A History of Egypt Under the Pharaohs

The History of Egypt now offered to the English reader is distinguished in two respects from the long train of able and interesting works, which, in opening to the last and the present generations the life and story of the Old Egyptians, as by a new revelation, have at the same time thrown a clear and vivid light on many portions of Holy Scripture. The work is as unique in the competence of its Author as in the originality of its design. After all that has been done since the time when Young and Champollion discovered the key to the vast treasures of contemporary records which till then were a sealed book, it still remained for some competent scholar to undertake the Herculean task of weaving the testimony of the Egyptian records into a consecutive history of the long line of Pharaonic Dynasties, derived solely from these ancient and authentic sources^ and free of all colouring and intermixture from the traditions given at second-hand by the classic writers, which find their proper place elsewhere. No second-hand knowledge of the monuments and papyri, however learned or extensive, can be a sufficient qualification for the full and accurate rendering of their testimony. Nothing can suffice, short of that kind of scholarly instinct which is the first of a life-long study and comprehensive knowledge of the whole subject matter, based on a personal examination of the original records. These are the qualifications acquired and matured in the mind of Dr. Henry Brugsch-Bey, during his long residence in Egypt and his travels through the length and breadth of the land, with the express object of studying the monuments; qualifications which are shared alone by his friend and colleague, M. Mariette-Bey.