The Curse of the Pharaohs

Rating:
Summary: Mysteries abound amongst Egypts Past
Review: When I was asked to read this book for a class, I must admit that I was reluctant to try and enjoy the experience, however once I was introduced to the charachters in the novel, especially, Amelia Emerson I began to look at the novel more in depth and really think about it. Egyptology has been a male dominated field, as most fields are, since its inception. While the facts and mystery surrounding the excavation were of strong intrest, what I found most captivating was how Ms. Peters class standing and gender affected her relationships to the people she worked with. The novels exploration of sexism and gender bias adds a deminsion to the novel which makes it more real. However, I am not sure I would ever allow a young person to read it, because the message about gender conveyed through the novel could easily be misconstrued without proper guidence. Teachers in high school should consider the novel as a cross-curriculm gem, with plenty to teach in both the grammar and history fields. Discuss the themes of gender and compare them with other novels written about the era.