Mertz could probably make the Boston Phonebook palatable; I would certainly read anything she chose to write. (I firmly believe she hangs out with Elizabeth Peters; Joan Hess occasionally dropping in to make a threesome..) Enough fawning! Read this book! It's interesting! You can tell them I said so...