Surprised I hadn't added this before. It's an awesome sidekick to the Amelia Peabody books, combining real history with fictional people. It explains a lot of things referenced in the novels, such as Egyptian archaeology, Victorian customs/dress/context, literary allusions, etc. It has photographs, including stand-ins for Amelia, Emerson and others as children (still leaving their adulthood appearance to your imagination). It's a really fun blend of fact and fiction. ( )

WOW! ( )

As part of my goal to read my own books, as well as books I have been given as gifts, I spent a lazy weekend reading Amelia Peabody's Egypt by Elizabeth Peters and friends.

I have mentioned before that I maintain an extensive wish list of books I want to read. It's only in the last two or three years that I've made a concerted effort to actually find and read books off the list. Amelia Peabody's Egypt, though, has the honor of being my first wishlist book ever. My mother was also nice enough to purchase it for me that Christmas. While many books linger on my wishlist for months, if not years, this one was there for only a few weeks. Of course, then I neglected to read it for a decade! Sorry Mom!

Amelia Peabody's Egypt is a classic example of a folio. Besides being oversized and full of interesting pictures, it defies easy classification. On the surface it's an illustrated history of Egypt and Egyptology in the years covered by the Amelia Peabody series of mysteries. Except the book tosses in "facts" about fictional characters, including Amelia Peabody Emerson, her husband and their son.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is an avid fan of the series and wants a thematic discussion of the series canon. I would also recommend it for libraries also looking for a complete collection. For armchair Egyptologists, there's nothing "new" in this book except for the fictional elements. ( )

A wonderful reference book for fans of Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody series! This is a beautiful book, with deckled edges, pretty type, and gorgeous old photographs and sketches. Well-written articles help establish background for the novels. A dictionary of words (mostly arabic) used in the books, a character list, and a description of locations are useful references. There are some fun bits to read too, like Emerson's journal entries. A must have for fans of Mrs. Amelia Peabody Emerson! ( )

It's easy to forget when reading this that Miss Peabody -- I mean to say, Mrs. Emerson is not a real person. ( )

Between visiting Egypt in the last couple of years and reading Nefertiti a few months ago, I’ve become quite interested in all things Egypt. I’ve enjoyed the Amelia Peabody series, so I thought this would be fun. It’s what I would consider to be slightly fictionalized non-fiction, as the Emersons are inserted into a quite real history. Some parts were more readable than others, and the ones I enjoyed most were A Splendid Overview of Egyptoloy: Napoleon to World War I; A Commanding Prospective: The British in Egypt, 1884 - 1917; An Expert Analysis of the Principles of Islam as Encountered by the Emersons; A Skillful Overview of Victorian Servants & Their Duties; A Sympathetic Scrutiny of the Victorian Philosophy of Childrearing; Ancient Egypt 101: A Quick Refresher Course; and all of the pictorial essays. The one thing I did think was lacking was information about the time in Egypt after Alexander the Great, such as during Cleopatra’s time. There wasn’t much covered about history after the Pharaohs. ( )

What stuck with me: Peters has a doctorate in Egyptology, so I shouldn't be surprised that the woman knows how to research. Still, it's amazing to look at this from the perspective of an (aspiring) historical novelist - the writer's knowledge base (there's my software background talking) has to range from establishing the setting (servants, schooling, theories of childhood) to the specific (control of Egypt from one century to the next, historical figures who become characters).

Makes me want to read: Laurie R. King has written about all the research that goes into her works - I'd love to read her version of this compendium. In the meantime, I'll work on the Peabody-Emerson books I haven't gotten to yet.

Makes me want to reread: Well, the Peabody-Emerson books I've already read. It's kind of like watching a movie after reading the IMDb trivia section - you get so much more out of it. (What? You mean I'm the only one who does that? You jest.)

The Egypt of Amelia Peabody in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was a place of wonder, mystery, danger, with the lure of antiquity. with this monumental compendium of Egyptian culture, history, and arcania, you are able to immerse yourself in the Amelia's world completely.

This book contains nearly 600 black-and-white photographs and illustrations, and articles by numerous experts, Amelia Peabody's Egypt sparkles with unforgettable glimpses of the exotic and the bizarre, the unusual and the unfamiliar -- a treasure trove that overflows with Egyptological riches, along with wonderful insights into the culture and mores of the Victorian era, including the prevalent attitudes on empire, fashion, feminism, tourists, servants, and much more.

I thought that Peters did a fabulous job of immersing me in her stories before and didn't think much more was needed. THis compendium has added color to Amelia's world and given more background than I thought possible. A must for any Amelia/Emerson fan. ( )

If you are an Amelia Peabody fan Amelia Peabody's Egypt is worth taking a look at. Even if you don't want to buy it. Even if you don't want to read all the articles. Just go to the library or the bookstore and peruse the glossary of people and places. The pictures make it worth it!