In 1975, egyptologist Elizabeth Peters wrote a mystery novel featuring a plucky heroine named Amelia Peabody, a strong-willed woman who indulges her own passion in all things Egyptian, near the close of the 19th century. Now, fifteen Amelia Peabody mysteries later, Peters has published a sweeping companion volume to the series, a clever blend of fact and fiction. With this volume of Egyptian culture, history, and arcania, readers will be able to immerse themselves in the great lady's world more completely than every before.

Journey through the bustling streets and markets of Cairo a hundred years ago. Surround yourself with the customs and color of a bygone time. Explore ancient tombs and temples and marvel at the history of this remarkable land -- from the age of the pharaohs through the Napoleonic era to the First World War. Also included in the book are a hitherto unpublished journal entry and intimate biographies of the Emersons and their friends, which provide a uniquely personal view of the lives, relationships, opinions, politics and delightful eccentricities of mystery's first family, as delightful eccentricities of mystery's first family, as well as unforgettable pearls of wit and wisdom from everyone' favorite fictional Egyptologist herself.

Containing nearly 600 black and white photographs and illustrations, and articles by numerous experts, this book sparkles with unforgettable glimpses of the exotic and the bizarre, the unusual and the unfamiliar. This is a grand celebration of the life, the work, and the world of the incomparable Amelia Peabody.