The Dawn of Civilisation—Egypt and Chaldæa

Abstract

AS the winter season advances, and folk begin to wend their way to Egypt, the enterprise of authors and publishers keeps up a steady supply of good literature concerning the country which, since the English occupation in 1882, has exercised upon people of all nations a fascination which may be described as marvellous. Only a few weeks ago an English translation of Dr. Erman's Aegypten appeared, and already we have before us a translation of a very important work by Prof. Maspero in the same language. Both works are excellent, but each is typical of the nationality of its writer, and is really addressed to a different class of readers. The work of Dr. Erman possesses a minuteness of detail characteristic of the true German student, laborious and accurate, while that of M. Maspero, though no less accurate, discusses facts on a large scale with due reference to everything which bears upon them, and contains generalisations which all thoughtful readers will accept with gratitude; added to this, we have the light and easy style and logical arrangement of facts and sentences which are the type of the work of the French master of his subject. In short, Dr. Erman's book will form a standard work of reference for the student of Egypt; but that of M. Maspero will take its place as a general history of early Oriental civilisation on the banks of the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates, and in the countries which lie between.

The Dawn of Civilisation—Egypt and Chaldæa.

G. Maspero A. H. Sayce. Translated by M. L. McClure. (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1894.)