THE STORY OF EGYPT is written akin to the actual story of Egyptian civilization: mosaic, mighty, flourishing and marked with erudition. Author Joann Fletcher undertakes an experiment --- turning a lengthy and unsolvable history into an impression of ancient Egypt accessible to introductory readers. The results of this experiment are mixed. Fletcher’s grasp of history is unquestionable, displaying vast knowledge, yet the book is much more than an introduction and can be hard to follow for people unfamiliar with the workings of Egypt. To be ready for reading, research the basics before picking it up.

However, tasked with bringing to life mere artifacts, Fletcher succeeds. What could have been a tedious stroll through an endless museum ends up a convincing ride through millennia with a feeling of persistent movement. The people who have been previously lost in time are what make it all worthwhile --- accenting the prominence of female pharaohs revealed by original evidence. The subject matter ranges from the profound to the completely nondescript. The sophistications of queens are thorough, but did you know that Mentuhotep’s wife bit her nails?

"What could have been a tedious stroll through an endless museum ends up a convincing ride through millennia with a feeling of persistent movement."

THE STORY OF EGYPT is a medley lasting 4,000 years. Rather than focusing on one specific topic, Fletcher manages to cover the villains, heroes and inventors who pioneered missions impacting the world back then and still today. At certain points, history slows so as to cover the period more closely. Fletcher elaborates, and then shifts to the next matter with swift transition. There are so many individuals with so many actions and histories, it is not easy to keep up with them. The book is more of an informative and interesting read than a relaxing one, only because it requires focus. What I respect is that the author assumes your intelligence without holding back. If you are ready to learn, she is ready for you entirely and with enthusiasm. If one were to take notes, by the time the reader is finished, I can guarantee that he or she would know more about ancient Egypt than any other everyday person who is not an expert on the subject. This is for folks who want to delve into Egypt and come out satisfied with the quality of an expert’s collected knowledge.

Joann Fletcher is a skillful Egyptologist. It is obvious that a professor is the author of this book. I can imagine the contents of THE STORY OF EGYPT being taken in professionally over the course of a semester. But why not buy this book to have forever and move at your own pace? Sixteen illustrated pages are found in the center, containing clear and well-colored photographs of sculptures, paintings, statues, coins and the Egyptian landscape. After reading, I have a better picture of what ancient Egypt was like because of the descriptiveness of the writing and depth of its scope. One can envision the events and feel a connection to the time, despite the density of the text, which includes numerous technical details.

THE STORY OF EGYPT cannot be outdone. Fletcher’s colossal capability in understanding ancient Egypt, paired with a fair attempt at bringing back a civilization out of existence since the years BC, results in a book on this particular subject not easily matched.