"Some Permanent Features of Egyptian Civilization"

   The plan of this book, written by the dean of French Egyptologists, is indicated in its title. It is not a history, and its historical framework is seriously deficient. Rather it seeks to establish the permanent features of Egyptian life over 3,000 years of Egyptian civilization. These features are examined in sequence and include the land, the people, the Pharaoh, the administrative and economic systems, foreign policy, the gods, human destiny, intellectual achievements, and art.

   These nine aspects are preceded by a preface, (which gives an inadequate sketch of Egyptian history and chronology) and are followed by a final chapter on the history of Egyptology. Each chapter is filled with information from the rich stores of Prof. Montet's immense knowledge of the subject, but this information soon reveals that these various aspects of Egyptian culture were constantly changing and that there was nothing "eternal" in them, as stated in the author's thesis and implied in the organization of his book. Accordingly, the volume will be confusing to anyone who does not already have a fair grasp of the historical development of Egypt, especially the usual six-period sequence of Old Kingdom, First Intermediate Period, New Kingdom, Second Intermediate Period, the Egyptian Empire, and Decline. Indeed, anyone who begins Montet's book should already have some idea of the different character of the chief outstanding outstanding dynasties, such as the 12th, 18th, and 20th.

   Fortunately, the necessary preliminary volume, to serve as an introduction to this one of Montet, already exists (and is available as a paperback). This is Sir Alan Gardiner's "Egypt of the Pharaoh’s," which concentrates on the chronology and the nature of the successive dynasties but devotes little attention to the nature of Egyptian culture. Together, with Gardiner followed by Montet, the two volumes provide an admirable introduction to Egyptian civilization, the deficiencies of each remedied by the strong points of the other. And the really serious student might find a fascinating introduction to both in W. B. Emory's "Archaic Egypt" in the Penguin paperbacks.

—CARROLL QUIGLEY.