Valley of the Kings: A Novel of Tutankhamun by Cecelia Holland

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1978

Length:

231 pages

Summary:

I have heard about Holland's books for years and finally have read one. I love all things Egypt, pyramids, etc. so this was the place to start. Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon's unearthing of King Tut's tomb in 1922 is a fascinating story and I have read Holland stays true to history when writing her historical fiction. That is a must for me as I read these kinds of novels.

I know there are already many reviews for this book over the years. It is interesting that you don't know going in the book is divided into two parts: Howard Carter's story and King Tut's time period story. The first half details Carter's search for the tomb. Carter is an experienced archaeologist drawn to Egypt and its history and the search for the elusive tomb of King Tut. His frustration with the Egyptian government's slow pace and bureaucracy in allowing for the digs he wishes to conduct, not to mention the lack of funding leads to constant frustration. He teams up with a British aristocrat, Lord Carnarvon who shares an interest, although he is not obsessed to the degree Carter is. But willing to finance Carter's dream and work alongside him is enough to make the reality come true. Carter accepts the assistance and dodging local government regulations and resistance he doggedly pursues the tomb. 

My Thoughts:

Written in first person, Carter's story is unique to him and the reader observes everything through his eyes. We see him have to trust local Egyptian helpers, often against his better judgment, and we can see inside his mind as he wrestles with how far to push when he is told to stop digging. Carter does not suffer fools and he is not pretentious. He loathes the reporters and sensationalism as he works and when the tomb is revealed his mind and spirit are with the past, "he felt as if he knew the boy king" is an apt description, his awe of finally being in the room with the amazing artifacts obvious. Unfortunately, this makes him very isolated from others and only able to connect with very few people, those who share his love of history and excavation. 

The second half of the book fell apart for me and I'll be honest, I skimmed a lot of it. It changed so abruptly from Carter's story to King Tut's time and I just didn't think it flowed well. I wanted to hear more about what happened to Carter after the dig was finished and I just wasn't big on learning about the other time period, especially the way it was written through the eyes of an Egyptian worker. I'm sure had I been prepared going in that it was going to shift I'd have adjusted better but it just didn't work for me. I'm hoping this isn't a regular thing in Holland's books. 

The first half of the book is fantastic. This is definitely worth your time. I recently got to visit the Houston Museum and its display of the 100 year anniversary of this historic event. Reading this story two years later makes that museum visit all the more amazing!