Book Review: Tutankhamun, the Untold Story

Tutankhamun, the Untold Story
By Thomas Hoving

I was headed off to give blood a couple of weeks ago, and it occurred to me at the last moment that needed to take some reading material with me. I'm not a big fan of mass market magazines, so a book is a must-have companion in a waiting room. Since I was in a hurry, I just reached into our library book box and grabbed out Tutankhamun, the Untold Story by Thomas Hoving. It looks like some heavy reading, but I figured it would occupy me for a little while at least.

As expected, I ended up having to wait for my turn, and I cracked open the book. After 3 or 4 pages, I was hooked. It turned out to be fascinating reading. Now, you must bear in mind, that my favorite genre to read for pleasure is biography. This book is really a biography of Howard Carter who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922.

The author obviously had unique qualifications to write this book. He was formerly head of the Metropolitan Museum of New York. He helped organize the American tour of "The Treasures of Tutankhamun". In his own words he "read virtually every piece of the literature, popular and scholarly" regarding the discovery of King Tut's tomb. He also had unique access to the original documents from Howard Carter's excavation.

The author traces Carter's early years and his beginnings in archaeology. Eventually, we find Carter in Egypt, where he works at various times in archaeology, tourism, and antiquities dealing. It is during this period that Howard Carter becomes convinced that one final tomb remained unaccounted for in the Valley of the Kings. Carter finally finds a benefactor in Lord Carnarvon, and they set out to find the tomb of the little-known Pharoah, Tutankhamun. Years pass with no success, and Carnarvon is nearly ready to pull the plug. During the last year of digging, a step cut into the limestone is uncovered. The step leads to Tut's tomb.

It all sounds so simple, but there is a web of politics involved every step of the way. World War I has passed. British colonial power is waning, but Britain's influence and authority is still very much evident in Egypt (along with France's). Nationalist political currents are rising in Egypt, and Carter's excavation of Tut's tomb becomes an issue in Egyptian elections. The Americans are involved too, due to the participation of the Metropolitan Museum of New York in the dig.

Hoving reveals the intrigue that always surrounded King Tut's tomb. Howard Carter became an international celebrity, but made monumental blunders in dealing with people, especially governmental authorities. The tides of politics changed and swirled around the tomb. It all weaves together in a most interesting story.

My 11-year-old daughter read this book also. She is a very strong reader, and has long had an interest in ancient Egypt. When I asked her opinion of the book, she said it was "mostly good with some boring parts." I must agree that there are some lengthy quotations from government documents that are rather dry, but those are easy enough to skim.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this a most entertaining and enjoyable book.

Book Review: The Prince of Darkness

The Prince of Darkness
By Robert D. Novak

Just last night I finished reading through the 600+ pages of the memoir of Robert D. Novak. Novak is a fellow Illinoisan and U of I alum. He has been one of my favorite political writers. If you are a political junkie, and you have an avid interest in the politics of the last half century, this is a great read. If you have only a mild interest in politics, this book will bore you to tears.

Robert Novak has been a figure on the national stage since the early 1960's. He has had contact with all the presidents and other national political figures since that time. Although he is known as a solid conservative today, he hasn't always been a conservative. This book chronicles in parallel his journey to conservatism along with the nation's political realignment.

My political memory begins with the Republican National Convention in 1976. At the height of the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, I was in sixth grade and hooked on politics. My sixth grade teacher required each student to have a subscription to U.S. News and World Report, and I actually read mine. It was fascinating for me to get Novak's behind-the-scenes look at the political world I have been watching from the outside for the past 30 years.

Being in his late seventies, Robert Novak's political memory goes back much further than my own. He personally knew John and Robert Kennedy. His wedding reception was hosted by Lyndon B. Johnson. Talk about having an inside track. I found it strange that he gave only passing mention to the assassination of JFK. With all that has been written and speculated about that event, I expected him to given his take on the matter. It made me wonder whether he knows some really interesting details that are not public knowledge.

The politics of the 1950's and 1960's have always been somewhat murky to me. It is hard for me to imagine a Republican party that was not conservative. I learned a lot of the history of that time period.

Novak is a newspaperman and a television pundit. He gave a great many details about newspaper and television colleagues over the years. A major theme of the book was the political realignment of the country, culminating in the historic 1994 elections. However, I noted another strange omission from his memoirs. There was not one word about talk radio in general or Rush Limbaugh in particular.

He was strikingly honest about his personal life. He lived in a world so different from my own. He notes his regret at being absent a great deal while his children were growing up. He entertained sources on a lavish expense account, consumed vast amounts of alcohol, and traveled all over the world for weeks at a time.

If you are interested in more of what Novak writes, here are some links:
Novak's newspaper columns (the Sunday column is my favorite with its political tidbits)
The Evans-Novak Political Report (weekly)

Book Review: Family Driven Faith

Family Driven Faith
By Voddie Baucham

I loved this book. I wish every parent or potential parent would read it. Dr. Baucham is passionate about teaching parents to disciple their own children rather than turning them over to a youth pastor. This book is a thorough exposition of that topic.

I've had the privilege of watching Dr. Baucham speak on video twice, and I would love to see him in person. He also has a website and blog where you can read many of his thoughts.