Abu Simbel, and the Glories of Ancient Egypt

London: Macdonald. Very Good/Fair to Poor . 1965. First Edition. Hard Cover. 4to Heavy book but no extra postage will be asked for when posting to a UK address. Dust jacket chunks missing to edges, unclipped. Black illustrated cloth, bright gilt titling and illustrations. Colour photographic end papers. 48 Colour & 88 b/w Photographs. 192 pages clean and tight. Abu Simbel is beyond question the finest work of its kind ever built by the Egyptians.. We can see this in the rock-temples in all their glorious colour, not only the colossi of Ramses the Great, but all the intimate detail of the dark interiors. Here, like a tapestry, the deeds of Ramses and his lovely queen Nefertary flow round the walls and pillars in a great river of action. The story of Abu Simbel begins z S million years ago and takes us through the fascinating history and religion of these astonishing people. Their love of life and deep-seated horror of death has been more pronounced than that of any other race. We enter the gaily painted tomb of Nefertary and the despoiled tomb of her husband, both opened specially for the author after two decades to enable these wonderful pictures to be taken. The ancient Egyptians said, "To speak of the dead is to make them live again". It is fair to claim that this astonishing record, from an historical and topical standpoint, does just that. For the book ends with the Egypt of today, the modern magnificence of the High Dam, the moving spectacle of the deserted Nubian villages with the rising waters already lapping at their doors, and finally the plans submitted to UNESCO for saving the treasure of Abu Simbel for mankind. The unique and dazzling photographs, 48 in colour and 88 in black and white, not only bring to life the story of one of the most beautiful and ancient monuments in the world, but depict also the amazing story of the struggle to preserve it from total destruction. .