How could a full-color illustrated book of the golden treasures of King Tut not be dazzling? But this spectacular volume has the added virtues of color on almost every page, numerous gatefolds (including several double gatefolds) and multiple views (front, back, side) of several of the most notable objects. Hawass (The Royal Tombs of Egypt
), a famed Egyptologist and the man in charge of Egypt's antiquities, takes readers through Howard Carter's fabled 1922 discovery by presenting objects in the order in which they were found, recreating the unfolding splendor Carter saw during his decade-long excavation. Hawass offers up his interpretations and insights, which turn the book into a kind of guided tour of the collection, and he makes connections among the artifacts, their functions and their era, and constructs the unique identity of the boy pharaoh. Vanni's consistently clear and vibrant photographs of jewelry, shrines, statuettes, vessels, furniture, coffins, amulets and more provide detail that allows one to appreciate fully ancient Egyptian achievement in craftsmanship, while the narrative features Tut, Carter and Hawass himself as key players. (Apr.)
