An easy but detailed look at the day to day lives of those who lived in Ancient Egypt.
Ever since I was a child, I had a fascination with ancient Egypt and the lives of those who lived through this period of time. As to where this fascination came from I’m not entirely sure, however this is why I was intrigued to pick up this book by Donald P. Ryan.
The author is an archaeologist and Egyptologist, with his knowledge and understanding of this era really shining through in this tight and concise book. But what makes this book particularly engaging to read is the way in which it is not dull, he brings the world by creating stories about different aspects of their lives, giving the reader an intriguing glimpse into the ways in which the ancient Egyptians lived.
From those of the highest class such as royalty, all the way through to the humblest farmer not stone is left uncovered in this book. 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt could have been an extremely dry read (and admittedly that is what I thought it was going to be be when I first picked it up) – but what Ryan does so well here is inject it with moments of humour that not only breaks up the facts nicely but also makes the characters that he has created feel more real as well.
The style and ease in which he writes is intelligent and accessible, meaning that it is a book that anyone (even if you have no knowledge about ancient Egypt) can enjoy with ease. Of course, because it is quite a short book, it does leave you wanting more in some respects and will possibly not add anything to anyone with a strong knowledge of this ancient world, yet on the flip side of this it could be down to the fact there is still so much we don’t know about this era.
Despite this, there is no denying that Donald P. Ryan is fantastic in the way in which he brings this world to life – the reader most certainly feels as though they are right there with each of the characters.
For those looking for a light way to start to find out more about ancient Egypt, this is a great place to start and will leave you wanting to explore more about this world. Educational but without being overly heavy.
By Emma Clarendon
24 Hours in Ancient Egypt is available to buy here.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐