Publication Jan. 2, 2023

Excellent and this is coming from someone who once pondered taking up the study of archeology. Well, until I realized how tedious and boring the parts that didn't involve finding riches beyond the imagination really was. Seriously, I've always found Tutankhamun fascinating, both from the standpoint of history and the wonder of what it really must have been like for him, as a quite young boy, to suddenly be turned into what might as well have been a god. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of Howard Carter's discovery of his long hidden tomb and not only are the pre/post Tutankhamun reign discussed, but also more modern connected events. This book, which is an easy read, takes a fascinating look at both, not to mention offers up an extensive selections of endnotes, bibliography, index, and photos, some of which were genuinely new to me despite my long-held fascination with the find.

In other words, even if you think you know everything there is about King Tut, as he's usually called, you're likely to find something new. I know I did. I most liked the author's weaving of a non-fictional story in what I'll dub a fictional manner, bringing the story to life. It gives it the "you are there" feel. You can almost feel the heat, noise, smells, and intense activity about Tut. While the author does not attempt to project feelings of awe, fear, or wonder on the boy king, he uses existing evidence to make some educated assumptions about what his life must have been like both before and after he became king. Even after his death, you're left feeling pangs of sympathy for his young wife as she strives to hold things together, being ultimately forced to wed a much older man who had been a trusted advisor to Tut. In other words, this is both a historical and very human story.

One image that stayed with me involved the humble laborers who slaved away in a rush to create Tutankhamun's tomb, then the more modern laborers as they cleared and worked to move discovered treasures to safer confines. Unlike the burial workers, however, they did have a railroad of sorts, a trolley, perhaps we'd call it. Given the shortage of rails, however, workers had to built, disassemble, then repeat many times to move things from the tomb area to the museum or work spaces. Nor were they all in good condition. Did you know they had to, well, take Tut's mummified remains apart to get it out of the coffin that had been treated with an over-abundance of resin? As the author details, the funeral was a rushed job, despite the fact we'd consider it a long period in modern times to prepare a body for burial. Heck, the tomb used seems to even been borrowed, perhaps from Nefertiti. Evidence supporting this assumption/educated guess is within. Since I read something regarding Tut just recently, I believe on the belief that he had a clubbed foot, it's intriguing to know the background of the burial and how the rush and accidents may impact even modern findings.

Seriously, give this one a read. Heck, even the infamous curse gets a nod, not to mention comedian Steve Martin's 1973 novelty song "King Tut". Yep, something for everyone. Thanks #NetGalley and #YaleUniversityPress for giving me the chance to renew my interest in all things King "Tut".

Before reading "The Story of Tutankhamun" by Garry Shaw, I knew about as much as most people know about the Boy King—primarily about his tomb and the treasures that were discovered there. Garry Shaw takes it deeper in his book, placing King Tut in the context of this time and place, including what is known about his ancestors, his wife, and the time before and after his reign. I found the information interesting, and feel like I came away with a deeper understanding of this time in Egyptian history. I wish the book had a better flow and more consistent viewpoint—at times it read like an academic book, and other times it drifted into what I can only imagine are best guesses at how the King felt in certain moments. The book also stated some items as facts that, in further research, turned out to be less certain. In all, a good read if one knows little about Tutankhamun, as I did.

This is a short biography on Tutankhamun, focusing on the period of his father's reign through to his successors and the end of his family's dynasty. The information is good and easy to follow, and gives a good picture of the boy king himself, as well as the political landscape of Egypt at that time. Here we get a picture of Tut as a boy struggling to return to tradition after the monotheistic reign of his father, while battling external and internal issues. The author does not really expand or add to the reader's understanding of Tut, I didn't feel like I learned anything new from this book. I also felt like it read more like an academic paper instead of a book at times, though overall the book is easy to read. I liked the inclusion of full color photographs, which I felt added a lot to the story of Tut.

Just terrific. This book adds to the already vast amount of information about Tutankhamun to build a full,picture, not just of his life, but of the world in which he lived. Brilliantly focused, the author shines a spotlight on key areas of interest in the context of the young king’s life experience as a whole.

Easy to read history of King Tut. Flows like fiction which, I believe, is the best kind of non-fiction. Well researched and written. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

100 years after the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb and the world is still fascinated by the boy king. Shaw delves into the extraordinary journey Tut went through, both in life and death. Pharaoh during a major upheaval in Egypt's history, thanks to his father trying - and failing - to establish a new state religion, he managed to accomplish quite a lot in his short reign to bring back stability to his country. Then, dying young - cause still unknown - his tomb was lucky enough to be buried under the debris of a flash flood, protecting it for 3,000 years until Carter came along and brought the boy king back into the spotlight. His golden mask fascinates - but the other objects - canes, shoes, toys, clothes, show his humanity, and people are still eager to know this young man.

I have been interested in Egyptology for most of my 62 years and this the most readable account of Tutankhamun’s life and legacy that I have come across. It is also the most descriptive. It was easy to imagine myself at the New Year festival - so much detail was given. It is also a very clear history of his immediate predecessors and of the discovery of his tomb. It brings you right up to date with the transfer of the tomb contents to a new museum at Giza. Never boring, and a very engaging style ensured I finished this book in record time. This would make an ideal gift for anyone with an interest in Egyptian history.

The Story of Tutankhamun: An Intimate Life of the Boy who Became King by Garry J. Shaw is a great nonfiction and biography that gives all the history and thrill of a fantastic and fascinating life.

I have read many books on several of the Egyptian dynasties as well as archeological events surrounding these great historical figures, so I had a baseline knowledge base and interest when I began this book, however it is still a fascinating, interesting, informative, and entertaining read no matter what level of knowledge the reader already possesses.

The pages flew by and it kept my interest throughout. Well-researched and educational yet entertaining…an excellent combination.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Yale University Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/3/23.

The Story of Tutankhamun was a riveting read, partly thanks to the story-like style of the prose. Shaw keeps the story going, rather than pausing too often to debate theories, saving any such discussion for the endnotes. I certainly learnt some new things, both about Tutankhamun and Ancient Egyptian culture, from this work and I would recommend it to those interested in the period. Given the book's style, it will be suitable for both scholarly readers and the interested layperson. There was also a nice smattering of images throughout, illustrating some of the items found within the tomb. This book gets 4.5 stars from me.

A hundred years ago, the discovery of ‘King Tut’s Tomb’ set the world on fire. All things Egyptian became the rage, impacting architecture, fashion, design, and even the movies.

Just over 200 pages long, with forty illustrations, The Story of King Tutankhamun was an enjoyable introduction. The story begins with Tutankhamun’s parents, Akhenaten and Nefertiti. They had changed Egypt completely, building a new capital and religious center and commanding worship of the sun disk god, sidelining other traditional gods. After their deaths, a daughter briefly ruled before Tutankhamun became pharaoh at age 10. There was a backlash against his father’s rule; the capital was returned to its previous city and the old gods rose to prominence again. Akhenaten and Nefertiti were literally erased from history, their images defaced.

The pharaoh was the chief priest. He led the religious ceremonies for the country. Born Tutankhaten, he even changed his name to Tutankhamun to show he was the son of Amun, the creator god who created all the other gods, not Aten the sun disk who his father worshipped as the source of all life.

I can’t help but wonder how Tutankhamun felt. Did he have a lack of real power? Was he an inexperienced youth who couldn’t stand up to the demands of those who had been dispossessed and were now eager to regain what they had lost? Or, did he truly believe that the abandoned gods had forsaken Egypt and left it weaker? What we do know is that his face was now the face of the Amun.

The child king married a half-sister. The lack of viable pregnancies left them without an heir. Not until Ramses was a pharaonic line reestablished. After his death, Tutankhamun was sidelined as his parents were, buried in a borrowed tomb, with a repurposed gold mask, his images defaced.

The story of how Howard Carter, funded by Lord Carnarvon, searched for Tut’s tomb, and discovered it, and the treasures therein, is legendary. Shaw addresses the legendary curse and the appropriation of Egyptian artifacts. The biography traces the legacy of Tut into contemporary times, such as the exhibit of reproductions of Tutankhamen’s tomb treasures and the “Immersive King Tut” exhibit that came to Detroit.

Shaw includes imagined scenes from the pharaohs life, and describes in detail his education and other activities. I loved the description of the woven clothing he wore, the descriptions of the ceremonies and processions, the banquets and hunting trips, learning how his tomb was robbed and hastily restored.

The book is a nice introduction to this most well known pharaoh, and is appropriate for YA readers as well as adults.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

The Story of Tutankhamun is written by Garry J. Shaw just in time for the centenary of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter. Shaw has a way of writing that makes the figures of the past come to life, and the history moves along at a quick pace without becoming dry. The author very clearly cares about the human aspects of Tutankhamun, his family, and his subjects, which is important as all of that generally tends to be swept away in the face of the priceless treasures that were uncovered in his tomb. He also weaves together and looks at the various theories that surround both the causes of Tutankhamun's death and the condition of his tomb when it was uncovered.

It's an easy, fast read that would be a helpful and welcome reference to anyone who already enjoys Egyptology or to those who are beginners and wish to know more about the famed pharaoh beneath the gold and jewels.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a biography of an Egyptian ruler that is probably the most well-known. Published to coincide with the 1922 tomb excavation, the first question that comes to mind is: does this biography need to be written? The answer is yes, despite countless biographies of King Tut already filling the shelves of libraries and bookstores. The reason? This biography acknowledges all of the sources that have been uncovered and examined in the past hundred years, but it takes a fresh look at them, with all of the historical advances that have been made. It dives deep into King Tut's childhood, and the influences that formed him into the 'boy king'. I highly recommend this book as a starting point for those wanting to learn about King Tut.