As an Egyptologist myself, I understand how fascinating the subject can be, but it definitely had its problems. He heaps praise upon the Old Kingdom culture with an effusiveness that just didn’t ring true. First, is that at times it seemed to me that Rice was too enthusiastic. Several things just didn’t sit easy with me. I found myself distracted and unsettled whenever I cracked it open. And yet I found myself unable to truly engage with this one.
Authorial ardour and interesting writing style are two points I usually really appreciate in a book. The author has a clear passion for ancient Egypt, and the writing style studiously avoids the dry, soporific effect of academic tomes, preferring instead a fluid and engaging style that holds the attention.
