The Earl and the Pharaoh by The Countess of Carnarvon (Review)

The Earl and the Pharaoh by The Countess of Carnarvon

Blurb

Bestselling author Lady Fiona Carnarvon tells the thrilling behind-the-scenes story of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun on its centennial, and explores the unparalleled life of family ancestor George Herbert–the famed Egyptologist, world-traveler, and 5th Earl of Carnarvon behind it–whose country house, Highclere Castle, is the setting of the beloved series Downton Abbey.

In November 1922, the world was mesmerised by news of an astonishing historical find in Egypt’s legendary Valley of Kings: the discovery of the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. George Herbert, himself a famed amateur Egyptologist and noted antiquities collector, financed the expedition and excavation headed by lead archaeologist Howard Carter, and accompanied him inside this sacred space that had remained untouched for centuries.

Inside the tomb, the explorers found King Tut’s sarcophagus and a treasure trove of astonishing artefacts: chariots and model boats, board games and paintings, a coffin made of pure gold. But these objects were more than just beautifully crafted works of art; they shed new light on Tutankhamun world and this fabled period of history, and changed our understanding of how the ancient Egyptians had lived–transforming overnight what had been formed through centuries of history and myth.

Drawing on Highclere Castle’s archives, Lady Fiona Carnarvon pays homage to her ancestor on the 100th anniversary of this extraordinary event. In vivid and dramatic detail, she brings into focus the larger-than-life characters and lustrous settings–as well as those twists of luck and tragedies that shaped Herbert’s life. Across the early 1900s, Highclere saw no less drama than the fictional Downton Abbey, with early tragedies for the Earl and love affairs, as well highs of exorbitant wealth and trials of punishing debt. But above all there was adventure. While Herbert first went to Egypt for his health, this mysterious, romantic land would become a second home; the beloved place where he funnelled his attentions over a period of decades, never quite realising how great the fruits of his labours would prove.

Review

I was so excited to get this book and I literally started reading it as soon as I received it for Christmas. I was not disappointed. It was so good to be back reading a book by The Countess of Carnarvon, she just has a way with words and telling family history.

This book is a comprehensive history of the life of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon including of course his great discovery with Howard Carter of Tutankhamun. The book also offered so much more history which I found really interesting.

One of the sections I thoroughly enjoyed was the section during the First World War. I learnt so much from these chapters. The plight of the wounded soldiers in the war and what they had to go through was harrowing but what was most shocking was how unprepared the British government was for the amount of wounded. Learning about what Almina did during the war was also really interesting.

It was also really interesting to see how the super rich lived in Lord Carnarvon’s time, even though quite often Carnarvon couldn’t really afford these extravagances. His obsession with cars and his motoring offences were highly amusing as was his interest in planes.

Carnarvon was an interesting character who had a passion for history but wasn’t just some treasure hunter. He wanted his finds recorded and treasured for posterity. He also wanted everyone to get along and was a perfect diplomat with everyone, always calming the arguments and trying to find solutions.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more books by The Countess of Carnarvon. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons. A perfect first read for 2024!

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About the author

A former auditor for Coopers & Lybrand, Lady Carnarvon is the wife of George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon. Today, she manages affairs at Highclere Castle, home of the worldwide television drama Downton Abbey, including overseeing its grounds and gardens and many special events such as the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the Castle.

Fascinated by Highclere’s history, Lady Carnarvon has written four books. The first two are about the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb with Howard Carter in 1922. Her latest are New York Times Bestseller Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere, and Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey.