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Aidan Dodson: Tutankhamun, King of Egypt (Hardcover, 2023, American University in Cairo Press) 5 stars

A concise and readable review of what we currently know

5 stars

Continuing his "life and afterlife" series, Aidan Dodson takes a considered look at that most well-known of pharaohs, Tutankhamun.

Chapters cover: who he was, the events and significant figures of his reign (or reigns - Dodson splits it into pre- and post-name change), his death and the events that followed, his memorial temple and tomb, how he was remembered, and the processes of learning, discovery and exhibition that have brought us up to date.

It felt like it petered out a little right at the end, but having said that it brings the reader right up to date with the latest significant studies and exhibitions, so I'm not sure what more I would have liked there. Just a little more detail, perhaps.

Overall though the book is a really welcome step back to take a fresh and level-headed look at what we actually know about this pharaoh and why we know it, bringing together the current evidence in a concise but very readable way.