Egypt Books
recomended by historians, translators, and analysts
Last updated: November 10, 2024
Five Books’ interviews on Egypt cover everything from Tutankhamun to Tahrir Square.
Egyptologists Toby Wilkinson and Elizabeth Frood offer their choices for the best books on Ancient Egypt. Diane Greco Josefowicz talks about French interest in Ancient Egypt in the early 19th century with her best books on French “Egyptomania”.
Philip Mansel, with his best books on the Levant and Dan Morrison with his best books on The Nile, take a look at aspects of Egypt in its broader, geographical and cultural context. Egypt's relationship with the wider Arab world is discussed by Issandr El Amrani in his best books on understanding the Arab world and by Tarek Osman on the same theme.
The origins, evolution and consequences of the Arab Spring and Egypt’s role in it are discussed by professor Marc Lynch in his five books on the origins of the Arab uprising and are touched on by David Cortright in his books on non-military solutions to political conflict. The relationship between the US and modern Egypt is discussed by Lloyd Gardner in his interview on Egypt and America.
Many of these interviews touch on the role of Islam in contemporary Egyptian society. Malise Ruthven, with her best books on Islamism and Ziauddin Sardar with his best books on the future of Islam and Turi Munthe with his best books on Islam and Modernity focus on this directly.
Humphrey Davies chooses his five best books of contemporary Egyptian literature and Denise Hamilton touches on the Egyptian influence on the evolution of perfume.
Egyptian authors on the site include leading feminist Nawal El Saadawi, Ahdaf Soueif, Naguib Mahfouz and Taha Hussein.
The best books on The Nile, recommended by Dan Morrison
Journalist and author of The Black Nile, who spent six months travelling the famous river, discusses some of the turbulent times that the Nile has witnessed – and praises its extraordinary beauty.
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1
Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt
by Jan Assmann -
2
Visual and written culture in ancient Egypt
by John Baines -
3
The Chapel of Ptahhotep
by Paolo J. Scremin & Yvonne M. Harpur -
4
Village Life in Ancient Egypt
by Andrea McDowell -
5
The Tale of Sinuhe and other ancient Egyptian poems
by Richard Parkinson
The best books on Ancient Egypt, recommended by Elizabeth Frood
The best books on Ancient Egypt, recommended by Elizabeth Frood
Egyptologist Elizabeth Frood recommends books that take us away from the elite context of Egyptian history and focus on the ‘normal’ lives of Egyptians.
The best books on Ancient Egypt, recommended by Toby Wilkinson
Cambridge Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson discusses his favourite works on Ancient Egypt — from the first book he bought on the subject to an authoritative coffee-table tome.
Best Contemporary Egyptian Literature, recommended by Humphrey Davies
One of the leading translators of contemporary Egyptian literature, Humphrey Davies, gives us his top choices.
The best books on Egypt and America, recommended by Lloyd Gardner
The historian reflects on the past 60 years of American involvement in Egypt and tells us, after the Arab Spring, what may make the coming years different
