Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

A new entry from the ever-expanding catalogue of high-quality lecture series' produced by The Teaching Company, Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt is a six-hour, accessible, anecdotal introduction to ancient Egyptian history taught by Bob Brier, Professor of Egyptology at Long Island University, a well-versed and engaging storyteller, who takes a primarily biographical approach, structuring his account in order of Pharaonic reigns. Brier's enthusiasm is contagious, and he wisely emphasizes the most colorful characters, beginning with Narmer, the legendary unifier of Egypt, and proceeding through such figures as the monotheist Akhenaten and Ramses the Great (who might have been the ruler of the biblical Exodus) to the last of the Ptolemies, the famous Cleopatra VII. Brier also devotes two lectures to Tutankhamen, one of them on the subject of the ruler's suspicious death (on which he's written a book). The approach here is refreshingly unbuttoned (at one point Brier refers to Julius Caesar as being “ticked off"), bringing to life topics that in lesser hands might seem as dry as the Sinai desert. Bundled with a course book containing the full transcript, outline, glossary, suggested bibliography, and more, this is sure to be a welcome addition for academic libraries (to supplement their own regular or distance ed courses, or for students who want to explore topics not offered by their local institution), as well as public libraries serving adult learners. Recommended. [Note: for those seeking a more detailed treatment of this subject, The Teaching Company also offers a 24-hour, 48-lecture series by Brier entitled The History of Ancient Egypt.] Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)