The Story of Egypt

The Civilization That Shaped the World

By: Joann Fletcher

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 17 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

The story of the world's greatest civilization - spanning thousands of years - is full of epic stories, spectacular places, and an evolving society rich in inventors, heroes, villains, and pioneers.

The story of the world's greatest civilization spans 4,000 years of history that has shaped the world. It is full of spectacular cities and epic stories of a constantly evolving society peopled with inventors, heroes and heroines, villains, artisans, and pioneers. Professor Joann Fletcher pulls together the complete story of Egypt, charting the rise and fall of the ancient Egyptians while putting their whole world into a context to which we can all relate.

Fletcher uncovers some fascinating revelations: new evidence shows that women became pharaohs on at least 10 occasions and that the ancient Egyptians built the first Suez Canal and then circumnavigated Africa. From Ramses II's penchant for dying his gray hair to how we know that Montuhotep's chief wife bit her nails, Dr. Joann Fletcher brings alive the history and people of ancient Egypt as nobody else can.

©2016 Joann Fletcher (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Egyptian history is fascinating, this book is not.

At first, I thought it was the narrator, but no, it's the writing. The story is told in a confusing manner and the prose is so lackluster it could be a high school textbook. I have some small knowledge of Egyptian history, but if I didn't I wouldn't have been able to follow it at all. Anyone interested in Egyptian History try Barbara Mertz, Red Land, Black Land or Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt or one of the great courses.

Superb Content. Concise.

This is an excellent overview of the history and culture of a people that have endured for over 4,000 years. The most important facts are provided, and you get an excellent impression of the history of ancient Egypt. It adds a lot of polish to the information that is already available, and while nothing can be perfect, the details are good, and if you want or need a crash course in the history of the top civilization during the bronze age, this is well worth the time and money. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you want more details and don't mind a bit of pretention and projection listen to Bob Brier's Great Courses series on ancient Egypt.

Matching Kindle Book Would Help

Egyptology is one of my go-to subjects and I am familiar with Fletcher's work, so I really wanted to get this book when it became available. It's been an interesting read (listen?). I've discovered new facts, such as the number of female pharoahs who ruled Egypt. The section on Nefertiti/Smenkhkare was fascinating.

The book is far-reaching and sometimes my mind wandered. I think the Matching Kindle Book would help me pick up the parts that I miss.

Delightful.

Enhanced by DNA correlations and resent archeological discoveries this book often reads like historical fiction. It is beauty written and performed.

My favorite Egyptology book ever!

I will always love everything about this book! I learn so many new things each time I listen!

Unengaging pretentious writing of history

This is unusual for me. I had to stop, after 4 chapters. Her writing of history is very unengaging. Lots of information and details about her subject, but with no continuity, no human element, no story to follow. Furthermore, I found her diction pretentious and overly flowery without adding any color.

Wow

Not only is this very interesting, but this book covers Egypt in areas that I have never heard or read before.
If you are enchanted by Ancient Egypt, I highly recommend this.

hard to follow

ok, so, i found this one very hard to follow. its written pedantically. it has no style or flair.